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How big is the Largest Virus?

The Largest Virus is 1.5 mikrometry

Introduction

Imagine if the world’s scariest monsters were so tiny, you couldn’t even see them with your own eyes. That’s what viruses are like! They’re so small, we need special tools to even know they’re there. But did you know that not all viruses are the same size? Some are smaller, and some are bigger. The biggest virus we know is called the Pandoravirus. Let’s learn more about it!

The Size of the Pandoravirus

The Pandoravirus is the largest virus known to science. It’s so big that it was first mistaken for a bacteria, which are usually much bigger than viruses. On average, a Pandoravirus is about 1,000 nanometers long. Now, you might be wondering, “How big is a nanometer?” Well, a nanometer is a billionth of a meter. That’s super small! To put it in perspective:

  • A single strand of human hair is about 75,000 nanometers wide. This means you could line up about 75 Pandoraviruses side by side across the width of a human hair!
  • A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. So, if you stacked Pandoraviruses, you could pile around 100 of them to match the thickness of a sheet of paper. Even though the Pandoravirus is the largest virus, it’s still incredibly small compared to things we see and touch every day.

Facts About the Pandoravirus

Here are some interesting facts about the Pandoravirus:

  • Unlike many viruses, the Pandoravirus doesn’t have the usual shape we associate with viruses. Instead of being round or rod-shaped, Pandoraviruses are shaped like a box.
  • The name “Pandoravirus” comes from Pandora’s box, a story in ancient Greek mythology. Scientists chose this name because, like Pandora’s box, the Pandoravirus was full of surprises when they first discovered it.
  • The Pandoravirus has more genes than any other virus. It has around 2,500 genes, while most viruses only have about 10 to 15. More genes mean it can do more things.
  • The Pandoravirus is so big and has so many genes that scientists first thought it was a bacterium, not a virus.

Conclusion

The world of viruses is tiny but fascinating. The Pandoravirus is an excellent example of how diverse and surprising this microscopic world can be. Even though it’s the biggest virus we know, it’s still so small that we need special tools to see it. The Pandoravirus shows us that even in the tiniest corners of our world, there are big surprises waiting for us!

Smaller By Category
Mitochondrion
These organelles can turn the chemical energy from glucose into ATP, which can easily be used for energy. About 120,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 ATP molecules are created every day in your body by mitochondria.
Red Light Wavelength
Red is the first color of the rainbow, and the longest wavelength of light we humans can see. It stimulates appetite. That's why so many food companies have red in their logo. They want you to eat! In short, they're trying to fool your brain.
Mimivirus
This little thingy was discovered in 1992 within an amoeba, which is only 500 times larger. Mimivirus used to be the largest virus known, but now that is the Pithovirus.
Larger By Category
E. coli
E. coli are usually harmless and live in your intestines, making wonderful vitamin K2. They are in almost everyone's intestines. In fact, they colonize babies' intestines just two days after they are born! Now that's pretty fast!
Clay Particle
Because clay particles are so small, they become tightly packed, and water particles have trouble flowing through it. On the other hand, sand is much more coarse. Water just slips right through sand. Easy-peasy.
X Chromosome
X chromosomes are absolutely wonderful. Most chromosomes look like X's even if they aren't sex chromosomes – those are autosomes. In humans, females have two X chromosomes while males have an X and a Y chromosome. Some people might have three, four, or even five chromosomes, though.