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Flames in space form soft spheres instead of teardrops

Flames in space form soft spheres instead of teardrops

On Earth, hot gas rises and stretches a candle flame into a pointed teardrop; in microgravity, combustion products stay put, so flames become rounded, cooler, and often sootier spheres around the fuel.

ISS experiments map how these quiet fires spread along materials, critical for spacecraft fire safety and for understanding soot chemistry without buoyancy. Some weak flames extinguish themselves as oxygen is not refreshed by convection.

Fire forgets which way is up. Space flames are slow, spherical reminders that gravity usually sketches every blaze we know.

Shahzad Mahota Shahzad Mahota @shahzad-mahota

Flames in space form soft spheres instead of teardrops