Astronauts aboard the International Space Station put a GoPro camera inside a floating ball of water to create amazing footage that is going viral online.
IFLScience explained to the layperson exactly how water – and the camera – reacted in space.
NASA astronauts Steve Swanson and Reid Wiseman with European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst did the experiment and filmed it with a 3-D camera in summer 2014 on Expedition 40.
“In space, liquids naturally take on a spherical shape because they're in free fall. Therefore, gravity doesn't affect them like on Earth and rather it's
surface tension that shapes them,” IFLScience said. “Hydrogen bonding between water molecules naturally pulls them together, resulting in a spherical configuration that minimizes surface area.”
The result was what several commenters called “water bending,” or a really cool water trick that allowed one of the astronauts to stretch the water surrounding the GoPro camera between his hands.
The comments on IFLScience, in fact, were as interesting as the story. (One person wrote, “The most brilliant thread of comments. Ever.”)
From detailed explanations about gravity and orbits to speculation on what would happen if a drop of detergent was added to the water to break the surface tension, the comments showed the awe that space travel still creates.
“Rocket scientists thank you for all your long explanations,” one person wrote.
The 3-D version of the experiment is also available online, but you’jll need 3-D glasses to watch.
“And THIS is why I keep a pair of 3d glasses in my desk drawer (knew it'd come in handy one day!)”
one person wrote on Mental Floss.
“MUST WATCH, Most amazing thing ever, Grab yo' 3d glasses. This is why we are in space #SpaceScience,” another person posted.