Photo 172161164 | Burp © Andrej Privizer | Dreamstime.com
An often quoted piece of science fiction wisdom is “In space they can’t hear you scream.” Since vacuum doesn’t carry noise, if the bad guy shoves you out of an air lock, no one will hear the protest. Screaming into the void does nothing.
A lesser know piece of knowledge is “In space they can’t hear you burp.” Not exactly for the same reason as the screaming thing … well, yes, the vacuum does not carry the burp sound. But, and this will be important as we move into space, microgravity prevents the gas from glomming together into bubbles large enough for the body muscles to push out. In other words, you can’t burp in space.
Soda, beer, and all those lovely bubbly drinks can’t be taken into space – or made there. Many science fiction stories talk about how the engineers make a little distillery back in the engine room. Whiskey-in-the-jaro will be fine, beer, not so much. Enough to make one dive into a gravity well, if that is the only way to crack a cold one. (Hey, I should make a flash for that. —Done, hang around for 1/21/2024 “Memory of a Kiss”.)
Science fiction often explores mankind adapting to space as settlers. That means reproduction, and babies need burping. Humans gulp air as part of the eating process (it is actually necessary to taste food and aids in digestion), babies more than most. Until they develop the skill set to burp themselves, parents spend hours patting backs with babies draped over shoulders and legs, then changing clothes from the escaping curds. Can you imagine the pain the little babies will be in if burping isn’t possible?
If microgravity isn’t possible to raise children, how will humans settle space?
Specifically Can’t Burp In Space science:
- Instead of gases rising up through the esophagus, there is no “up” in microgravity and the gases get distributed throughout the digestive system.
- If you do manage to work a burb “up” to the mouth, instead of “out” the back, it comes with gifts because the liquid and gas haven’t separated. A burp is usually have vomit bits.
- Astronauts use special air suction systems to keep airflow away from the mouth, to prevent vomit or-bits. (Microgravity means anything that comes up will orbit the nearest large mass, which is the person. New meaning to whoever smelt it, dealt it.)
- Astronauts have a specific low-gas food diet – no carbonated beverages, but also no beans and broccoli, no yeast (risen) bread. That food in a bag is two-fold. One, it doesn’t fly away in the microgravity, but two, as much of the air has been removed as possible.
Bibliography
Planetary Society. “Fact Worth Sharing.” The Downlink. 6 October 2023. (This is an email magazine
Project Archinaut. “Can burp in space? 7 Reasons why you can’t.” Undated. (last viewed 11/14/2023 – Note 4/26/2024 link is no longer working)
Ungar, Eugene K. “Two-Phase Behavior in Mircorgravity.” Nasa. August 2021. (https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20210018162/downloads/Two-Phase%20Behavior%20in%20Microgravity%20TFAWS%202021_.pdf – last viewed 11/14/2023 – This is a PDF slide show.)