Does space have a scent? If so, how is the physically possible and I thought you couldn't take off your hat as there is no atmosphere and you would freeze and implode. Please help.
2006-09-30 14:05:44 · 12 answers · asked by robyn 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I would have assumed that it has no scent, because there is no gas in this region of space with a sufficient density to even have an odor. However, Anousheh Ansari says it smells like a burnt almond cookie, and I can't really argue with a woman who's actually been there. It's true that you can't remove your helmet in space and live for more than a few seconds, but Ms. Ansari was referring to the odor inside the space station, which is pressurized; it's not necessarily accurate to call this the odor of space. Actual outer space would not have a scent, although something like a nebula, where gas is present, might have a scent if only you wouldn't die before you could register it.
2006-09-30 14:08:22 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea what you're talking about.
So I will take my best guess at an answer:
In about a year, the results from the data obtained from the spacetime frame dragging experiment by satellites that were launched a few years ago will be available. If the results are positive, then the fabric of space is actually "something" instead of "nothing." That is an interesting development indeed.
2006-09-30 14:09:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Space doesn't have a scent, because it wouldn't really need any. The gases in space might have a scent, like methane or hydrogen something that stinks like rotten eggs. Doesn't matter anyway because you would explode and freeze/cook if you took the helmet off.
2006-09-30 14:17:31 · answer #3 · answered by Eddy G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In some controversial research done about 200 years in our future, it was determined that outer space does indeed have a scent.
In radical meta-evolution techniques, a quasi-human species was developed that could live in outer space without the need for any space suits. This species was modified to be able to smell the exceedingly faint whiff of organic molecules it would accumulate and use to build its body.
It had such a wide body that it could sail like a kite using solar winds as its means of propulsion. And with a life span of 10s of thousands of years it was developed to distribute human forms to other worlds. Once it arrived at a new star system this species would then generate pods that would contain its secondary life form, metamorphized to adapt to what ever physical and chemical environments existed. The pods would arrive on the planet's surface as adult humans, similar but improved from our current physical appearence. Then the interstellar species would move on to the next star system in search of other worlds to populate with humans.
Of course if YOU tried to smell anything in outerspace you wouldn't have a chance to inhale as your blood boiled and your eyeballs would exploded. So stay on earth and live a long and happy life and leave the sniffing in outerspace to the experts and happy quasi-humans of the future splintering of the human species during the period called the thousand species explosion.
2006-09-30 15:14:02 · answer #4 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is theoretically possible for parts of space to have a scent, however it is impossible for us to exist in the conditions needed to test this.
Bottom line is our olfactory senses respond to chemical reactions and stimulations from airborn gases, chemicals, and even organic matter. Since many of these do in fact exist in certain areas of space it is possible for there to be a scent.
A puzzle that probably will never be answered.
2006-09-30 14:19:50 · answer #5 · answered by sunsetsrbest1 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scents are caused by particles stimulating receptors in your nose and mouth. Space has some particles, though you would die before you could sense them. Most of the particles in space are hydrogen atoms, and hydrogen is an odorless, tasteless gas, so the chances of smelling anything in space is very, very, very slight.
2006-09-30 14:13:01 · answer #6 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Space is NOT a vacuum, there are atoms and monicules floating around, so if you found a methane monicule it would smell, if you bared any part of your body the low pressure would boil your blood.
2006-09-30 14:10:50 · answer #7 · answered by tattie_herbert 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
remember the movie 2001? the astronaut was exposed to "space" for a minute and didn't implode (or explode)
2006-09-30 14:14:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
when human-kind actually see the obvious and use technology for the purpose it is used for,to help people gain knowledge, then we may all know...or as i predict it we may never know because people never see the truth and the things that are infront of them,instead they see what they want and see whats way down the road but they will never get down the rode because they cant take the firsts steps and work for it
2006-09-30 14:10:59 · answer #9 · answered by Espio 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
actually its exsploed from your internal presssure, and no it has no sent cause there is no air for us to smell it, even if there was its so could we would freeze almost instantly, but since its a near perfect vacum we also tend to exsplode upon bieng exsposed
2006-09-30 14:08:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋