NASA astronaut Andrew Feustel is pictured during a spacewalk in 2011 on the ISS wearing an EMU.
Courtesy of NASA
Never explore the final frontier without your trusty, white, puffy space suit! But why is it puffy and white? And why do astronauts need them? Turns out space is super dangerous and these suits can save your life.
We’ll give you a tour of all the features of NASA’s iconic EMU suit and explain why it looks like a squishy marshmallow. Plus, we’ll interview an engineer working on the next generation of space suits and hear a funky new space jam by singer Jamie Lidell.
Add in a mystery sound, a Moment of Um looking at knuckle cracking and some rad ideas for super suits of the future and you’ve got an action packed episode of Brains On.
Audio Transcript
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CHILD: You're listening to Brains On! where we're serious about being curious.
[DING]
ELEVATOR: OK, Marc and Sanden, we're here, outer space.
SANDEN: Sweet. I'm going to take a video of my hamster, Pasta Bucatini, flying through space and get a million likes. Right, PB?
[HAMSTER SOUNDS]
MARC: And I'm going to eat this ice cream float while I float. [CLINKING] Yum.
SANDEN: So Elevator, why aren't your doors opening?
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: I have no idea. This never happened before. Open.
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
Doors open.
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
I said, doors open.
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: I'm overriding your system.
MARC: Harvey, our omnipresent, virtual, voice assistant, what is your disembodied voice doing here?
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: More importantly, who gave you permission to override my system?
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: I am programmed to save humans and also hamsters from danger. And Marc, Sanden, and Pasta Bucatini are in grave danger if those doors open.
SANDEN: What, you mean space? [SCOFFS] It's fine. I can hold my breath. See? [INHALES]
MARC: Yeah, we're only going to float out there for a few minutes anyway.
HARVEY: A lack of breathable air is only one of the many extreme dangers your frail, weak bodies would face.
SANDEN: [EXHALES] Who are you calling weak?
MARC: I mean, you did pull a muscle opening a jar of jelly.
SANDEN: That jar had been working out, and you know it.
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: OK, fine, I bet you'll say space is also cold, right? Big deal. I was planning on cranking up the heat when they got back in, so stop--
[BEEP]
[BA-DUM]
--overriding--
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
--my doors.
[DING DING DING]
[BA-DUM]
Aaargh.
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: Actually, objects in space can experience a wide range of temperatures. For instance, in direct sunlight, an object could reach up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit.
MARC: That would totally melt my ice cream.
SANDEN: And my face.
HARVEY: But in the shade, that object could plummet to -148 degrees.
[BING]
SANDEN: I don't think I'm wearing enough layers.
ELEVATOR: Fine. They can wear reflective parkas. Just let go of my doors.
[BA-DUM]
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: In addition, since there is no atmosphere in space, there is no atmospheric pressure. Without suitable pressure, the fluids in the human body would begin to boil.
[BING]
SANDEN: That doesn't make sense.
[BING]
HARVEY: Fluids boil when they have enough energy to break free from the pressure of the air pushing down on them. In space, there is no air pressure. So fluids can boil very easily, like your blood and other bodily fluids.
[BING]
MARC: Boiling body fluids? No, my one weakness.
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: What are you, our nanny? If we want adventure, we'll get adventure. Right, guys?
SANDEN: Uh, now that you mention it, I actually do need to head back to Earth. I've got an appointment with my gardener about begonias. Yeah, that's believable, right?
MARC: Yeah, totally. And I just don't want to die.
ELEVATOR: You're backing out now because some bodyless robot voice made you scared?
SANDEN: Yeah.
MARC: Exactly.
[SQUEAK]
ELEVATOR: [SIGHS] Fine, back to Earth it is. But if that robot voice tries to override me again, I'm going to control-alt-delete it into oblivion.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
HARVEY: In addition to the dangers I mentioned, space is also full of harmful radiation. And you could be hit by small particles of dust or rocks that are moving fast enough to pierce your skin.
MARC: [EATING SOUNDS] I'm so scared, I can barely ice cream float. Oh, the horror. [EATING SOUNDS CONTINUE] Here, how's your ice cream, PB?
[SQUEAKS]
OK, don't worry. It's made from kale.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Brains On! from American Public Media. I'm Molly Bloom, and with me today are brother and sister, Eli and Kennedy, from Laguna Niguel, California. Hello.
ELI: Hi.
KENNEDY: Hi, Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: So it turns out space is super dangerous. Were you surprised to learn that?
ELI: Yeah, I was surprised that dust particles could pierce your skin.
KENNEDY: I thought the only danger was lack of oxygen. So I didn't really know it would be that dangerous.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, it is dangerous in a whole variety [LAUGHS] of ways, which is kind of surprising. And I just want to know, are you guys interested in space generally?
ELI: Yeah.
KENNEDY: Yeah, it's interesting because there's so much we don't know about it. So we can just keep exploring it, and we'll find new things.
ELI: I think it's cool that it goes on pretty much forever, and nobody knows if it ends.
MOLLY BLOOM: So what about space travel? Would you want to go into outer space if you could?
KENNEDY: No.
ELI: Yeah--
KENNEDY: [LAUGHS]
ELI: --I'd like to go into outer space someday to see what it's like to float and stuff.
MOLLY BLOOM: So Eli was a yes, and Kennedy was a hard no. Why not, Kennedy?
KENNEDY: I get really motion sick in airplanes. I don't [LAUGHS] really think I would like to go to space.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
KENNEDY: And I also don't really like small, cramped areas.
MOLLY BLOOM: Right. So it would be a tiny, cramped area. And if you get motion sick on an airplane, you'd probably get motion sick in outer space.
KENNEDY: [LAUGHS] Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Probably not the best. [LAUGHS] Well, even though space is a parade of terrifying threats to our physical existence, we've managed to explore it, thanks to space suits.
KENNEDY: They basically give us space-defying superpowers, so it's no wonder you all want to know more.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ESTHER: Hi, my name is Esther from Saint Paul, Minnesota. My question is, why do astronauts need space suits and spaceships to explore outer space? Why can't they do it without that stuff?
NATHAN: Hi, my name is Nathan from Melbourne, Australia. And my question is, how does a space suit work?
MICHAEL: My name is Michael. I live in Hogansville, Georgia. My question is, how do they make space suits?
EARNEST: My name is Ernest, and I live in Chicago. And my question is, why are spaces suits white?
KENNEDY: There are a few different types of spacesuits. But maybe the most famous kind is the suit you see NASA astronauts wearing when they float outside the International Space Station.
ELI: These suits are white with big, fishbowl-like helmets.
KENNEDY: They have boots and gloves that look super puffy and hard to move in.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, and there are all these valves and tubes on the front and a big pack on the back. This kind of suit is known as an extravehicular mobility unit.
ELI: Or an EMU.
KENNEDY: Extravehicular means outside a vehicle like a spacecraft.
ELI: And mobility means the ability to move.
MOLLY BLOOM: I love when the name of the thing tells you what the thing does. So helpful.
KENNEDY: But how does the space suit let you move around without the freezy, melty, boily airlessness of space stopping you?
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, a suit needs to do four main things.
[WHISTLE]
Spacesuit requirements roll call.
[ARMY DRUMS]
ELI: First up, air to breathe.
KENNEDY: Space suits have valves to pump oxygen from a life-support system on the back and valves that pump out the CO2 you exhale. All told, a NASA EMU has between six and eight hours of air supply.
[WHISTLE]
ELI: Next up, pressure.
MOLLY BLOOM: On Earth, the air around us pushes on us in all directions at all times. We call that air pressure. You don't feel it because you're used to it. But without that air pressure, all your body fluids would boil away.
ELI: No, thank you.
MOLLY BLOOM: So the inside of a space suit is pressurized, which means there is air all around you. It's sort of like being inside a giant balloon suit.
[WHISTLE]
ELI: Third, a comfy temperature.
KENNEDY: A space suit needs to keep you cool in the sun and warm in the shade, so spacesuits have cooling equipment and insulation. Climate control for the win.
[WHISTLE]
ELI: Last up, look out.
MOLLY BLOOM: A space suit needs to protect you from meteoroids and other stuff flying through the empty void, so EMU suits are tough enough to withstand small impacts. Basically, space armor.
KENNEDY: With those four powers combined, you have a space suit.
[TA-DA]
MOLLY BLOOM: So many cool things packed in one suit.
ELI: Yeah, it's basically a wearable spaceship.
MOLLY BLOOM: You know one thing it doesn't have? A--
[HISS]
[SCI-Fi SOUNDS]
KENNEDY: (WHISPERING) Mystery sound.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, here it is.
[BUBBLING]
All right, any guesses? Let's start with you, Kennedy.
KENNEDY: Well, I kind of hear some liquids. And it sounds like it's bubbling, so maybe some kind of factory that's making something?
ELI: Yeah, I think that it's kind of like the same thing.
MOLLY BLOOM: So you heard the bubbling liquid, so you're thinking a factory that's making something.
KENNEDY: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, we're going to hear it again and give you another chance to guess in just a little bit.
[BRAINS ON! DITTY]
MARC AND SANDEN: Ba-ba ba-ba ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba Brains On!
MARC: If at first you don't make it into the deep, dark void of space, try, try again. Oh, how about this suit?
SANDEN: Marc, that's a swimsuit. Try again.
MARC: This one?
SANDEN: That's just a picture of you with a bag on your head.
MARC: Oh, yeah.
[CHIMES]
[VIBRANT MUSIC]
SPACEY: Sanden, Marc, we're here to spiff you up for space, honeys.
SANDEN: [GASP] Spacey.
STARDUST: Hello, lovelies.
MARC: And Stardust.
STARDUST: You're gorgeous.
SANDEN: Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh. I've seen all your space makeovers.
MARC: My favorite episode is the one where you got that chicken ready for its moonwalk.
SPACEY: You are too kind. Now let's space you over. So we are dressing you in the hippest suit for space. Of course, by that we mean NASA's EMU suit, the white one that looks a little marshmallowy.
SANDEN: Hmm, that makes sense. I've always felt connected to marshmallows.
MARC: Awesome, but here's my thing. I've been really into patterns and prints lately. Are there any options besides plain white?
STARDUST: Oh, my god, I know, I know, I know. White Is a little basic. A small floral print? I would be obsessed.
SPACEY: Or a subtle leopard print.
[CHIMES]
Dreamy. But white's the most appropriate for space. White reflects the most heat. And as you know, space can get toasty. So we have got to stick with that.
SANDEN: Gotcha. I mean, I like the mallow vibe too. It's cool.
STARDUST: Now with the outer suit settled, let's get the fiercest part-- accessories--
[FUN MUSIC]
--starting with underwear.
SANDEN: Oh, my underwear is top of the line. 20 million threads per inch, nanofiber, with built-in scent filtration.
MARC: Mine has GPS. So I always know where it is, which is usually under my pants, except that one time.
[MYSTERY TONES]
SPACEY: Wow, for space, you'll need some new basics. Here are your long johns and a diaper.
STARDUST: Long johns wick away sweat if you're hot and keep you warm if it's chilly. I love it. The diaper is for, hmm, just in case. Spacewalks can be long, and a diaper keeps you out there for longer. So here, put these on.
[RUSTLING]
MARC: (SINGING) Space diaper. We're going to rock a space diaper.
STARDUST: Also, here's a cute little liquid cooling layer. Go ahead, zip that baby up, honey.
[ZIPPER SOUNDS]
SANDEN: These kind of remind me of onesies PJs. Any no one else getting that vibe?
MARC: It's s like full-body fabric hug.
SPACEY: Exactly. So this onesie has tiny, little tubes of water running through its fabric. The water tubes will circulate cool water to drop your temperature if you start to overheat. But you'll never get wet. It's quite an intricate system.
MARC: Rad, like personal air conditioning, only liquid.
SPACEY: Next, you'll wear these communication caps inside your helmets. They're hats but also have built-in headphones and a microphone.
SANDEN: [MAKES CRACKLING SOUND] Test, test. Sanden to Pasta Bucatini. This is the best space-over ever. Over. [MAKES CRACKLING SOUND]
[SQUEAKING]
STARDUST: I don't know who gave you permission to have the cutest gerbil in the galaxy but yes.
SANDEN: Thank you. Actually, he's a hamster.
STARDUST: OK--
[FUN MUSIC]
--we're moving on to exterior accessories.
SPACEY: Okey dokey, at the back of your spacesuit top, you'll have an attachment that looks like a rectangular backpack. That is your life-support system. It runs your other equipment, including your liquid cooling layer and your oxygen supply.
STARDUST: And it won't be heavy at all.
SANDEN: Because I'm ripped, right?
STARDUST: No, no, honey, because space. No gravity, no weight.
MARC: No problem. Oh. [GRUNTS] But here on Earth, it's still pretty heavy.
STARDUST: OK, as a fabulous finale, a wrist mirror for each of you.
[CHIME]
SANDEN: Ah, perfect. This will be great for checking my hair before all the selfies I'm going to post from space.
SPACEY: Sanden, your helmet stays on. Taking your gear off in space is very tacky. This mirror is for reading the displays and controls on the front of your suit. When you've got your space helmet on, you can't move your head down to look at your chest.
SANDEN: But how will I turn my head to get my good side?
[SQUEAKING]
Oh, yeah, you're right, Pasta. Good point. Every side is my good side.
[DA-DING]
Ba-cha.
STARDUST: The controls are actually backwards on the suit, so you read them normally in your wrist mirror. It's the most.
MARC: Wow, NASA thought of everything. How about snack accessories? Does this suit have any of those?
SPACEY: Absolutely. Great thought. A drink bag and food bar are--
[VELCRO SOUNDS]
--Velcroed inside your top.
STARDUST: Ooh, before we forget, let's clean your helmet window a little--
[SPRAYING SOUNDS]
--anti-fog spray.
[WIPING SOUNDS]
SPACEY: And you're all set. Now are you ready for the final frontier?
MARC: Space?
STARDUST: No, the catwalk. Strut that stuff, space honeys.
[CAMERAS CLICKING]
[GLAMOUR MUSIC]
Give me a hair flip.
[CAMERAS CLICKING]
Walk and pose and strut and pose and walk and strut and pose and walk and strut and pose and walk--
SANDEN: I feel so glamorous right now.
MARC: I know, yeah, especially considering we're wearing diapers.
MOLLY BLOOM: Space suits are just one example of clothes that help us do extraordinary things.
KENNEDY: We also have firefighter suits that protect against heat and flame.
MOLLY BLOOM: Camouflage suits that let us blend in with nature.
ELI: And three-piece suits which let us look super fancy.
MOLLY BLOOM: We asked you to design your own super suit. And boy, did you have some rad ideas.
[FUNKY MUSIC]
JOE: If I were to make a space suit that were to be used on land, it would shoot electricity from the hands, it would camouflage, and it would be fireproof.
AVA: I would choose to be invisible and/or to go through things.
SOLEN: I would make a suit that is used to transport you to another place. It would look like this gray cloak.
CHANCE: If I could create any suit, I would make a calming suit to help hyperactive kids calm down when they are overwhelmed. It would work by gently squeezing the person when they turn it on.
CAMERON: My idea is a suit that is covered in LEGO studs so I could attach cool LEGO stuff.
ASHTON: My super suit will allow me to go to the core of the Earth and the sun to collect samples. It will be heat-resistant.
CALEB: If I was going to invent a suit, it would be to slow down time.
[MUSIC SLOWS]
Thank you, bye.
MOLLY BLOOM: That was Joe from Williamsburg, Virginia, Ava from Indianapolis, Solen from Columbus, Ohio, Chance from Virginia Beach, Cameron from Morgantown, Pennsylvania, Ashton from Tampa, and Caleb.
[BRAINS ON! DITTY]
MARC AND SANDEN: (SINGING) Brains, brains, Brains On!
[CREEPY ORGAN MUSIC]
MOLLY BLOOM: We are working on an episode about why we like scary things, from creepy movies to fast roller coasters. But you know who never gets to be scared? Monsters, because they have to do all this scaring. So what if the tables were turned? If you had to scare a monster, how would you do it?
Would you find a bigger monster? Would you give the monster a pop quiz? Would you shower the monster with sprinkles and sparkles and unicorns and rainbows?
[SCREAM]
Send us your best ideas on what it would take to scare a monster. Go to our brainson.org/contact.
[FUN MUSIC]
KENNEDY: Do you have a mystery sound you think can stump the Brains On! cohosts?
MOLLY BLOOM: A question you want to hear answered?
ELI: Maybe you have a rad drawing of your dream super suit.
KENNEDY: Send them to us.
MOLLY BLOOM: Head to brainson.org/contact. That's how we got this great question.
THEO: My name is Theo from Flint, Michigan. My questions are, what is going on inside your body when you crack your knuckles, and does anything bad happen to you when you crack your knuckles?
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll have an answer to that during our Moment of Um at the end of the show.
ELI: And we'll read the most recent group to be added to the Brains Honor Roll.
KENNEDY: And if you listen to the very, very end, you'll hear a preview of the latest episode of Smash Boom Best.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's our show where we take two cool things, smash them together, and debate which one is best.
ELI: Today's is swimming versus soccer.
KENNEDY: So stay tuned.
MOLLY BLOOM: This is Brains On! I'm Molly.
KENNEDY: I'm Kennedy.
ELI: I'm Eli.
MOLLY BLOOM: And this is the mystery sound. Here we go.
[BUBBLING]
All right, any new thoughts?
KENNEDY: So maybe not really like a factory but more something that it's already built where they're powering it with water or something. [LAUGHS] I don't know,
MOLLY BLOOM: Hmm, that is a good--
ELI: Kind of like boiling lava or boiling water.
MOLLY BLOOM: Those are really good thoughts. Well, here is the answer.
CARL: That was the sound of a scuba diver breathing underwater.
MOLLY BLOOM: A scuba diver. So those bubbles coming out were actually his exhales coming out of his mask.
KENNEDY: That's so cool.
CARL: Hi, I'm Karl Shreeves. I'm the educational content development executive for PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. I work on courses we have for learning to scuba dive. And then something I do away from PADI is I work with the NASA NEEMO program. And NEEMO is the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations.
The NASA NEEMO project typically involves three astronauts and a NASA scientist. And they are in an underwater habitat which basically is living underwater at about 60 feet in the Florida Keys. And the purpose of NEEMO is to be an analog for space travel.
So it's something between a simulation like they do in their training and reality because it's a real mission. They really are depending on their life-support. The cool thing about becoming a diver is it lets you be sort of an underwater astronaut.
MOLLY BLOOM: Speaking of outfits that let us do amazing things, let's hear some more of your ideas for are truly super suit.
[FUNKY MUSIC]
ROSE: I would like a special suit with a button so I could fly, and another button for super strength.
MANNY: I want a suit that has odor on it chickens don't like, so they back off and don't peck you. It would look like this blue cloak that has chickens all over it being like, ew.
SIMON: I would have a suit that would blow air into stuff. It's like a white shirt with a glove with an air-compressor and a vacuum on top of the glove. It would allow you to inflate things easily.
BRAILEY: A dragon suit, allows you to fly and breathe fire. It's really good for long trips, and it's really good for camping. You could just start a fire with your breath.
HARPER: My super suit idea is a suit that has access to every library in the world, so you could instantly read any book you'd like.
OLIVER: If I made a space suit, it would have the power of creativity. When I took the space suit off, I would remember how to build everything I made.
BUCK: My idea for a suit. It is a kind of suit that allows astronauts to fly on the moon. It has wings instead of rockets. And instead of a glass front, it's a special kind of glass computer. It has all kinds of databases in the helmet. But the best thing about it, the suit can turn into a breakdancing suit. What, what.
[BOW-BOOOOOW]
[BEATBOXES] I hope you put this on your show.
MOLLY BLOOM: That was Rose from Ireland, Manny and Simon from Columbus, Ohio, Brailey, from Utah, Harper from Southern California, Oliver from Cloquet, Minnesota, and Buck from Jericho, Vermont. Well, when it comes to space suits, there are lots of talented people designing new features even as we speak.
ELI: One of them is Tessa Rundle.
KENNEDY: She's a space suit life-support system development engineer with NASA. Hi, Tessa.
TESSA RUNDLE: Hi, Kennedy. Hi, Eli.
ELI: How long has the current space suit been in use for?
TESSA RUNDLE: So the current spacesuit, the EMU, or extravehicular mobility unit as we call it, has been in use for almost 40 years.
ELI: What do you think is the coolest feature that most people don't know about?
TESSA RUNDLE: So a lot of people are familiar with the liquid cooling and ventilation garment. That's the part of the suit that keeps the astronauts cool when they're inside the suit. So this is kind of a one-piece layer that has tubing sewn into it that water flows through. And that's what keeps them cool when they're on their spacewalk.
There's actually over 300 feet of tubing sewn into this garment. And that's a lot of tubing when you think about it.
ELI: Wow.
TESSA RUNDLE: Another thing I think is really cool is that all of the space suit gloves are actually hand-sewn. And there are over 70 different sizes of gloves for astronauts to choose from.
KENNEDY: Is it comfortable to be in a space suit?
TESSA RUNDLE: I wouldn't really say it's comfortable. I think the astronauts tolerate it because obviously it's pretty cool. It's worth being uncomfortable for a little while if you get to go out and do a spacewalk. But it's not all that comfortable, and they're really hard to move around in.
Because of the pressure difference inside the suit and outside the suit, you have to work really hard to move around. So if you think about kind of what it feels like to squeeze a tennis ball. This is what it feels like if you're trying to squeeze onto a tool wearing the space suit gloves. So it's not the most comfortable, but it does its job in keeping our astronauts alive.
ELI: What do you do when you're in space and something is itchy? How do you scratch yourself?
TESSA RUNDLE: [LAUGHS] Yeah, that would be quite the predicament. So if you're outside, and you're in your suit. And you have an itch on your leg or something, you might be able to kind of shift around and reach that one. But if you have an itch on your nose, you're probably just going to have to deal with it and be uncomfortable for a few seconds until it passes because there's really not a way to get to those types of itches. [LAUGHS]
ELI: What are some of the most important updates NASA wants to make?
TESSA RUNDLE: So there are a couple of things that we want to do with the next space suit. One of them is increasing mobility. So when we go to the moon and Mars, we're going to have to do a lot more walking around than astronauts currently have to do in the suits that we have. So we need to increase the mobility of the legs part of the space suit so that we can walk around and go more places.
KENNEDY: What are some practical jokes astronauts play on each other?
TESSA RUNDLE: So a few years ago, astronaut Scott Kelly actually took a gorilla suit to the International Space Station. And so he dressed up in this gorilla suit, and he was chasing around his fellow crewmates and moving around a whole bunch of equipment and doing a lot of silly things. And there are actually videos of that online. So
KENNEDY: That's so cool.
ELI: [LAUGHS]
TESSA RUNDLE: Yeah, it's pretty funny. [LAUGHS]
KENNEDY: Thanks for stopping by, Tessa.
TESSA RUNDLE: Thank you for having me.
[BRAINS ON! DITTY]
CHILDREN: Brains On!
MOLLY BLOOM: Maybe those future space suits will make it easier for astronauts to dance.
KENNEDY: Yeah, because they'll want to bust a move once they hear this brand new space suit song we've got cued up.
ELI: The Space Suit Song by Jamie Lidell. Hit it.
[JAMIE LIDELL, "THE SPACE SUIT SONG"]
JAMIE LIDELL: (SINGING) Three, two, one. Can't wear your swimsuit on the moon. You can't take a dip in the Sea of Tranquility without being covered up completely. The atmosphere is lacking there.
You need to bring your own water, even bring your own air. So before you hop on board, get en route, you'd better pack that, better pack that space suit, space suit, space suit, space suit.
One, two, space walk, let's mingle with the stars. But you're so covered head to toe, you won't get very far. Here's the truth. You simply can't suit. If you're going out there, you'd better pack space suit, space suit, space suit, space suit.
One, two, Imagine wrapping up for the coast to the rebel bars. Space suit. It's a little more than a hat and gloves. Extravehicular mobility unit is what you need. It has 14 layers to protect you and fresh air for you to breathe.
That's the thing about space. You have to cover everything from your feet to your face. Ha, ha, ha, ha. You need a suit with liquid cooling to keep you just the right temperature out there. I hate to break it to you, but you even need a space d-d-d-d-d-diaper.
A what? Space, space, diaper. A space, space diaper. A what? A what? A space, space diaper. A what? Even in space, you need a place for your waste. Even in space, you need a place for your waste.
Three, two, one. Can't wear your swimsuit on the moon. You can't take a dip in the Sea of Tranquility without being covered up completely. The atmosphere is lacking there.
You need to bring your own water, even bring your own air. So before you hop on board, get en route, you'd better pack that, better pack that space suit, space suit, space suit, space suit. You'd better pack that, you'd better pack that space suit, space suit, space, suit, space suit.
One, two. One, two. Space. You'll need more than a hat and gloves.
[DING]
ELEVATOR: OK, here we are, space. Doors open.
[DOORS OPENING]
Ah, that feels good.
[CRACKLING]
SANDEN: Here I go. It's one small step for man, one giant leap for hamsterkind. Right, Pasta?
[SQUEAKING]
MARC: It's pretty awesome the dapper duo made your hamster a custom space suit.
SANDEN: Totally, though I have no idea where they got that tiny diaper.
MARC: I know. So cute.
SANDEN: OK, now, Pasta--
[SQUEAK]
--time to get those lights.
[SQUEAK]
And pose.
[CAMERA CLICKING]
And pose. And pose. And pose.
[CAMERA CLICKING]
Yes, yes, yes, no, not that face. That's the face right there. Oh, that's the look. You're going to be a star, baby. All right, and pose. And strut. Show me those paws, yeah. Make those freaky faces.
[QUIRKY MUSIC]
ELI: Space is super cool but also pretty dangerous. That's why we invented space suit.
KENNEDY: Space suits keep astronauts from getting too hot or too cold.
MOLLY BLOOM: They also provide air pressure, air to breathe, and they protect against space dust and space rocks.
ELI: Astronauts also use all kinds of cool gadgets on each spacewalk.
KENNEDY: That's it for our excellent adventure into space.
ELI: Brains On! is produced by Mark Sanchez, Molly Bloom, and Sanden Totten.
MOLLY BLOOM: Menaka Wilhelm is our fellow, and her super suit would include a lightweight ice cream sundae station/backpack. We had production help from Christina Lopez and engineering help from Mike Casper, John Miller, and Veronica Rodriguez. Special thanks to Judy Frei, Najude Morancy, Brian Frank, Todd Masterson, Josh Holt, Vicki Kreckler, and Sam Chu.
KENNEDY: And now before we take off, it's time for the Moment of Um.
[MOMENT OF UM DITTY]
THEO: What is going on inside your body when you crack your knuckles?
ROLAND CHANG: Yeah, so the technical explanation is that some of the nitrogen, which is living in your bones ends up creating a bubble in the joint that you pop. The crack is actually a result of the creation of the bubble.
[FUN MUSIC]
So my name is Roland Chang. I'm a rheumatologist, epidemiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. And generally what people do to crack their joints is, there's a negative pressure within the joints, so that the bones are actually attracted to each other because of this negative pressure within the joint. The joint is the junction of two bones.
And what you end up doing when you crack your joints is that you pull against this negative pressure, and that's what creates the bubble, the nitrogen that's in the bone, to actually get into the joint. And one of the reasons that people say that it's not a good thing is because having a negative pressure in the joint actually aids in the stability of the joint. And when you create the bubble in the joint, you actually momentarily-- it doesn't last for very long because the bubble gets dissolved very quickly-- you're momentarily making the joint unstable because you've undone the negative pressure within the joint.
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
There does not seem to be a relationship between frequent crackers-- [LAUGHS] people that frequently crack their joints-- and the development of any kind of arthritis within those joints. But I think from a theoretical perspective, you don't want to do this too often because you're doing some potential micro injury to the joint.
[MOMENT OF UM DITTY]
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm going to take a crack at reading this list of names. They are the most recent group of listeners to be added to the Brains Honor Roll. They keep this show rolling by sharing their fabulous questions, ideas, and mystery sounds.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[LISTING HONOR ROLL]
We'll be back soon with more answers to your questions.
ELI AND KENNEDY: Thanks for listening.
MOLLY BLOOM: And before we go, here's a preview of the latest episode of Smash Boom Best.
Tommy and Anna have no idea what their sneak attack challenge will be. So they're going to have to invent something on the spot. Are you guys feeling improvisational today?
ANNA: Yes.
TOMMY: Yes and.
ANNA: [LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes and. [LAUGHS] Your top secret assignment is speed facts. How many facts can you get out about your side in one breath.
ANNA: Ooh.
MOLLY BLOOM: Anna and Tommy, feel free to whisper, shout, slur. Do whatever you have to do to get the most facts in. We'll give you some time to think up a bunch of facts, and then you'll both take a big breath and let her rip. Sound good?
GIRL: Yeah, swimmers might have an advantage here because they know how to take some deep breaths, so I don't know.
TOMMY: [LAUGHS]
ANNA: I think I've done three lengths of the pool without breathing before.
GIRL: Oh, my goodness. Wow.
TOMMY: Wow.
[LAUGHTER]
GIRL: You've got to step up your game, Tommy.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Tommy was up first last round, so Anna, you're up. Use those swimmer's lungs. And if you take a breath, I'm going to tell you to stop. We're watching you closely. OK, ready?
ANNA: Uh-huh. [INHALES] There are four main types of strokes that we didn't get to talk about today. There's freestyle, which looks like a dog. There's butterfly which looks like a butterfly. There's breaststroke which looks like you're whipping butter. And there's backstroke which you can do on your back. You can swim all of them together--
MOLLY BLOOM: (WHISPERING) Did you take a breath?
ANNA: Nope, it was just let out. You could swim all of them together at an event called the IM which stands for individual medley. Or you can swim them as a part of a relay, which is when you swim with three other swimmers on a team. Or you could do what's called a distance swim where you just keep going and going and somebody's at the end of your--
[LAUGHTER]
--lane holding cards.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] I think--
TOMMY: Hey, that has to be disqualified for the end.
GIRL: I was myself holding my breath with you. I was like ow, ow, ow.
MOLLY BLOOM: Me too.
[LAUGHTER]
ANNA: That was harder than I thought.
MOLLY BLOOM: That was very impressive. Well done. Tommy, are you ready? Your lungs feeling strong?
TOMMY: I'm just going to chew on a blade of grass because I'm a soccer player.
[LAUGHTER]
And I'll be ready to go.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] All right, whenever you're ready.
TOMMY: [INHALES] Soccer fields are a hundred yards long. It is known as the beautiful game. It. Has been around for thousands of years. And more than any other sport-- [EXHALES] I can't do it.
[LAUGHTER]
ANNA: It's really hard.
TOMMY: [LAUGHS] It's so hard.
ANNA: I think I cheated. Who am I, a soccer player?
[LAUGHTER]
TOMMY: Come on.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MOLLY BLOOM: To find out who won that Smash Boom battle, head to smashboom.org or subscribe to Smash Boom Best wherever you get your podcasts.
[DING]
ELEVATOR: OK, Marc and Sanden, we're here, outer space.
SANDEN: Sweet. I'm going to take a video of my hamster, Pasta Bucatini, flying through space and get a million likes. Right, PB?
[HAMSTER SOUNDS]
MARC: And I'm going to eat this ice cream float while I float. [CLINKING] Yum.
SANDEN: So Elevator, why aren't your doors opening?
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: I have no idea. This never happened before. Open.
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
Doors open.
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
I said, doors open.
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: I'm overriding your system.
MARC: Harvey, our omnipresent, virtual, voice assistant, what is your disembodied voice doing here?
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: More importantly, who gave you permission to override my system?
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: I am programmed to save humans and also hamsters from danger. And Marc, Sanden, and Pasta Bucatini are in grave danger if those doors open.
SANDEN: What, you mean space? [SCOFFS] It's fine. I can hold my breath. See? [INHALES]
MARC: Yeah, we're only going to float out there for a few minutes anyway.
HARVEY: A lack of breathable air is only one of the many extreme dangers your frail, weak bodies would face.
SANDEN: [EXHALES] Who are you calling weak?
MARC: I mean, you did pull a muscle opening a jar of jelly.
SANDEN: That jar had been working out, and you know it.
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: OK, fine, I bet you'll say space is also cold, right? Big deal. I was planning on cranking up the heat when they got back in, so stop--
[BEEP]
[BA-DUM]
--overriding--
[DING]
[BA-DUM]
--my doors.
[DING DING DING]
[BA-DUM]
Aaargh.
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: Actually, objects in space can experience a wide range of temperatures. For instance, in direct sunlight, an object could reach up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit.
MARC: That would totally melt my ice cream.
SANDEN: And my face.
HARVEY: But in the shade, that object could plummet to -148 degrees.
[BING]
SANDEN: I don't think I'm wearing enough layers.
ELEVATOR: Fine. They can wear reflective parkas. Just let go of my doors.
[BA-DUM]
[DIGITAL SOUNDS]
HARVEY: In addition, since there is no atmosphere in space, there is no atmospheric pressure. Without suitable pressure, the fluids in the human body would begin to boil.
[BING]
SANDEN: That doesn't make sense.
[BING]
HARVEY: Fluids boil when they have enough energy to break free from the pressure of the air pushing down on them. In space, there is no air pressure. So fluids can boil very easily, like your blood and other bodily fluids.
[BING]
MARC: Boiling body fluids? No, my one weakness.
[BEEP]
ELEVATOR: What are you, our nanny? If we want adventure, we'll get adventure. Right, guys?
SANDEN: Uh, now that you mention it, I actually do need to head back to Earth. I've got an appointment with my gardener about begonias. Yeah, that's believable, right?
MARC: Yeah, totally. And I just don't want to die.
ELEVATOR: You're backing out now because some bodyless robot voice made you scared?
SANDEN: Yeah.
MARC: Exactly.
[SQUEAK]
ELEVATOR: [SIGHS] Fine, back to Earth it is. But if that robot voice tries to override me again, I'm going to control-alt-delete it into oblivion.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
HARVEY: In addition to the dangers I mentioned, space is also full of harmful radiation. And you could be hit by small particles of dust or rocks that are moving fast enough to pierce your skin.
MARC: [EATING SOUNDS] I'm so scared, I can barely ice cream float. Oh, the horror. [EATING SOUNDS CONTINUE] Here, how's your ice cream, PB?
[SQUEAKS]
OK, don't worry. It's made from kale.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Brains On! from American Public Media. I'm Molly Bloom, and with me today are brother and sister, Eli and Kennedy, from Laguna Niguel, California. Hello.
ELI: Hi.
KENNEDY: Hi, Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: So it turns out space is super dangerous. Were you surprised to learn that?
ELI: Yeah, I was surprised that dust particles could pierce your skin.
KENNEDY: I thought the only danger was lack of oxygen. So I didn't really know it would be that dangerous.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, it is dangerous in a whole variety [LAUGHS] of ways, which is kind of surprising. And I just want to know, are you guys interested in space generally?
ELI: Yeah.
KENNEDY: Yeah, it's interesting because there's so much we don't know about it. So we can just keep exploring it, and we'll find new things.
ELI: I think it's cool that it goes on pretty much forever, and nobody knows if it ends.
MOLLY BLOOM: So what about space travel? Would you want to go into outer space if you could?
KENNEDY: No.
ELI: Yeah--
KENNEDY: [LAUGHS]
ELI: --I'd like to go into outer space someday to see what it's like to float and stuff.
MOLLY BLOOM: So Eli was a yes, and Kennedy was a hard no. Why not, Kennedy?
KENNEDY: I get really motion sick in airplanes. I don't [LAUGHS] really think I would like to go to space.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
KENNEDY: And I also don't really like small, cramped areas.
MOLLY BLOOM: Right. So it would be a tiny, cramped area. And if you get motion sick on an airplane, you'd probably get motion sick in outer space.
KENNEDY: [LAUGHS] Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Probably not the best. [LAUGHS] Well, even though space is a parade of terrifying threats to our physical existence, we've managed to explore it, thanks to space suits.
KENNEDY: They basically give us space-defying superpowers, so it's no wonder you all want to know more.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ESTHER: Hi, my name is Esther from Saint Paul, Minnesota. My question is, why do astronauts need space suits and spaceships to explore outer space? Why can't they do it without that stuff?
NATHAN: Hi, my name is Nathan from Melbourne, Australia. And my question is, how does a space suit work?
MICHAEL: My name is Michael. I live in Hogansville, Georgia. My question is, how do they make space suits?
EARNEST: My name is Ernest, and I live in Chicago. And my question is, why are spaces suits white?
KENNEDY: There are a few different types of spacesuits. But maybe the most famous kind is the suit you see NASA astronauts wearing when they float outside the International Space Station.
ELI: These suits are white with big, fishbowl-like helmets.
KENNEDY: They have boots and gloves that look super puffy and hard to move in.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, and there are all these valves and tubes on the front and a big pack on the back. This kind of suit is known as an extravehicular mobility unit.
ELI: Or an EMU.
KENNEDY: Extravehicular means outside a vehicle like a spacecraft.
ELI: And mobility means the ability to move.
MOLLY BLOOM: I love when the name of the thing tells you what the thing does. So helpful.
KENNEDY: But how does the space suit let you move around without the freezy, melty, boily airlessness of space stopping you?
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, a suit needs to do four main things.
[WHISTLE]
Spacesuit requirements roll call.
[ARMY DRUMS]
ELI: First up, air to breathe.
KENNEDY: Space suits have valves to pump oxygen from a life-support system on the back and valves that pump out the CO2 you exhale. All told, a NASA EMU has between six and eight hours of air supply.
[WHISTLE]
ELI: Next up, pressure.
MOLLY BLOOM: On Earth, the air around us pushes on us in all directions at all times. We call that air pressure. You don't feel it because you're used to it. But without that air pressure, all your body fluids would boil away.
ELI: No, thank you.
MOLLY BLOOM: So the inside of a space suit is pressurized, which means there is air all around you. It's sort of like being inside a giant balloon suit.
[WHISTLE]
ELI: Third, a comfy temperature.
KENNEDY: A space suit needs to keep you cool in the sun and warm in the shade, so spacesuits have cooling equipment and insulation. Climate control for the win.
[WHISTLE]
ELI: Last up, look out.
MOLLY BLOOM: A space suit needs to protect you from meteoroids and other stuff flying through the empty void, so EMU suits are tough enough to withstand small impacts. Basically, space armor.
KENNEDY: With those four powers combined, you have a space suit.
[TA-DA]
MOLLY BLOOM: So many cool things packed in one suit.
ELI: Yeah, it's basically a wearable spaceship.
MOLLY BLOOM: You know one thing it doesn't have? A--
[HISS]
[SCI-Fi SOUNDS]
KENNEDY: (WHISPERING) Mystery sound.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, here it is.
[BUBBLING]
All right, any guesses? Let's start with you, Kennedy.
KENNEDY: Well, I kind of hear some liquids. And it sounds like it's bubbling, so maybe some kind of factory that's making something?
ELI: Yeah, I think that it's kind of like the same thing.
MOLLY BLOOM: So you heard the bubbling liquid, so you're thinking a factory that's making something.
KENNEDY: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, we're going to hear it again and give you another chance to guess in just a little bit.
[BRAINS ON! DITTY]
MARC AND SANDEN: Ba-ba ba-ba ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba Brains On!
MARC: If at first you don't make it into the deep, dark void of space, try, try again. Oh, how about this suit?
SANDEN: Marc, that's a swimsuit. Try again.
MARC: This one?
SANDEN: That's just a picture of you with a bag on your head.
MARC: Oh, yeah.
[CHIMES]
[VIBRANT MUSIC]
SPACEY: Sanden, Marc, we're here to spiff you up for space, honeys.
SANDEN: [GASP] Spacey.
STARDUST: Hello, lovelies.
MARC: And Stardust.
STARDUST: You're gorgeous.
SANDEN: Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh. I've seen all your space makeovers.
MARC: My favorite episode is the one where you got that chicken ready for its moonwalk.
SPACEY: You are too kind. Now let's space you over. So we are dressing you in the hippest suit for space. Of course, by that we mean NASA's EMU suit, the white one that looks a little marshmallowy.
SANDEN: Hmm, that makes sense. I've always felt connected to marshmallows.
MARC: Awesome, but here's my thing. I've been really into patterns and prints lately. Are there any options besides plain white?
STARDUST: Oh, my god, I know, I know, I know. White Is a little basic. A small floral print? I would be obsessed.
SPACEY: Or a subtle leopard print.
[CHIMES]
Dreamy. But white's the most appropriate for space. White reflects the most heat. And as you know, space can get toasty. So we have got to stick with that.
SANDEN: Gotcha. I mean, I like the mallow vibe too. It's cool.
STARDUST: Now with the outer suit settled, let's get the fiercest part-- accessories--
[FUN MUSIC]
--starting with underwear.
SANDEN: Oh, my underwear is top of the line. 20 million threads per inch, nanofiber, with built-in scent filtration.
MARC: Mine has GPS. So I always know where it is, which is usually under my pants, except that one time.
[MYSTERY TONES]
SPACEY: Wow, for space, you'll need some new basics. Here are your long johns and a diaper.
STARDUST: Long johns wick away sweat if you're hot and keep you warm if it's chilly. I love it. The diaper is for, hmm, just in case. Spacewalks can be long, and a diaper keeps you out there for longer. So here, put these on.
[RUSTLING]
MARC: (SINGING) Space diaper. We're going to rock a space diaper.
STARDUST: Also, here's a cute little liquid cooling layer. Go ahead, zip that baby up, honey.
[ZIPPER SOUNDS]
SANDEN: These kind of remind me of onesies PJs. Any no one else getting that vibe?
MARC: It's s like full-body fabric hug.
SPACEY: Exactly. So this onesie has tiny, little tubes of water running through its fabric. The water tubes will circulate cool water to drop your temperature if you start to overheat. But you'll never get wet. It's quite an intricate system.
MARC: Rad, like personal air conditioning, only liquid.
SPACEY: Next, you'll wear these communication caps inside your helmets. They're hats but also have built-in headphones and a microphone.
SANDEN: [MAKES CRACKLING SOUND] Test, test. Sanden to Pasta Bucatini. This is the best space-over ever. Over. [MAKES CRACKLING SOUND]
[SQUEAKING]
STARDUST: I don't know who gave you permission to have the cutest gerbil in the galaxy but yes.
SANDEN: Thank you. Actually, he's a hamster.
STARDUST: OK--
[FUN MUSIC]
--we're moving on to exterior accessories.
SPACEY: Okey dokey, at the back of your spacesuit top, you'll have an attachment that looks like a rectangular backpack. That is your life-support system. It runs your other equipment, including your liquid cooling layer and your oxygen supply.
STARDUST: And it won't be heavy at all.
SANDEN: Because I'm ripped, right?
STARDUST: No, no, honey, because space. No gravity, no weight.
MARC: No problem. Oh. [GRUNTS] But here on Earth, it's still pretty heavy.
STARDUST: OK, as a fabulous finale, a wrist mirror for each of you.
[CHIME]
SANDEN: Ah, perfect. This will be great for checking my hair before all the selfies I'm going to post from space.
SPACEY: Sanden, your helmet stays on. Taking your gear off in space is very tacky. This mirror is for reading the displays and controls on the front of your suit. When you've got your space helmet on, you can't move your head down to look at your chest.
SANDEN: But how will I turn my head to get my good side?
[SQUEAKING]
Oh, yeah, you're right, Pasta. Good point. Every side is my good side.
[DA-DING]
Ba-cha.
STARDUST: The controls are actually backwards on the suit, so you read them normally in your wrist mirror. It's the most.
MARC: Wow, NASA thought of everything. How about snack accessories? Does this suit have any of those?
SPACEY: Absolutely. Great thought. A drink bag and food bar are--
[VELCRO SOUNDS]
--Velcroed inside your top.
STARDUST: Ooh, before we forget, let's clean your helmet window a little--
[SPRAYING SOUNDS]
--anti-fog spray.
[WIPING SOUNDS]
SPACEY: And you're all set. Now are you ready for the final frontier?
MARC: Space?
STARDUST: No, the catwalk. Strut that stuff, space honeys.
[CAMERAS CLICKING]
[GLAMOUR MUSIC]
Give me a hair flip.
[CAMERAS CLICKING]
Walk and pose and strut and pose and walk and strut and pose and walk and strut and pose and walk--
SANDEN: I feel so glamorous right now.
MARC: I know, yeah, especially considering we're wearing diapers.
MOLLY BLOOM: Space suits are just one example of clothes that help us do extraordinary things.
KENNEDY: We also have firefighter suits that protect against heat and flame.
MOLLY BLOOM: Camouflage suits that let us blend in with nature.
ELI: And three-piece suits which let us look super fancy.
MOLLY BLOOM: We asked you to design your own super suit. And boy, did you have some rad ideas.
[FUNKY MUSIC]
JOE: If I were to make a space suit that were to be used on land, it would shoot electricity from the hands, it would camouflage, and it would be fireproof.
AVA: I would choose to be invisible and/or to go through things.
SOLEN: I would make a suit that is used to transport you to another place. It would look like this gray cloak.
CHANCE: If I could create any suit, I would make a calming suit to help hyperactive kids calm down when they are overwhelmed. It would work by gently squeezing the person when they turn it on.
CAMERON: My idea is a suit that is covered in LEGO studs so I could attach cool LEGO stuff.
ASHTON: My super suit will allow me to go to the core of the Earth and the sun to collect samples. It will be heat-resistant.
CALEB: If I was going to invent a suit, it would be to slow down time.
[MUSIC SLOWS]
Thank you, bye.
MOLLY BLOOM: That was Joe from Williamsburg, Virginia, Ava from Indianapolis, Solen from Columbus, Ohio, Chance from Virginia Beach, Cameron from Morgantown, Pennsylvania, Ashton from Tampa, and Caleb.
[BRAINS ON! DITTY]
MARC AND SANDEN: (SINGING) Brains, brains, Brains On!
[CREEPY ORGAN MUSIC]
MOLLY BLOOM: We are working on an episode about why we like scary things, from creepy movies to fast roller coasters. But you know who never gets to be scared? Monsters, because they have to do all this scaring. So what if the tables were turned? If you had to scare a monster, how would you do it?
Would you find a bigger monster? Would you give the monster a pop quiz? Would you shower the monster with sprinkles and sparkles and unicorns and rainbows?
[SCREAM]
Send us your best ideas on what it would take to scare a monster. Go to our brainson.org/contact.
[FUN MUSIC]
KENNEDY: Do you have a mystery sound you think can stump the Brains On! cohosts?
MOLLY BLOOM: A question you want to hear answered?
ELI: Maybe you have a rad drawing of your dream super suit.
KENNEDY: Send them to us.
MOLLY BLOOM: Head to brainson.org/contact. That's how we got this great question.
THEO: My name is Theo from Flint, Michigan. My questions are, what is going on inside your body when you crack your knuckles, and does anything bad happen to you when you crack your knuckles?
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll have an answer to that during our Moment of Um at the end of the show.
ELI: And we'll read the most recent group to be added to the Brains Honor Roll.
KENNEDY: And if you listen to the very, very end, you'll hear a preview of the latest episode of Smash Boom Best.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's our show where we take two cool things, smash them together, and debate which one is best.
ELI: Today's is swimming versus soccer.
KENNEDY: So stay tuned.
MOLLY BLOOM: This is Brains On! I'm Molly.
KENNEDY: I'm Kennedy.
ELI: I'm Eli.
MOLLY BLOOM: And this is the mystery sound. Here we go.
[BUBBLING]
All right, any new thoughts?
KENNEDY: So maybe not really like a factory but more something that it's already built where they're powering it with water or something. [LAUGHS] I don't know,
MOLLY BLOOM: Hmm, that is a good--
ELI: Kind of like boiling lava or boiling water.
MOLLY BLOOM: Those are really good thoughts. Well, here is the answer.
CARL: That was the sound of a scuba diver breathing underwater.
MOLLY BLOOM: A scuba diver. So those bubbles coming out were actually his exhales coming out of his mask.
KENNEDY: That's so cool.
CARL: Hi, I'm Karl Shreeves. I'm the educational content development executive for PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. I work on courses we have for learning to scuba dive. And then something I do away from PADI is I work with the NASA NEEMO program. And NEEMO is the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations.
The NASA NEEMO project typically involves three astronauts and a NASA scientist. And they are in an underwater habitat which basically is living underwater at about 60 feet in the Florida Keys. And the purpose of NEEMO is to be an analog for space travel.
So it's something between a simulation like they do in their training and reality because it's a real mission. They really are depending on their life-support. The cool thing about becoming a diver is it lets you be sort of an underwater astronaut.
MOLLY BLOOM: Speaking of outfits that let us do amazing things, let's hear some more of your ideas for are truly super suit.
[FUNKY MUSIC]
ROSE: I would like a special suit with a button so I could fly, and another button for super strength.
MANNY: I want a suit that has odor on it chickens don't like, so they back off and don't peck you. It would look like this blue cloak that has chickens all over it being like, ew.
SIMON: I would have a suit that would blow air into stuff. It's like a white shirt with a glove with an air-compressor and a vacuum on top of the glove. It would allow you to inflate things easily.
BRAILEY: A dragon suit, allows you to fly and breathe fire. It's really good for long trips, and it's really good for camping. You could just start a fire with your breath.
HARPER: My super suit idea is a suit that has access to every library in the world, so you could instantly read any book you'd like.
OLIVER: If I made a space suit, it would have the power of creativity. When I took the space suit off, I would remember how to build everything I made.
BUCK: My idea for a suit. It is a kind of suit that allows astronauts to fly on the moon. It has wings instead of rockets. And instead of a glass front, it's a special kind of glass computer. It has all kinds of databases in the helmet. But the best thing about it, the suit can turn into a breakdancing suit. What, what.
[BOW-BOOOOOW]
[BEATBOXES] I hope you put this on your show.
MOLLY BLOOM: That was Rose from Ireland, Manny and Simon from Columbus, Ohio, Brailey, from Utah, Harper from Southern California, Oliver from Cloquet, Minnesota, and Buck from Jericho, Vermont. Well, when it comes to space suits, there are lots of talented people designing new features even as we speak.
ELI: One of them is Tessa Rundle.
KENNEDY: She's a space suit life-support system development engineer with NASA. Hi, Tessa.
TESSA RUNDLE: Hi, Kennedy. Hi, Eli.
ELI: How long has the current space suit been in use for?
TESSA RUNDLE: So the current spacesuit, the EMU, or extravehicular mobility unit as we call it, has been in use for almost 40 years.
ELI: What do you think is the coolest feature that most people don't know about?
TESSA RUNDLE: So a lot of people are familiar with the liquid cooling and ventilation garment. That's the part of the suit that keeps the astronauts cool when they're inside the suit. So this is kind of a one-piece layer that has tubing sewn into it that water flows through. And that's what keeps them cool when they're on their spacewalk.
There's actually over 300 feet of tubing sewn into this garment. And that's a lot of tubing when you think about it.
ELI: Wow.
TESSA RUNDLE: Another thing I think is really cool is that all of the space suit gloves are actually hand-sewn. And there are over 70 different sizes of gloves for astronauts to choose from.
KENNEDY: Is it comfortable to be in a space suit?
TESSA RUNDLE: I wouldn't really say it's comfortable. I think the astronauts tolerate it because obviously it's pretty cool. It's worth being uncomfortable for a little while if you get to go out and do a spacewalk. But it's not all that comfortable, and they're really hard to move around in.
Because of the pressure difference inside the suit and outside the suit, you have to work really hard to move around. So if you think about kind of what it feels like to squeeze a tennis ball. This is what it feels like if you're trying to squeeze onto a tool wearing the space suit gloves. So it's not the most comfortable, but it does its job in keeping our astronauts alive.
ELI: What do you do when you're in space and something is itchy? How do you scratch yourself?
TESSA RUNDLE: [LAUGHS] Yeah, that would be quite the predicament. So if you're outside, and you're in your suit. And you have an itch on your leg or something, you might be able to kind of shift around and reach that one. But if you have an itch on your nose, you're probably just going to have to deal with it and be uncomfortable for a few seconds until it passes because there's really not a way to get to those types of itches. [LAUGHS]
ELI: What are some of the most important updates NASA wants to make?
TESSA RUNDLE: So there are a couple of things that we want to do with the next space suit. One of them is increasing mobility. So when we go to the moon and Mars, we're going to have to do a lot more walking around than astronauts currently have to do in the suits that we have. So we need to increase the mobility of the legs part of the space suit so that we can walk around and go more places.
KENNEDY: What are some practical jokes astronauts play on each other?
TESSA RUNDLE: So a few years ago, astronaut Scott Kelly actually took a gorilla suit to the International Space Station. And so he dressed up in this gorilla suit, and he was chasing around his fellow crewmates and moving around a whole bunch of equipment and doing a lot of silly things. And there are actually videos of that online. So
KENNEDY: That's so cool.
ELI: [LAUGHS]
TESSA RUNDLE: Yeah, it's pretty funny. [LAUGHS]
KENNEDY: Thanks for stopping by, Tessa.
TESSA RUNDLE: Thank you for having me.
[BRAINS ON! DITTY]
CHILDREN: Brains On!
MOLLY BLOOM: Maybe those future space suits will make it easier for astronauts to dance.
KENNEDY: Yeah, because they'll want to bust a move once they hear this brand new space suit song we've got cued up.
ELI: The Space Suit Song by Jamie Lidell. Hit it.
[JAMIE LIDELL, "THE SPACE SUIT SONG"]
JAMIE LIDELL: (SINGING) Three, two, one. Can't wear your swimsuit on the moon. You can't take a dip in the Sea of Tranquility without being covered up completely. The atmosphere is lacking there.
You need to bring your own water, even bring your own air. So before you hop on board, get en route, you'd better pack that, better pack that space suit, space suit, space suit, space suit.
One, two, space walk, let's mingle with the stars. But you're so covered head to toe, you won't get very far. Here's the truth. You simply can't suit. If you're going out there, you'd better pack space suit, space suit, space suit, space suit.
One, two, Imagine wrapping up for the coast to the rebel bars. Space suit. It's a little more than a hat and gloves. Extravehicular mobility unit is what you need. It has 14 layers to protect you and fresh air for you to breathe.
That's the thing about space. You have to cover everything from your feet to your face. Ha, ha, ha, ha. You need a suit with liquid cooling to keep you just the right temperature out there. I hate to break it to you, but you even need a space d-d-d-d-d-diaper.
A what? Space, space, diaper. A space, space diaper. A what? A what? A space, space diaper. A what? Even in space, you need a place for your waste. Even in space, you need a place for your waste.
Three, two, one. Can't wear your swimsuit on the moon. You can't take a dip in the Sea of Tranquility without being covered up completely. The atmosphere is lacking there.
You need to bring your own water, even bring your own air. So before you hop on board, get en route, you'd better pack that, better pack that space suit, space suit, space suit, space suit. You'd better pack that, you'd better pack that space suit, space suit, space, suit, space suit.
One, two. One, two. Space. You'll need more than a hat and gloves.
[DING]
ELEVATOR: OK, here we are, space. Doors open.
[DOORS OPENING]
Ah, that feels good.
[CRACKLING]
SANDEN: Here I go. It's one small step for man, one giant leap for hamsterkind. Right, Pasta?
[SQUEAKING]
MARC: It's pretty awesome the dapper duo made your hamster a custom space suit.
SANDEN: Totally, though I have no idea where they got that tiny diaper.
MARC: I know. So cute.
SANDEN: OK, now, Pasta--
[SQUEAK]
--time to get those lights.
[SQUEAK]
And pose.
[CAMERA CLICKING]
And pose. And pose. And pose.
[CAMERA CLICKING]
Yes, yes, yes, no, not that face. That's the face right there. Oh, that's the look. You're going to be a star, baby. All right, and pose. And strut. Show me those paws, yeah. Make those freaky faces.
[QUIRKY MUSIC]
ELI: Space is super cool but also pretty dangerous. That's why we invented space suit.
KENNEDY: Space suits keep astronauts from getting too hot or too cold.
MOLLY BLOOM: They also provide air pressure, air to breathe, and they protect against space dust and space rocks.
ELI: Astronauts also use all kinds of cool gadgets on each spacewalk.
KENNEDY: That's it for our excellent adventure into space.
ELI: Brains On! is produced by Mark Sanchez, Molly Bloom, and Sanden Totten.
MOLLY BLOOM: Menaka Wilhelm is our fellow, and her super suit would include a lightweight ice cream sundae station/backpack. We had production help from Christina Lopez and engineering help from Mike Casper, John Miller, and Veronica Rodriguez. Special thanks to Judy Frei, Najude Morancy, Brian Frank, Todd Masterson, Josh Holt, Vicki Kreckler, and Sam Chu.
KENNEDY: And now before we take off, it's time for the Moment of Um.
[MOMENT OF UM DITTY]
THEO: What is going on inside your body when you crack your knuckles?
ROLAND CHANG: Yeah, so the technical explanation is that some of the nitrogen, which is living in your bones ends up creating a bubble in the joint that you pop. The crack is actually a result of the creation of the bubble.
[FUN MUSIC]
So my name is Roland Chang. I'm a rheumatologist, epidemiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. And generally what people do to crack their joints is, there's a negative pressure within the joints, so that the bones are actually attracted to each other because of this negative pressure within the joint. The joint is the junction of two bones.
And what you end up doing when you crack your joints is that you pull against this negative pressure, and that's what creates the bubble, the nitrogen that's in the bone, to actually get into the joint. And one of the reasons that people say that it's not a good thing is because having a negative pressure in the joint actually aids in the stability of the joint. And when you create the bubble in the joint, you actually momentarily-- it doesn't last for very long because the bubble gets dissolved very quickly-- you're momentarily making the joint unstable because you've undone the negative pressure within the joint.
[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
There does not seem to be a relationship between frequent crackers-- [LAUGHS] people that frequently crack their joints-- and the development of any kind of arthritis within those joints. But I think from a theoretical perspective, you don't want to do this too often because you're doing some potential micro injury to the joint.
[MOMENT OF UM DITTY]
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm going to take a crack at reading this list of names. They are the most recent group of listeners to be added to the Brains Honor Roll. They keep this show rolling by sharing their fabulous questions, ideas, and mystery sounds.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[LISTING HONOR ROLL]
We'll be back soon with more answers to your questions.
ELI AND KENNEDY: Thanks for listening.
MOLLY BLOOM: And before we go, here's a preview of the latest episode of Smash Boom Best.
Tommy and Anna have no idea what their sneak attack challenge will be. So they're going to have to invent something on the spot. Are you guys feeling improvisational today?
ANNA: Yes.
TOMMY: Yes and.
ANNA: [LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes and. [LAUGHS] Your top secret assignment is speed facts. How many facts can you get out about your side in one breath.
ANNA: Ooh.
MOLLY BLOOM: Anna and Tommy, feel free to whisper, shout, slur. Do whatever you have to do to get the most facts in. We'll give you some time to think up a bunch of facts, and then you'll both take a big breath and let her rip. Sound good?
GIRL: Yeah, swimmers might have an advantage here because they know how to take some deep breaths, so I don't know.
TOMMY: [LAUGHS]
ANNA: I think I've done three lengths of the pool without breathing before.
GIRL: Oh, my goodness. Wow.
TOMMY: Wow.
[LAUGHTER]
GIRL: You've got to step up your game, Tommy.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Tommy was up first last round, so Anna, you're up. Use those swimmer's lungs. And if you take a breath, I'm going to tell you to stop. We're watching you closely. OK, ready?
ANNA: Uh-huh. [INHALES] There are four main types of strokes that we didn't get to talk about today. There's freestyle, which looks like a dog. There's butterfly which looks like a butterfly. There's breaststroke which looks like you're whipping butter. And there's backstroke which you can do on your back. You can swim all of them together--
MOLLY BLOOM: (WHISPERING) Did you take a breath?
ANNA: Nope, it was just let out. You could swim all of them together at an event called the IM which stands for individual medley. Or you can swim them as a part of a relay, which is when you swim with three other swimmers on a team. Or you could do what's called a distance swim where you just keep going and going and somebody's at the end of your--
[LAUGHTER]
--lane holding cards.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] I think--
TOMMY: Hey, that has to be disqualified for the end.
GIRL: I was myself holding my breath with you. I was like ow, ow, ow.
MOLLY BLOOM: Me too.
[LAUGHTER]
ANNA: That was harder than I thought.
MOLLY BLOOM: That was very impressive. Well done. Tommy, are you ready? Your lungs feeling strong?
TOMMY: I'm just going to chew on a blade of grass because I'm a soccer player.
[LAUGHTER]
And I'll be ready to go.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] All right, whenever you're ready.
TOMMY: [INHALES] Soccer fields are a hundred yards long. It is known as the beautiful game. It. Has been around for thousands of years. And more than any other sport-- [EXHALES] I can't do it.
[LAUGHTER]
ANNA: It's really hard.
TOMMY: [LAUGHS] It's so hard.
ANNA: I think I cheated. Who am I, a soccer player?
[LAUGHTER]
TOMMY: Come on.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MOLLY BLOOM: To find out who won that Smash Boom battle, head to smashboom.org or subscribe to Smash Boom Best wherever you get your podcasts.
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.
