Find out about 100 Temperatures You Should Know in our ultimate thermometer.

5500bn˚C, Hottest Man Made Temperature
Achieved by colliding lead atoms in the Large Hadron Collider, CERN, the 17 mile tunnel cost £2.6 billion to build.

55m˚C, Temperature of a Supernova
Radiating more energy than a star’s entire lifespan, this galactic blast briefly outshines an entire galaxy.

15.7m˚C, Temperature at the Centre of the Sun
The core produces almost all of the Sun’s heat via fusion; the rest of the star is heated by the outward transfer of heat from the core.

10m˚C, Temperature of a Nuclear Explosion
The initial blast makes up 50% of the energy while the rest is made of thermal and other kinds of radiation.

29726.0˚C, Temperature of a Lightning Bolt
Five times hotter than the surface of the Sun, when a bolt of lightning hits sand it instantly melts into glass.

6000.0˚C, Temperature of the Earth’s Core
The core of our planet is a molten mass of iron and nickel. The innermost core is actually solid, while the outer layer is liquid.

5600.0˚C, Temperature of the Surface of the Sun
Where all the fireworks happen. Relatively cold compared to its core!

1645.85˚C, Temperature of a Spaceship on Re-Entry
Recorded on the Space Shuttle Orbiter’s hull during an 8 km/s dive. The nose cap is made of the peculiarly named Reinforced Carbon-Carbon.

1538.0˚C, Melting Point of Iron
For all you budding blacksmiths. Iron can remain solid under high pressure, as in the Earth’s core.

1400.0˚C, Highest Temperature of a Candle Flame
The inner core of the candle flame is light blue, this is the hottest part of the flame.

1160.0˚C, Temperature of Lava
Liquid hot magma! The Hawaiian Volcano of Kilauea has been erupting near constantly since 1960.

1064.0˚C, Melting Point of Gold
For all your jewellery needs, gold also boils at 2970˚C.

525.0˚C, The Draper Point
Discovered John William Draper in 1847 this is the temperature at which almost all solids glow due to blackbody radiation.

480.0˚C, Operating Temperature of a Tandoor Oven
Temperatures in a tandoor can approach 480°C, and it is common for tandoor ovens to remain lit for long periods to maintain the high cooking temperature.

460.0˚C, Average Temperature on the Surface of Venus
Similar to the Earth in both size and mass, lead would melt on the surface instantly.

425.0˚C, Temperature of a Pizza Oven
Wood fired ovens can cook a thin pizza in under 3 minutes.

300.0˚C, Highest Temperature of a Formula 1 Engine
The pistons in a Formula 1 engine can exceed temperatures of 300°C, propelling the car to speeds in excess of 300kp/h.

290.0˚C, Maximum Temperature of a Home Oven
290˚C is the highest working temperature for standard home ovens, although produce more heat during “self-cleaning” mode.

230.0˚C, Smoke Point of Peanut Oil
This oil is good for deep frying as it won’t burn under the higher temperature, it’s also flavourless and relatively inexpensive.

230.0˚C, Highest Temperature of a Lightbulb
The tungsten filament can survive 3421˚C, higher than any other metal.

190.0˚C, Perfect Temperature for Baking Bread
You should start your oven higher to achieve a good crust, you can check it’s ready by tapping the bottom, it should make a hollow sound.

165.0˚C, Smoke Point of Virgin Olive Oil
Made from the first pressing of the olives, this oil has a more complex flavour and costs more than other oils.

151.0˚C, Hottest Temperature an Animal Has Survived
Tardigrades or “Water Bears” can also survive just above absolute 0, when faced with drought these alien-like organisms slow their metabolism to 0.01% of normal.

100.0˚C, Perfect Temperature for Brewing Tea
Robust or fruit teas can stand up to boiling water without losing their flavour, the UK consumes 165 million cups a day, according to the UK Tea & Infusions association.

99.9839˚C, Boiling Point of Water
Based on the slightly redefined Celsius Scale in 1954, the real freezing point of purified water is -0.0001°C, and its boiling point is 99.9839°C.

92.0˚C, Perfect Temperature for Brewing Coffee
A study in Pub Med found 57.8˚C was suitable for drinking, striking a balance between scald burn hazard and customer satisfaction.

82.0˚C, Temperature of a Well Done Steak
You can estimate when a steak is well done by feeling the heel of you hand when touching your thumb and little finger together.

80.0˚C, Average Temperature of a Sauna
A competitor at the 2010 World Sauna Championships in Finland died in 110˚C heat, unlike steam rooms saunas use a dry heat – saunas promote increased blood flow.

75.0˚C, Temperature at which Chicken Is Cooked
At this temperature, all harmful bacteria in the meat will be killed. The core temperature is measured at the thickest part of the bird, near the leg.

70.0˚C, Perfect Temperature for Brewing Green Tea
Softer, more delicate teas need cooler water to avoid spoiling their flavour, green is rich in antioxidants.

63.0˚C, Temperature of Milk Pasteurisation
Invented by Louis Pasteur in 1864, pasteurisation is the process that makes milk is safe for human consumption.

62.0˚C, Perfect Temperature to Cook Soft Boiled Egg
Cooked in a sous vide or water bath, hens with red feathers tend to lay brown eggs.

60.0˚C, Internal Temperature of a Rare Steak
Check with a meat thermometer, the world’s priciest steak, Kobe Wagyu, is nearly white when raw, owing to its high fat content.

56.0˚C, Hottest Day Ever Recorded on Earth
This temperature was recorded in Death Valley, California, USA, 1913 – Consistently one of the hottest places on Earth.

55.0˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded In Africa
Recorded in Kebili, Tunisia, 1931, one of the oldest oases in Africa, evidence of human habitation in Kebili dates back more than 200,000 years.

53.6˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded in Asia
Recorded in Sulaibya, Kuwait in 2012 and also the third highest temperature ever recorded in a country, Sulaibya is also home to the world’s largest tyre graveyard.

50.7˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded in Oceania
Recorded Oodnadatta, Australia in 1960, the last census reported a population of just 266.

49.1˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded in South America
Recorded in Villa de Maria, Argentina in 1920, formally known as Rio Seco.

48.0˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded in Europe
Recorded in Greece, 1977, Athens is Home to the Parthenon, Acropolis and Europe’s hottest day.

46.5˚C, Highest Recorded Human Body Temperature
Willie Jones suffered heat stroke in 1980 and was admitted to hospital, the 52 year old survived.

45.0°C, Melting Point of Lard
Rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, most animal fats melt at this temperature. In the tropics lard can be rich in lauric acids if the pigs have eaten coconuts.

45.0˚C, Ideal Temperature of a Steam Room
Thought to increase metabolism, steam rooms should have a humidity level of 100%.

42.0˚C, Temperature That Causes Fatal Fever
Although it is only a few degrees, varying the body’s internal temperature can cause serious health problems.

38.6˚C, Average Internal Body Temperature of a Cat
Due to having a higher body temperature, cats can naturally survive warmer climates than humans.

38.5˚C, Highest Recorded Temperature in the UK
Recorded Faversham, Kent in 2003, the market town used to be the centre of the explosives industry in the 20th century.

37˚C, Average Internal Temperature of the Human Body
Contrary to popular belief, women have a slightly higher mean temperature than men.

35.5˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded on a London Bus
Recorded on the route 10 bus from Oxford Circus to Hammersmith during summer 2014, temperatures on the top deck hit 35.5˚C.

35.0˚C, Hypothermia
When the core body temperature falls lower that this, hypothermia sets in. Symptoms include confusion, poor judgement and changes in behaviour.

35.0˚C, Hottest Operating Temperature of an iPhone
According to the American technology company’s support page, this is the highest functional operating temperature of its iconic handset.

34.8˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded on the London Underground
In 2014, temperatures on the Central line at Oxford Circus reached 34.8C and air humidity hit 45 per cent.

31.0˚C, Melting Point of Butter
Incidentally, the human mouth is around 36˚C, hence the phrase “butter would not melt in their mouth” referring to a cool customer.

28.0˚C, Temperature of the Average Swimming Pool
Bacteria thrive in warm underwater conditions so pools are treated regularly.

28.0˚C, Most Comfortable Temperature
While each person is different and experiences heat differently, humans are generally comfortable between 19°C and 28°C.

26.0˚C, Temperature Needed for a Hurricane
A hurricane begins as a tropical disturbance over warm ocean waters of 26˚C or higher. The storm becomes a hurricane when wind speed reaches 74mph.

26.0˚C, Temperature of a Server Room
All that computer processing power generates a lot of heat and requires specialist cooling equipment. Google recommends data centres and server rooms should be kept at 26.7˚C.

23.0˚C, Average Room Temperature
Depending on the person, room temperature is considered to be 23.0˚C, although, the BBC reports that most British homes are kept at 17.5˚C.

22.5˚C, Temperature of a Tropical Rainforest
With an average humidity around 82%, rainforests feel hotter because the humidity stops sweat from evaporating as quickly.

22.0˚C, Office
The average working temperature in an office, and the point of some contention.

21.0˚C, Perfect Temperature to Store Cigars
Although 21˚C is the perfect temperature to store cigars, humidity is also important with the humidors being kept between 68-74% to prevent the tobacco becoming stale.

21.0˚C, Optimum Temperature for a Classroom
While the minimum legal temperature in a classroom is 18˚C, studies show students work best at 21˚C.

19.0˚C, Ideal Temperature for a Meeting Room
While 19.0˚C is the average temperature of a meeting room, according to The Times, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg insists meeting rooms kept at 15.0˚C to increase productivity.

19.0˚C, Ideal Temperature for a Gymnasium
This allows room for you to warm up through exercise. Humidity should also be kept low to allow sweat to evaporate and keep the body cooler.

18.3˚C, Best Temperature for Sleeping
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 18.3˚C is the perfect temperature for the average person to have a goodnight’s sleep.

16.0˚C, Minimum Legal Office Temperature
According to government guidelines, unless you work in an active environment, 16.0˚C is the lowest legal temperature for sedentary jobs – such as office work.

15.0˚C, Perfect Serving Temperature of Red Wine
Since room temperatures can vary, 15.0˚C is the perfect temperature for most red wine, the more full-bodied the wine, the warmer it should be served.

14.6˚C, Average Temperature on Earth
The average temperature on earth was 14.6˚C in 2013 but has risen by 0.8°C since 1880, with two-thirds of this occurring since 1975.

13.7˚C, Lowest Recorded Human Body Temperature
In 1999, Anna Bagenholm became a victim of extreme hypothermia when her body temperature decreased to 13.7°C, the lowest body temperature ever survived.

13.0˚C, Lowest Legal Working Temperature
UK law stipulates that for physically demanding jobs like construction work or warehouse operatives, 13.0˚C is the minimum average temperature at which they can work.

10.0˚C, Perfect Serving Temperature of White Wine
Around 7-10°C is the perfect temperature for serving white wines. Crisp wines are better poured colder while richer grape varieties benefit from being served slightly warmer.

8.0˚C, Ideal Serving Temperature of Champagne
According to trade association, The Comité Champagne, Champagne served below 8°C makes aromas harder to detect, while above 10°C makes the Champagne ‘heavier and less bright.’

6.2˚C, Optimal Temperature to Run a Marathon
When French researchers analysed the finishing times of 1.8 million marathoners over a 10-year period, they found that a race-day temp of 6.2˚C produced the quickest times overall.

3.33˚C, Ideal Serving Temperature of Draught Beer
According to The Brewers Association Draft Beer Quality Manual, 3.33˚C is the perfect temperature to serve draught beer and barrels should be left for 24 hours before being tapped.

1.6˚C, Optimum Temperature of a Kitchen Refrigerator
At 1.6 ˚C the metabolic growth of bacteria is reduced, while the Food Standards Agency recommends separating raw meat, poultry and fish from other foods to prevent cross-contamination.

1.0˚C, Temperature at the Bottom of the Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench is the deepest point in the ocean. In 2013, research suggested microbial life forms thrive within the trench which has yet to be explored fully.

0.01˚C, Triple Point of Water
The triple point of water refers to the temperature at which water exists as a liquid, solid, and gas, simultaneously. This point defines the Kelvin scale and is also called the thermodynamic equilibrium.

-12.3˚C, Hottest Temperature Recorded in Antarctica
Antarctica’s hottest temperature was recorded in 2011 at the southernmost settlement on Earth – the Amundsen-Scott Station, named after explorers Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott.

-18.0˚C, Optimum Temperature of a Kitchen Freezer
According to the FDA, freezers below -18° C can store food safely indefinitely, while a full freezer can keep food safe to eat for up to 48hrs if unplugged.

-18.0˚C, Freezing Point of Sunflower Oil
Though they have a similar structure, cottonseed oil remains liquid to -48˚C, while sunflower oil solidifies at -18.0˚C.

-24.0˚C, Coldest Temperature Recorded in Africa
Recorded at the Ifrane ski resort in Morocco in 1935. Translated as ‘Cave’, the annual average temperature of the resort rarely exceeds 11°C.

-25.6˚C, Coldest Temperature Recorded in Oceania
Recorded in Ranfurly, Central Otago, in 1903. The Kiwi town shares its name with Ranfurly of the West-Central Lowlands of Scotland.

-27.2˚C, Coldest Temperature Recorded in the UK
The UK’s lowest temperature is -27.2˚C and was recorded in the quaint Scottish village of Braemar, Aberdeenshire, in 1895.

-31.0˚C, Lowest Temperature a Mobile Phone can Operate at
Although Apple suggests its phones should only be used between 0˚C and 35˚C, a recent experiment found some phones were still operable as low as -31.0˚C.

-36.0˚C, Temperature at the Summit of Mount Everest in Winter
Although temperatures on Mount Everest can reach -36.0˚C in winter, the British record for reaching it is 11 times and is held by the aptly named Gloucestershire-born mountaineer, Kenton Cool.

-39.0˚C, Coldest Temperature Recorded in South America
Literally translated as The Passage of Ducks, this temperature was recorded in the Valle de los Patos Superior in the Andine passage, San Juan in 1972.

-39.0˚C, Melting Point of Mercury
The periodic symbol for Mercury is Hg from its Greek name, hydrargyrum. Also known as quicksilver, the metal is most commonly found in thermometers.

-40.0˚C, Intersecting Point of Fahrenheit and Celsius
At this temperature both Fahrenheit and Celsius are -40˚. This is because both scales increase and decrease at different rates, therefore must coincide at some point.

-40.0˚C, Temperature at which Skin Freezes
Skin may freeze almost instantly at or below this temperature, though the temperature used when removing warts via freezing is -57˚C.

-55.0˚C, Average Temperature on Mars
While the average temperature on Mars is about -55°C, surface temperatures range from as little as 133° C at the winter pole, to almost 27° C on a summer’s day.

-58.0˚C, Coldest Temperature Recorded in Europe
Recorded in the Russian rural locality Ust-Shchugor of the Komi Republic in 1978. The village sits at an elevation of 85 metres and is in between the Severnaya Sosva River and the Ural Mountains.

-66.1˚C, Coldest Temperature Recorded in North America
Recorded in the Prospect Creek of Alaska in 1954. Despite the area being rich in natural minerals including bismuth and tungsten, no company is yet to take advantage of the remote location.

-68.0˚C, Coldest Temperature Recorded in Asia
Recorded in Verkhoyansk in Russia’s Sakha Republic in 1892, the district also possesses the largest temperature differences between winter and summer on Earth, where it can reach heights of 16˚C.

-78.5˚C, Temperature of Dry Ice
Created from frozen carbon dioxide, dry ice gives twice the cooling energy per pound in weight and three times the cooling energy per volume than regular water ice.

-89.2˚C, Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth
The lowest reliably measured natural temperature on Earth was recorded at the Pole of Cold at the Russian Vostok Station, Antarctica, in 1983.

-145.0°C, Average Temperature of the Clouds of Jupiter
The temperature in the clouds of Jupiter is approximately -145˚C degrees Celsius. While the planet’s centre is far hotter at 24,000˚C.

-168.0˚C, Average Temperature on Saturn
Saturn is covered with a thick atmosphere made up of hydrogen and helium. Saturn’s temperature is believed to be about -168˚C.

-195.0˚C, Temperature of Liquid Nitrogen for Making Ice Cream
According to food experts, making ice cream at super-low temperatures makes it smoother as ice crystals don’t have time to form.

-196.0˚C, Liquid air
At this temperature air cannot exist in gas form – nitrogen evaporates at -195.8˚C, argon at -185.7˚C, and oxygen at -183˚C.

-272.0˚C, Coldest an Animal Has Survived
The water-dwelling micro animal, the tardigrade – also known as the Water Bear or moss piglet, can also survive in the vacuum of space and in temperatures above 100C.

-273.15˚C, Absolute Zero
Absolute zero is the point at which no heat energy remains in substance, making it the lowest possible temperature.

via oercommons