What Is Space Like? šŖ
Space is the huge, black, and endless area beyond Earthās sky. Itās full of planets, stars, and galaxies, but there is one very important thing missingāair!
Hereās what makes space so different from Earth:
š¬ļø No Air ā There is no oxygen to breathe.
š§ Super Cold or Super Hot ā It can be freezing cold or burning hot, depending on where you are.
š°ļø No Gravity ā Thereās no force pulling things down like on Earth, so astronauts float!
š¶ No Sound ā Sound needs air to travel, so space is completely silent!
Because space is so different, people need special suits and helmets to survive!
Hello my friends!
For a quick note, welcome to Tidbits with Titus, a podcast and newsletter where we tackle the big, curious questions kids ask every day in fun, bite-sized ways! Iām Alexander Titus, but I go by Titus. Iām a scientist, adventurer, and a huge fan of making science, technology, and life accessible to all ages. From āHow does electricity work?ā to āWhat are taxes?ā and even āWhy is the sky blue?ā Iām here to dive into these wonder-filled questions with engaging stories and simple explanations that spark curiosity and make learning a joy. This effort is all about creating a space where families can learn together, discover the magic of the every day, and find thoughtful ways to explore the worldās big mysteries. Letās make curiosity a family traditionāone tidbit at a time!
Just so you know, these podcast episodes are all AI-generated using Googleās really cool NotebookLM technology. That means there are some errors in how words are said, but that is part of the fun!
If your little ones have questions that you want help answering, shoot me an email at questions@tidbitswithtitus.com and Iāll see what I can do!
You can subscribe to the newsletter that has this information as well at tidbitswithtitus.com.
Also please share with anyone you think would be interested. The more the merrier!
Cheers,
-Titus
What Happens If You Try to Breathe in Space? š²
Imagine youāre in a spaceship, and you take off your helmet to take a deep breath. What would happen? Hereās a step-by-step breakdown:
1. Thereās No Air to Breathe! š¬ļøš«
The biggest problem is that space has no oxygen. Oxygen is what we need to breathe and stay alive. The moment you try to take a breath in space, nothing would go into your lungs!
On Earth, our air is 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Space, however, has no air at all!
Without oxygen, you would:
Feel dizzy within seconds.
Pass out after about 15 seconds!
Your brain and body wouldnāt be able to work!
2. Your Lungs Would Be in Trouble! š§
If you tried to hold your breath, that would actually be worse! Why? Because in space, thereās no air pressure to keep things normal. The air inside your lungs would expand and could hurt your lungs badly! š±
Thatās why astronauts are trained to exhale if something goes wrong in spaceāso their lungs donāt burst!
3. Your Body Would Start Changing! šāāļø
Because space has no pressure, your body would swell up like a balloon! š But donāt worry, you wouldnāt explode! Your skin is stretchy enough to hold things together.
Your saliva and tears would start to boil because liquids act strangely in space. This might sound scary, but it wouldnāt be painful because the water inside your body would stay liquid.
4. Youād Get Super Coldā¦ or Super Hot! āļøš„
Space can be extremely coldāminus 455 degrees Fahrenheit (-270Ā°C)! Thatās colder than any place on Earth!
But if youāre close to the Sun, space can also be incredibly hot, reaching 250Ā°F (121Ā°C)!
Without a spacesuit, your body wouldnāt warm up or cool down properly, so you could freeze or overheat!
5. You Wouldnāt Instantly Explode or Freeze! š
A lot of movies show people instantly exploding or freezing solid in space. But thatās not true!
You would have about 15 seconds before you passed out. You could survive for about 1-2 minutes before really bad things started happening.
If someone rescued you quickly and got you oxygen, you could recover and survive! š²
How Do Astronauts Survive in Space? š§āš
Astronauts never take off their helmets in space because they need oxygen to breathe! Instead, they wear:
šµ A Space Suit ā Protects them from temperature changes and pressure.
šµ A Helmet with Oxygen ā Helps them breathe.
šµ A Tether ā Keeps them attached to the spaceship so they donāt float away!
Inside the International Space Station (ISS), thereās plenty of oxygen, so astronauts can breathe normally without helmets!
Could Humans Ever Breathe in Space? š¤
Right now, humans canāt breathe in space without help. But in the future, we might find ways to make air on other planets! Scientists are working on:
š± Growing plants that make oxygen
š Machines that turn carbon dioxide into oxygen
š Building space stations with air
Maybe one day, people will live in space just like they do on Earth!
Fun Space Facts! š
āØ The Sun is so big, 1.3 million Earths could fit inside it!
āØ Space is completely silentāyou wouldnāt hear anything!
āØ Astronauts grow taller in space because thereās no gravity!
āØ The Moon has no air, so astronauts have to wear suits there too!
A Quick Recap! š
š Space has no air, so you canāt breathe there.
š± Holding your breath in space is dangerous!
āļøš„ Space is either super hot or super cold.
š§āš Astronauts wear space suits and helmets to survive.
š On Earth, we have air to breathe, thanks to plants and our atmosphere!
So, next time you look up at the stars, rememberāspace is cool, but itās not a place to take off your helmet! šš
