SortStack #1105 — 2029-06-18

By size · Order from shortest to longest.

1. A single E. coli bacterium 2 µm

   About 2 micrometres long, E. coli divides every 20 minutes, so one cell can become billions inside a single day.

2. A single grain of pollen 40 µm

   Pollen grains have survived intact for millions of years, letting scientists reconstruct ancient forests from lake-bed sediment.

3. A roasted coffee bean 8.5 mm

   A coffee 'bean' is actually the seed of a cherry-like fruit that grows on shrubs near the equator.

4. A yellow school bus 13.7 m

   That specific shade, 'school bus yellow', was chosen in 1939 because it stays visible in dim dawn light.

5. The Statue of Liberty (heel to torch) 47 m

   Her copper skin turned green over decades as the metal oxidised; she was originally a shiny reddish-brown.

6. The Brooklyn Bridge (total length) 1.8 km

   When it opened in 1883, a stampede fearing collapse killed twelve people; a circus later marched elephants across to prove its strength.

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