Scientists told what space smells like

The question of what space smells like may not be considered topical, but, you must agree, it would be interesting to find out. It turns out that outer space, which we conditionally consider a vacuum, has its own characteristic smell. Scientists have described it by comparing it with the familiar earthly flavors, so you can recreate this combination yourself at home or in the garage.

No one has been able to smell space directly, as this is fraught with death. But astronauts working outside the orbital stations brought this smell on the outside of their spacesuits. According to experts, it looks like a combination of smells of heated metal, barbecue and engine oil.

It is precisely established that the culprits of this not too pleasant ambergris are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that exist in every corner of the universe. Professor Luis Allamandola from the Ames Research Center, belonging to NASA, revealed the secret of their origin:

According to the scientist, these smells are familiar to earthlings, since aromatic hydrocarbon molecules are found in coal, oil and even in food. Cosmonauts say that space smells like a badly overcooked, almost burnt steak. At the same time, everyone has the same association, so their opinion can be trusted.

Allamandola claims that different parts of the universe can have different smells. Interstellar space smells too sharp and unpleasant due to the abundance of carbon and lack of oxygen, but near large stars there may be a completely acceptable aroma of moderately roasted meat on charcoal.

Depending on which part of the cosmos to smell, there may be other flavors. The professor is sure that the smell of melted sugar, sulfur or rotten eggs may hover near some planets - it all depends on the same molecules and their combinations. Unfortunately, the cosmos cannot offer us exquisite smells, at least the part that Earthlings have studied at least a little.

In 2018, NASA even turned to Stephen Pierce, the manufacturer of Omega Ingredients fragrances, to create a special composition with the smell of space. It was planned to use it in simulators to train astronauts.