What will happen to the human body in space?

Some films show catastrophic scenarios where a person finds himself without a spacesuit (or in a damaged spacesuit) in a desolate universe. But what really happens to the human body in the cosmos and how long does it last?

The biggest problem is the lack of oxygen associated with very low pressure. There is almost zero pressure in space. Due to decompression, water evaporates rapidly from the oral cavity, the mucous membranes and the surface of the eyes dry out. An even bigger problem than surface water is body gas when the pressure changes rapidly. The air expands. Therefore, the astronaut's biggest mistake without a spacesuit is holding his breath. Expansion of the air held in the lungs will cause them to rupture. The result is rapid death.

As for gas, the most dangerous is air in the lungs. It will not do so much damage in other bodies. Decompression can increase the volume of the intestines, causing impaired breathing or reduced heart rate. Similarly, it is possible to rupture the eardrum. But these problems are not life-threatening.

In addition to air decompression in the lungs, the biggest problem is lack of oxygen. Due to the rapid change in pressure, one cannot hold one's breath, so it is best to exhale slowly. But the air will run out very soon. According to experts, an astronaut who finds himself in space without a spacesuit has about 10 seconds to orient himself and try to save himself. After 10 to 15 seconds, a person loses consciousness due to lack of air, soon his heart stops beating and death occurs.

The problem for an astronaut can also be both too low and too high. The temperature of the universe is about 3 kelvins, which is about -270 degrees. However, since there is a vacuum in space, which is a very good insulating material, the body cools very slowly. At first, the temperature is felt by moist mucous membranes, such as the respiratory tract. If an astronaut crashes in a place where the sun's rays fall directly on him, he will instead wash at a high temperature. If he could stand without oxygen for a few minutes, he would probably suffer burns in space. But radiation is not dangerous just because of the high temperature. Ultraviolet rays also flow from the Sun. In addition, the entire universe is interwoven with cosmic radiation.