A very special kind of laboratory
Weightlessness is more than just a bit of fun for astronauts. It is above all a way of creating very special laboratory conditions for scientists. By artificially suppressing the effects of gravity, we can devise completely new experiments impossible to perform on Earth.
For example, solids and liquids mix in totally different ways in weightless conditions: in weightlessness, elements like water and sand form a homogeneous mixture. By solidifying them, we can manufacture materials that are hard to obtain on Earth.
Gravity also affects the way we represent space in 3 dimensions. In weightlessness, we perceive time and orientation differently. Experiments in this field are designed to help us better understand the cerebral mechanisms involved and why they malfunction.
