• Question: what is space

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      Asked by 222newg34 to Aoife, Brian, Conor, Louise, Matthew on 15 Nov 2016.
      • Photo: Matthew Kitching

        Matthew Kitching answered on 15 Nov 2016:

        Hi 222newg34!

        Space is almost a complete vacuum (i.e theres not much physical stuff in most of it) but it is FULL of radiation! If we point our telescopes into space we can see radiation everywhere – and by measuring it, we can find out information about the time shortly after the start of the universe!

        We call this the cosmic microwave background – and it keeps the (almost) empty space at around 3 K.

        you can learn more about the cosmic microwave background here:
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_microwave_background

        Hope this answers your question – let me know if you want to know more 🙂

      • Photo: Louise Mc Grath

        Louise Mc Grath answered on 15 Nov 2016:

        Hi 222newg34!

        In space, no one can hear you scream. This is because there is no air in space – it is a vacuum. Sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum.

        In this vacuum various things can be found, so even though people tell you space is empty, in fact it is not! The vast gaps between the stars and planets are filled with huge amounts of thinly spread gas and dust. Even the emptiest parts of space contain at least a few hundred atoms or molecules per cubic metre.

        Space is also filled with many forms of radiation that are dangerous to astronauts. Much of this infrared and ultraviolet radiation comes from the Sun. High energy X-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays – particles travelling close to the speed of light – arrive from distant star systems.

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