Video Of The Week - Why Astronauts Never Shed Tears

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Though it is common knowledge that lack of gravity makes life in space a tad different from that on earth, very few of us ever think about how different. There is of course the fact that astronauts are always suspended and floating around, but what about beyond that? Something as basic as shedding a tear or two of joy or sorrow?

Turns out that the scientists cannot do that at all! That's because while the tears can form normally, the zero gravity environment prevents them from falling. Instead, all that ends up happening is that multiple tears turn into blobs of water that sit right next to eye or if they get really big, move around the face but never, down to the ground!

Sounds unbelievable? Then watch Canadian astronaut and the current commander of the International Space Station Chris Hadfield, demonstrate it for you.

Resources:cbsnews.com

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399 Comments
  • flowergirl11
    flowergirl11over 9 years
    There is no gravity so it doesn't fall
    • super_jeep
      super_jeepover 9 years
      well there is gravity the gravity on the international space station is as strong as it is here but they are orbiting so they just float around
    • I Myself and Meover 9 years
      imagine if the water ball got so big it covered your whole face.
      • shortstuffover 9 years
        i know this guy,its Chris Hadfield!!!
        • laraianover 9 years
          that proof that you can't cry in space that was cool hope you like it an dhave fun people i had a lost of people that it was cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
          • 5ccollins
            5ccollinsover 9 years
            I think this experiment was really cool and now I know to bring a hanky
            • 5aarmstrong
              5aarmstrongover 9 years
              I think it's really odd that's when the water toches your eye it forms a blob of water. I learned that space is a vary odd place and would like to learn more about it. My question is is the water already like that it's self in space or does it only do that when it toches your eye.
              • 4gmiller
                4gmillerover 9 years
                Well according to the passage crying in space just sticks to you eye and it make a bubble but why? My thought is that gravity makes water floate in space and water will stick to the eye just like a wall with water droplets. But my question is that why does the water bubble get big?
                • 4afranz
                  4afranzover 9 years
                  Wow that's really cool, I didn't know that in zero gravity tears can form normally. But i still have one question why do the tears join together and form one, why don't they just fall to the ground like normal.
                • 5emcdaniel
                  5emcdanielover 9 years
                  Know if I go in space I'll know to bring a towel or a hanky
                  • Madisonover 9 years
                    So Cool!!!