The cosmos, an infinite tapestry of stars, galaxies, and mysteries, continues to captivate humanity in 2025. From the mind-bending scale of the universe to the enigmatic nature of black holes, the cosmos offers endless wonders that spark curiosity and wonder. This article unveils some of the most fascinating facts about the cosmos, blending cutting-edge discoveries with cultural perspectives, including Bangladesh’s growing contributions to astronomy. Whether you’re a stargazer in Dhaka or a cosmic enthusiast anywhere, these facts will inspire you to look up and marvel at the universe.
The Universe Is Expanding Faster Than Ever
One of the most profound facts about the cosmos is that it’s expanding—and accelerating. In the 1920s, Edwin Hubble discovered that galaxies are moving away from each other, suggesting the universe began with the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago. In 2025, data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) confirms the universe’s expansion is speeding up, driven by dark energy, a mysterious force making up 68% of the cosmos.
This expansion means the universe is vast beyond comprehension, with an observable diameter of 93 billion light-years. In Bangladesh, where stargazing is gaining popularity through initiatives like the Bangladesh Astronomical Association, astronomers are using this data to study galaxy formation, contributing to global research despite limited resources compared to Western observatories.
There Are More Stars Than Grains of Sand
The cosmos is home to an estimated 2 trillion galaxies, each containing billions of stars. Scientists estimate there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of Earth’s beaches—roughly 10 sextillion (10^22). This staggering number underscores the cosmos’s immensity. Our Milky Way galaxy alone contains 100–400 billion stars, and in 2025, telescopes in Bangladesh, such as those at the University of Dhaka’s observatory, are helping students map these stars, fostering a local appreciation for the cosmos.
Culturally, the stars have long inspired Bengali literature and poetry, with figures like Rabindranath Tagore weaving cosmic imagery into works
