All things · The Machinery of Life
Mimivirus: how big is it?
Mimivirus is about 750 nm. In everyday terms, that is ≈ 7,080 hydrogen atoms.
- Size
- 750 nm
- In metres
- 7.50 × 10⁻⁷ m
- Everyday comparison
- ≈ 7,080 hydrogen atoms
- Chapter
- The Machinery of Life
Did you know?
A giant virus, bigger than some bacteria. Scientists first mistook it for a bacterium; it was only recognised as a virus in 2003.
How it compares
- About 1.4× bigger than Wavelength of green light (530 nm).
- About 2.7× smaller than E. coli bacterium (2 µm).
Other things of a similar size
- Coronavirus 90 nm
- Flu virus 120 nm
- Wavelength of green light 530 nm
- E. coli bacterium 2 µm
- Platelet 2.5 µm
- Red blood cell 7.5 µm
Sizes are rounded, typical values drawn from standard reference sources, including NIST/CODATA physical constants and NASA's planetary fact sheets. Real objects vary; see About for how sizes are chosen.