1) The European Union (EU) is a supranational organization comprising 27 member states that cooperate on various issues, including trade, economic integration, and common policies, while preserving individual national sovereignty.

2) Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas, is the highest mountain on Earth, reaching a peak elevation of 29,032 feet (8,848 meters).

3) The abolition of slavery in the United States was officially proclaimed with the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.

4) The universe is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years old.