Mondo Knows Facts
Plasma is the most common state of matter
Stars and glowing gas are plasma, so most visible matter is ionised A plasma is a gas hot enough, or energetic enough, for electrons to break free of their atoms. Because the charged particles respond to electric and magnetic fields, plasmas conduct current and glow. The Sun, lightning, neon signs and the aurora are all plasma. It sits in Mondo's science collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.
Where this comes from
Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.
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More facts like this
A Bose-Einstein condensate behaves as one atomCooled to within a fraction of a kelvin, some atoms merge into a single quantum stateEvaporation cools whatever is left behindThe fastest molecules escape as vapour, lowering the average energy of the restDry ice turns straight from solid to gasFrozen carbon dioxide skips the liquid stage at ordinary air pressurePlasma screens lit tiny cells of gasEach cell held a gas mixture that glowed and excited a phosphor coatingBlood plasma is composed of over ninety percent waterThe liquid portion of blood transports proteins glucose hormones and electrolytesWater boils cooler high on mountainsAt low pressure water reaches boiling point well below 100 degrees Celsius
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Tags: physics, plasma, matter
Plasma is the most common state of matter: the short answers
- Where does this come from, and can I check it?
- Stars and glowing gas are plasma, so most visible matter is ionised. The figure is taken from NASA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
- Is this really a science fact?
- Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
- What else can I read about it?
- The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.