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Zero gravity, or weightlessness, occurs in orbit or in space away from celestial bodies. Objects float and flames become spherical, but dust and clutter can create a messy environment. Zero gravity can also have negative effects on the human body, including weakened bones and muscles, slowed blood circulation, and excess flatulence. To counteract these effects, astronauts must exercise frequently. Creating space stations that rotate to simulate gravity may be a solution for long-term space colonization.
Zero gravity is often used as a reference to weightlessness, circumstances in which objects lose apparent weight and begin to float. This generally occurs in orbit or anywhere in space not near a celestial body, such as astronauts traveling between the Earth and the Moon. Although Earth’s gravity still pulls in orbit, because orbiting objects are in a state of continuous free fall, this gravity does not press astronauts into the floor. While the objects in orbit are not actually experiencing zero gravity, the term as a synonym for weightlessness has stuck and will be used throughout the rest of this article.
In zero gravity, anything that isn’t tied or bolted floats. A stationary object stays stationary, but a moving object keeps moving until it hits a wall or another object. Released liquids, such as orange juice, form into bubbles due to surface tension and float until they are sucked up. Bubbles can join together to make bigger bubbles.
Zero gravity is not a good place to avoid dust. Imagine if all the dust and clutter on the floors and in the corners of the rooms started floating everywhere. This can quickly lead to a messy environment. Therefore, the air on a space station must be continuously processed and filtered to stay clean.
In zero gravity, flames are more spherical. Usually, the carbon dioxide created by a wood flame travels upward, because this gas has a positive buoyancy under surface conditions. In the absence of gravity, the gas has neutral buoyancy and will linger in the vicinity of the flame until it suffocates. However, if there is enough oxygen, the flames can still spread and pose a threat to astronauts.
Zero gravity can take a toll on the human body. Without weight pulling us down and forcing our bodies to work against it, our bones and muscles become brittle. This is called spaceflight osteopenia. To counteract osteopenia, astronauts must exercise frequently.
While spaceflight is considered fascinating, the other symptoms of zero gravity on astronauts are anything but. These include slowed blood circulation, balance disturbances, a weakened immune system, sleep disturbances, facial swelling and perhaps most embarrassing: excess flatulence. If we want to colonize space on a large scale without suffering from constant flatulence and muscle frailty, it seems that we will have to create space stations that rotate to simulate gravity. Optimistically, this will be achieved by private companies by 2020, with 2030-2040 perhaps a more realistic timeframe.
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