The surprising effects of outer space on the human body - Tejal Gala

Summary

The script narrates a mad scientist's unintended teleportation into space, highlighting the immediate dangers of ebullism and hypoxia without a spacesuit. It contrasts this with the protection a suit offers but mentions the persistent risks of cosmic radiation. It then explores the long-term effects of space travel on the human body, including microgravity's impact on vision, muscle and bone loss, and potential kidney stones. The narrative concludes with the scientist's return to Earth, facing recovery challenges and the ongoing research into space travel's health implications.

Takeaways

• 🌌 Without a spacesuit, the vacuum of space would cause the scientist's lungs to rupture due to rapid expansion of air.
• 💨 Holding breath in space would accelerate the scientist's demise as the body's fluids would vaporize, a process known as ebullism.
• 😵‍♂️ The lack of oxygen would cause the scientist to pass out within 15 seconds, before the effects of ebullism become fatal.
• 🥶 Contrary to common belief, the scientist wouldn't freeze quickly in space due to the slow radiation of body heat.
• 👨‍🚀 With a spacesuit, the pressurized air, oxygen supply, and insulation protect the scientist from immediate dangers of space.
• ☢️ Space exposes the scientist to harmful cosmic rays and solar energetic particles, increasing the risk of DNA damage and cancer.
• 🛸 A month-long space expedition in a spacecraft would protect from some of the environmental threats but still pose health challenges.
• 💊 Microgravity affects the distribution of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, leading to potential vision impairment and other health issues.
• 🦴 The lack of gravity causes muscle and bone mass loss, and the release of minerals can lead to kidney stones.
• 🧠 Mental health is also at risk due to the isolation and confinement experienced during long-term space travel.
• 🛑 Upon return to Earth, the scientist would face challenges in readjusting to gravity, with fluid redistribution and muscle strength taking time to normalize.
• 🔬 The long-term effects of space travel on human health are still being studied, with vision potentially never returning to normal.

Q & A

What would happen if the mad scientist held his breath in space?

Holding his breath would accelerate his demise as the air in his lungs would expand due to the lack of external pressure, potentially causing his lungs to rupture.

What is ebullism and how does it affect the body in a vacuum?

Ebullism is the process where bodily fluids begin to vaporize due to the lack of surrounding air pressure. It causes skin to swell, moist surfaces like eyes to boil, and blood vessels to form obstructive bubbles.

Why doesn't the mad scientist die from freezing in space immediately?

In space, body heat can only leave by slowly radiating away, unlike on Earth where it can transfer to surrounding molecules. It would take hours to freeze, and other factors would likely cause death first.

How does a spacesuit protect the mad scientist from the dangers of space?

A spacesuit provides pressurized air to prevent ebullism, an oxygen tank to allow breathing, and insulation to prevent freezing, thus protecting against immediate threats in space.

What are galactic cosmic rays and how do they affect the human body?

Galactic cosmic rays are a form of ionizing radiation believed to originate from distant supernovas. They can pass through the spacesuit, damaging DNA and increasing the risk of cancer.

How does microgravity affect the distribution of blood and cerebrospinal fluid in the body?

Microgravity causes a shift of about half a gallon of internal fluids to the upper body, leading to an engorged brain, swelling of the optic nerve sheath, and impairment of close distance vision.

What are the long-term effects of space travel on the mad scientist's muscles and bones?

In space, muscles and bones gradually lose mass due to the lack of gravity. This can lead to weakened muscles and reduced bone density, which may take months to a year to recover after returning to Earth.

What mental health challenges might the mad scientist face during a month-long space expedition?

The mad scientist might experience motion sickness, sleep disturbances, and the potential for mental health deterioration due to confinement in a small spacecraft and isolation from loved ones.

What are the immediate physical challenges the mad scientist faces upon returning to Earth's gravity?

Upon returning to Earth, the mad scientist initially has difficulty standing without fainting due to the redistribution of fluids that takes a few days to normalize.

How long does it take for the mad scientist's vision to recover after space travel?

The mad scientist's vision might take several years to recover after space travel, and it may never return entirely to normal.

What is the mad scientist's original, safer intended purpose for the teleporter?

The mad scientist's original, safer intended purpose for the teleporter is not specified in the script, but it is implied to be something less risky than space travel.