Ever seen a picture of a blobfish in it’s deep ocean habitat vs when it is at the surface? It’s body is adapted to the extreme pressure of the deep sea, and when that pressure is no longer there, the forces keeping it’s shape are no longer present and thus every bit of it expands. That’s what would happen to us in the vacuum of space albeit on a lesser scale. Also, we’re like 70% water which boils in a vacuum.
As I understand it, this in fact will not happen. Our circulatory system is a closed loop and strong enough to not expand into vacuum. The water inside our body is kept close to usual pressure by our skin, blood vessels etc.
The main immediate danger in space without a spacesuit would be holding your breath. Your lungs are not built to withstand a whole atmosphere of pressure from the inside, and will get damaged if you hold your breath.
Of course if you don’t, you’ll have another problem.
Thanks for the clarification. I knew the whole lungs problem and that was really what I had in mind but just kind of assumed there’d be similar dangers to other bodily functions but I see that’s not the case.
I do believe the water would still be an issue for your eyes and maybe even mouth but good to know you wouldn’t immediately have blood literally boiling in your veins.
Ever seen a picture of a blobfish in it’s deep ocean habitat vs when it is at the surface? It’s body is adapted to the extreme pressure of the deep sea, and when that pressure is no longer there, the forces keeping it’s shape are no longer present and thus every bit of it expands. That’s what would happen to us in the vacuum of space albeit on a lesser scale. Also, we’re like 70% water which boils in a vacuum.
As I understand it, this in fact will not happen. Our circulatory system is a closed loop and strong enough to not expand into vacuum. The water inside our body is kept close to usual pressure by our skin, blood vessels etc.
The main immediate danger in space without a spacesuit would be holding your breath. Your lungs are not built to withstand a whole atmosphere of pressure from the inside, and will get damaged if you hold your breath.
Of course if you don’t, you’ll have another problem.
Thanks for the clarification. I knew the whole lungs problem and that was really what I had in mind but just kind of assumed there’d be similar dangers to other bodily functions but I see that’s not the case.
I do believe the water would still be an issue for your eyes and maybe even mouth but good to know you wouldn’t immediately have blood literally boiling in your veins.
I agree that the water exposed to vacuum would evaporate over time, but I’m not sure it would be directly harmful beyond the dehydration.