This article was originally published on Kueez
That's Bigger Than an Average House
While we're busy populating the sky and the furthest reaches of the solar system with massive objects, we're also putting them on the ground. This is the Caterpillar 777 dump truck, which is 32 feet in length, 11.5 feet in width, and 16 feet in height, and has a carrying capacity of 100 tons. The Caterpillar 777 was initially introduced in 1974. Its diesel engine can generate 870 horsepower (650 kW), and it's shockingly massive.
Its tires are as tall as a bus, and it can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. When it's roaring (though slowly) towards its objective, it's not the type of vehicle you want to be in front of.
A Blue Whale
Blue whales are enormous creatures. They can grow to be more than 10 feet in length. They are typically between 80 and 100 feet (24 and 30 meters) in length, with the biggest one ever documented being a whopping 108 feet (33 meters). That's about the same length as three school buses parked end to end in a row. Despite the fact that this blue whale is not as enormous as the prehistoric giant, it is still the largest mammal currently existing on this planet.
The typical weight of these gentle giants ranges between 200,000 and 300,000 pounds or around 100-150 tons. In other words, it can weigh as much as 30 elephants!
Reaching For The Sky
Height is a rare commodity when it comes to most women. We're all aware that basketball players are expected to be extremely tall, so they would have a natural advantage when it comes to shooting hoops. The fact that they are racing around on the court may not be apparent at first glance. So take a look at these professional women's basketball players from the NBA standing next to students from the University of Kentucky.
The girls in the middle are approximately 4-foot-ten in height. And what about the two basketball players? Six foot three and six foot six!
Ultimate Dinosaurs
It is not only man-made objects that are awe-inspiring in terms of sheer size. Even before mankind ever existed on earth, it was home to behemoths that dwarfed even the tallest of trees in their size. This is the skeleton of the Argentinosauraus, which was the largest dinosaur to ever roam the earth (that we currently know of). It was discovered in 1987 in the modern-day country of Argentina. Because of its enormous size, which is reported to be 130 feet long and 50-100 tons in weight, it is practically impossible to comprehend.
This dinosaur's length is almost as long as the width of a football field. The Argentinosaurus was a herbivore, which means it ate plants (Phew).
Just Keep Digging
The Bagger 288 is another machine that makes the list of outrageously huge equipment since it is the largest of its kind in the world. It's so enormous that it does not even look real. It was constructed by the German business Krupp on behalf of the energy and mining company Rheinbraun. Bagger 288 is a bucket-wheel excavator or a mobile strip mining machine that can be used for strip mining.
This massive machine, which weighed 13,500 tons when it was completed in 1978, surpassed Big Muskie as the world's largest land vehicle. Seeing the size of this giant makes us realize just how big of an impact we people have on the environment in which we live.
We’re Still Curious About NASA’s Curiosity Rover
Curiosity has been exploring the surface of Mars for almost a decade, and it is still going strong. The car-sized rover traveled to Mars in order to solve one of the most important scientific questions of our time: Was the Martian climate ever habitable? When it came to finding the answer, Curiosity didn't have to wait long. The wandering rover quickly identified mineral and chemical evidence of former livable Martian habitats while exploring the planet's surface.
Curiosity has a radioisotope power supply. The heat released by plutonium's radioactive decay serves to power this type of device, which generates energy as a result. It is truly an engineering marvel. A testament to its engineering is the fact that Curiosity has been roaming around on the surface of Mars for nine years without stopping.
Watch Your Step
We have all seen photographs of the damage that humans have done to the environment. But are our readers ready for another illustration of human impact? Farmers in Turkey use groundwater to irrigate their crops, which saves them money. The difficulty with this is that it frequently results in sinkholes. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and some of them are harmlessa. However, some of them can be as deep as 490 feet!
Sinkholes are geological marvels that create some of the most unusual natural landscapes on the planet. They have lakes, forests, caverns, reefs, wild creatures, and more found in their depths. They've captivated people for ages and continue to draw travelers worldwide.
Heads And Tail
Standard commercial passenger jets appear to be sufficient in size, especially when viewed from the runway, where you are about to go on a lovely vacation. This, on the other hand, would make even the most experienced traveler feel tiny. This is the tail of the Airbus A380, which is the world's largest passenger airliner and the largest commercial aircraft in the world. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 853 passengers, while the average capacity is 525.
The people in the picture below, who have been included to emphasize the magnitude, are members of the development team who worked on the plane.
They Call Me Danger
Throughout the United States, the bald eagle, America's official national bird, may be found on seals and signs. Nonetheless, we have never considered how large it actually is. Given that it's just a bird, surely it can't be so big, right? But it actually is. A trail camera captured these images and we are simply amazed. It helps to visualize the eagle's big size when it is compared to a wolf, which is no small creature.
It also appears as though this wolf did not fare well because of this incident. One can imagine that the wolf simply walked away after realizing that it didn’t stand a chance against such a big bird.
The Easter Island Heads Have Bodies
The statues of Easter Island, located in the Southeast Pacific Ocean, are well-known across the world. The indigenous Rapa Nui people carved them between 1250 and 1500 CE. The moai, as opposed to the heads that can be seen protruding above the earth, are truly full-body statues rather than simply heads. When you compare them to the people in this photograph, they appear to be all of their average 13 feet in height.
There are 1000 of these on the island, and the highest is 33 feet tall and weighs 82 tons, making it the tallest structure on the island. The fact that they were carved entirely by hand is nearly impossible to comprehend!
The Desert Ship
The Bactrian camel is a very adaptive animal. They can tolerate considerable temperature variations, making them perfect for Northern Asia. They have double-row eyelashes and a third eyelid that works as a windshield wiper to remove sand and dirt. Their noses can seal to protect them from the sand. Their large, flat feet with leathery pads and two toes help them stay upright in sand or snow. Unfortunately, the Bactrian camels are in danger of extinction.
Humans are the most serious threat to them since they are destroying these enormous animals' natural habitat for agricultural and mining purposes.
Public Transport vs. Private Transport
There are over 1.446 billion vehicles on earth, Just imagine their impact on global warming! Increasing traffic is a problem in every part of the world. Roads are clogged to capacity, and traffic systems are struggling to keep up. That's why governments all around the world are attempting to encourage the usage of public transportation because of the environmental benefits. This image shows how much of a difference it could make.
This is the same amount of people who board a bus and those who drive their own cars. Take a look at the difference in the amount of space taken up on the highway. That would undoubtedly make the morning commute a whole lot shorter and more manageable.
Now That's A Catch
There must be millions of images of people standing in front of a large fish that they've just caught. People love to show the world their catch, but all that pride and excitement is nothing in front of this fella. We believe that this individual has defeated all of the other candidates in one fell swoop with his abnormally large frame. This is a fish with a mind of its own. It almost doesn't look like it's be real, yet it is.
This is a 327-pound halibut caught in Alaska. Interestingly, it is dwarfed by a 459-pound halibut caught in 1996, which was also caught in Alaska. To be very honest, we didn't even realize fish could be this big!
Warlord
This is a statue of Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan. Considered one of the tallest statues in the world, this 131 feet statue is terrifying and spectacular at the same time. Genghis Khan had to grow up in the harsh conditions of the Mongolian steppe. When still just nine years old, he lost his father to rival Tatars who then evicted his family, leaving his mother to raise seven children all by herself.
When he was born in 1162, Great Khan of the Mongols was given the name Temujin, which translates to "of iron" or "blacksmith" in Mongolian. In 1206 he received the honorific title "Genghis Kahn."
A Computer Geek's Playground
It is time to take a look inside the heart of one of the most complex yet fascinating places on the face of the planet. This is one of the eight data centers operated by Google. The number of servers housed at Google data centers is not publicly available, but Gartner estimated in a July 2016 research that the company had 2.5 million servers. As the company has increased its capacity and upgraded its hardware, this number has certainly increased.
These days, these locations have become the epicenters of all of our information and activity. It's no surprise that they're so enormous.
David of Michelangelo
Michelangelo's famous David statue is in Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia. It is easily identified by anyone anywhere in the world. It was inspired by the Biblical narrative of David, and there are 30 life-size David replicas worldwide. The Opera del Duomo commissioned the Statue of David in 1464 as part of a series of great statues for the Florence Cathedral. These were to be sculpted on the ground and then lifted 260 feet into the cathedral's tribune niches.
The statue stands 17 feet tall and weighs 6 tons, which is perhaps one of the reasons it took Michelangelo two years to carve him at the age of 26.
Normal House Cat vs. Maine Coon
At first glance, it looks like a kitten is sleeping next to an adult cat, but no. This is actually a Maine Coon cat resting next to a regular domestic cat. The Maine Coon cat is the largest breed of domesticated cat in the world, with a well-developed furry body. In terms of size, males can reach about 20 pounds and 40 inches in length, including their tails, while females are smaller.
When measured from the tip of its nose to its tail tip, it can grow to be 1 meter in length and weigh up to 18 pounds. Just imagine trying to keep up with the amount of tuna this guy would require.
A Giant Among Us
Let’s move to one of nature's most impressive giants. There is nothing like seeing the Redwoods of California up close. 380 feet high and 18 feet in diameter are the maximum height and breadth that they can reach. The world's tallest trees are coast redwoods. Compared to the largest pine tree at 268 feet and the tallest tanoak at 162 feet, they can grow to 300 feet or more.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park's "Mother of the Forest" is the tallest redwood tree in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 329 feet, which is just 50 feet short of the world's tallest redwood, "Hyperion."
Twister
This photograph was taken at Dodge City, Kansas, which is located in the middle of Tornado Alley. If you look to the left, you can see how large it is compared to the wind turbines, which are 280 feet tall on average. In fact, this isn't even a particularly large tornado, and it will just be one of several tornadoes that form as part of a group or supercell thunderstorm. Honestly, we’re quite grateful that we don't live anywhere near it or its terrible magnitude.
On record, the widest tornado was the El Reno, Oklahoma tornado on May 31, 2013, which had a peak width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km) and was officially the biggest tornado ever recorded.
Not Your Average Drone
Over the past nearly three decades, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have changed how battles are waged all over the world. Since their introduction on the battlefield during the first Gulf War, they have solidified their position on the battlefield. Despite this, bigger isn't necessarily better when it comes to drones. A bug-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by FLIR Systems in Hvalstad, Norway, may have found a solution, though.
The Black Hornet Nano helicopter drone weighs about half an ounce and measures slightly less than four inches in length, making it the smallest UAV ever developed. It is capable of lifting out of a soldier's hand and maneuvering through tight spaces, allowing the infantry warfighter to place a UAV exactly where it is needed.
1 Million Earths Inside the Sun
The earth is represented by the tiny blue balls, while the larger clear ball represents the Sun. The Sun could hold 1.3 million Earths. Given the Sun's massive size and 99.86 percent mass content, that's hardly surprising. The sun is located at the center of the solar system, where it is by far the greatest object in the entire universe. The sun is one of over 100 billion stars that make up the Milky Way galaxy.
Interestingly, the sun revolves around the galactic core at a distance of around 25,000 light-years, completing a revolution once every 250 million years or so.
Same Street, 71 Years Apart
We often forget how much has changed in the course of mankind's existence on this planet and how quickly time has passed. In some circumstances, the dramatic shift occurred only a short time ago, yet we were able to adjust extremely rapidly. These two photographs were taken on the same street corner in Oberdorla, a tiny village in the German state of Hesse. So much has changed over the years.
The first photograph was taken 75 years ago and depicts G.I.s from the 6th Armored Division in action. In the second, the serene vista makes it easier to forget about the many sacrifices that have been made in the recent past.
Robert Wadlow, The Alton Giant
Robert Wadlow, also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois, was the tallest person in recorded history. He was born and reared in Alton, Illinois, a tiny town near St. Louis, Missouri. Wadlow's height was 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m), and his weight reached 439 lb (199 kg) at the time of his death, which occurred when he was 22 years old. Hypertrophy of his pituitary gland caused by an abnormally high level of human growth hormone in his adolescence and maturity caused his enormous size and continuous growth in adulthood.
And what about the short-looking guy who was standing close to him? Well, that's Shaq. Yes, that's right, the former NBA player who is constantly used as an example of how to be incredibly tall. However, he is just 7 feet 1 inch tall.
The Difference Between A Norwegian Soldier 75 Years Ago And Today
Technological advancements have resulted in numerous innovations that make the experience of those who fight for their countries a little more bearable. In one photograph, a soldier on the left is outfitted on top-of-the-line combat gear from 75 years ago, while in another, a soldier on the right is clad in modern tactical equipment. He'll be able to blend in better with his surroundings, and he'll get access to more technologically advanced weapons. He also appears to be a significant amount warmer than usual.
This is the equipment for special forces. In WWII, they used UK supplies, so they probably also carried some version of the Sten gun.
Bill Gates 1994: Information Overload
Bringing up the subject of technological developments, this image is mind-blowing. In 1994, Bill Gates staged a photo of himself next to these stacks of paper to commemorate the launch of the (at the time, cutting-edge) CD-ROM operating system. The disc in his hand could store all of the information on the sheets in a circular that was far more convenient to transport. Of course, the CD-ROM today appears to be a quaintly antiquated relic. In the world of technology, things move at breakneck speed.
One wonders how much paper it would take to visualize a terabyte or a petabyte. That’s got to go to the moon and back, right?
Gadgets And Technology: 1993 And Now
Those were the times when we were required to carry several electronic devices such as a camera, video camera, a desktop computer, a phone, a Walkman (oh, how we miss the Walkman! ), a watch, and a pager. The strain of lugging it all around would have caused considerable discomfort. Isn't it strange to imagine that a tiny device now possesses all of the capabilities of those other devices, all bundled into a convenient pocket-sized rectangle?
We have come a long way in a short period of time. Who knows we might say the same thing about the current technological advancements in a few decades.
Augmented Reality
To go on a vacation and explore some ancient sites is so fun and fascinating, right? We can pretend that we're an intrepid explorer on the hunt for lost treasure or a prince or princess taking a look around the castle. However, it's difficult to imagine what the place would look like if it were in ruins. Signs like this serve as a constant reminder that we are only ever viewing a small portion of the entire picture.
The castle would have been far more spectacular if it had been built then. Someone did the amazing work of the hypothetical reconstruction of the Heidentor, also known as Heathens' Gate.
Moment of Sacrifice
Normandy's beaches still bear the scars of the D-Day invasion 70 years after the war. As people across the world prepare to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, images of Normandy's now-touristy beaches stand in stark contrast to images shot around the time of the invasion. Despite the fact that the environment has altered, the memory of that historical event continues to live on.
The photograph on the top was shot shortly after D-Day, when the area was still covered with the remains of the allied invasion force. It is yet another look back at the horrific days of World War II and how it affected ordinary people around Europe. In the Western world, we don't often get to witness firsthand the devastation caused by war.
The First Disneyland Ticket Ever Sold In 1955
It's 1955. Walt Disney, a man of many ambitions, had created a massive theme park. Walt and his brother Roy O. Disney, who ran WED Enterprises' finances, were getting set to open their park. Roy decided to do Walt a favor and buy the first ticket to Disneyland, as it was a historical event. On July 17, 1955, Walt and Roy proceeded to ticket booth #2 and Roy bought the first Disneyland ticket. It was a historical event that we all wished we could have seen.
The worth of money has changed dramatically in a very short period of time. When the price of candy or chocolate bars have doubled since we were kids, it is understandable to be unhappy. However, these are not the only factors. This photograph depicts the difference in entry charges for Disneyland when it originally opened on July 18, 1955. It was just $1!
All Hail The Egyptians
The Great Pyramids of Giza are considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They are major structures that, when seen in person, appear to be rather massive. However, they are even larger than you think. It was taken from the bottom of one of the pyramids in this photograph. It isn't until you have completely overlooked the woman who has taken up residence at its base that your brain nudges you and reminds you of how tiny she is in comparison.
The subject of how the pyramids were constructed has yet to get a satisfying answer in its entirety. The most likely explanation is that the Egyptians built a sloping and surrounding embankment of brick, earth, and sand that grew in height and length as the pyramid rose, with stone blocks being dragged up the ramp by sledges, rollers, and levers to support the structure.
First Day of Freshman Year vs. Last
Despite the fact that these two photographs are not quite as mind-blowing as the Great Pyramids, they do assist us in gaining a better understanding of perspective. They depict the beginning day of a student's Freshman year as well as the end day of the year. It appears to have been difficult for the poor girl, and a great deal has changed. This year of self-discovery has taken its toll on her, and she doesn't appear to be quite as enthused as she used to be.
Many students out there might find it relatable. The Christmas lights are gone too. Also, tapestries aren't allowed in some dormitories. So, she might have been told to take it down.
Mount Fuji
How many people are aware that Mount Fuji can be seen from space? Also, didn’t anyone notice that it resembles a pimple? From the International Space Station, this picture captured the snow-covered mountain and the neighboring mountains in all their glory. Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain and is the country's most famous landmark. Its elevation is 12,388 feet (3,776 meters). In 2013, it was added to the World Heritage List.
Mount Fuji, with its majestic conical shape, has become well-known around the world and is often regarded as the national symbol of the country of Japan. There is a strong sense of personal association with the mountain among the Japanese.
Human Impact
Now let's move to something that demonstrates not only the passage of time but also the extent to which we people have impacted our world. Oh humans, what have you done to your beautiful world? This is a side-by-side comparison of the same location in the Arctic. The first photograph was taken in 1917, and the second was shot in 2020. They demonstrate precisely how much and how fast ice has melted in the Arctic.
Scientists estimate that it is melting at a rate that is twice as fast as the rest of the world, with potentially catastrophic effects for global warming.
Underwater Connection
Many people are baffled by what it is and its relationship to the water. An undersea cable's cross-section can be seen in the image below. More than three hundred and eighty (380) submarine communications cables are currently in operation around the world. Their primary purpose is to transport communication signals across vast expanses of water. In this cross-section, the undersea cables don't look quite what we expected (but then again, how could we have imagined them?).
It provides a window into the underwater cable system's workings. How could it be otherwise? It's fascinating to discover more about how and why these wires work.
Inspired By Nature
Nature serves as a constant source of inspiration for designers. Since nature has had millions of years of experience in generating coping techniques for a variety of problems, it makes sense to follow her example! This is the peregrine falcon, the world's deadliest and fastest hunter of the skies. The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, often known as the Stealth Bomber, is modeled on the bird. Though we cannot compete with nature, it is still quite impressive.
B-2's complex flight characteristics and design requirements meant that computer-aided design, natural inspiration, and advanced manufacturing technologies were used.
In The Eye of The Beholder
Birds are incredibly intelligent and awe-inspiring creatures. They are far better at so many things than we are, however they would certainly struggle to make delicious pizza, so we are still doing reasonably well. Their vision, on the other hand, is significantly more evolved. Comparing what we see when we look at a "black" bird with what birds can see is the purpose of this comparison. To be honest, we're not sure how they'd deal with a disco ball.
For a long time, people had no idea how animals viewed the world around them. In recent years, scientists have discovered an incredible array of animal visions. For instance, a snake picks up infrared heat signals to catch its prey and a dragonfly’s brain works so fast that it actually sees things move in slow motion (just like Flash).
So, Does Size Matter?
A brief lesson in this image is "it is what is on the inside that counts." Sharks are often larger than dolphins, so it is reasonable to assume that their brains are larger as well. However, the reality is that it is the other way around. This helps explain why dolphins have a reputation for being intelligent and demonstrating altruistic behavior and why they have even been known to protect humans from sharks in rare instances.
Moreover, a small shark brain doesn't mean they'll eat every human they find. On average, there are less than 20 shark attacks on humans in a year in the US, and yet sharks are portrayed as blood-thirsty villains.
Who Knew
We pass them on the street on our way to and from work and home every day, but we don't give them much thought. Most of our readers never ever thought about how big a traffic signal actually is? Probably not, but that's why we're here to find out. A typical traffic signal is 30 inches tall and 9.5 inches broad. That's a lot bigger than you anticipated, to say the least. Seeing traffic lights close to people helps put these numbers into context, even if they don't tell you much.
Traffic lights really are that large. Because otherwise, they'd be difficult to notice. However, due to the composition of the material, they aren't particularly cumbersome.
Mind The Gap
Considering how long it would take us to travel from Europe to North America by plane, or even better, by boat, we can safely conclude that the two continents are quite separated. That is not always the case, however. The diver in this photograph is technically touching both continents at the same time! In the photo, he's in Iceland's Silfra crack. Although we cannot clearly see his face, he must be smiling and feeling proud.
After all, it's the exact location where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet (or, as we can see, they don't quite meet, depending on the perspective.) Nevertheless, that's a dive to brag about to friends!
Not A Whale Lung
Can any of our readers tell what kind of animal these lungs belong to? Our first thought was that these were whale lungs, but it turns out that these were horse lungs. Even if these lungs are inflated, and the size of their lungs at rest is less, it's still quite incredible to see them in this condition. The lungs of humans and horses are very similar in many ways, however, the capacity of horse lungs is substantially greater than that of humans.
To put things in perspective, horses have a lung capacity of 55 liters, but humans have a lung capacity of only 6 liters. So the prospect of becoming a veterinarian and learning about all of these things must be exciting!