6 Misconceptions About Space That Movies Have Ingrained In Our Minds

As good as they are, movies aren't always truthful. It happens quite often (even very often) that our knowledge is biased by them. This is the case for history (300 is a good example) as it is for space. So if you think you know everything about what is happening in our universe, here are 6 beliefs peddled by the cinema, and which are currently false.

#6. Asteroid belts are deadly

You only have to watch The Empire Strikes Back or Attack of the Clones to realize that the asteroid belts are incredibly dangerous. After all, the space between asteroids is so small that even tiny TIE ships end up crashing into them, if not being swallowed up by a giant worm. Even C-3PO warns us, reminding us that the chances of crossing an asteroid field are almost nil. Obi-Wan and Han Solo also pay the price in frightening chases.

Actually, the asteroid belts aren't that dangerous. If they indeed contain asteroids in large quantities, kilometers separate each of them. And although the latter are moving NASA scientists replied that there would be about a one in a billion chance that a probe would collide with an asteroid, assuming it were to pass through an asteroid field . We are therefore more likely to be struck by lightning five times in the same day than Han Solo to eat a huge stone in the face.

#5. Black holes are cosmic vacuum cleaners

Black holes have always been a source of misunderstanding and fascination. Besides being invisible to the naked eye, their ability to absorb everything light years around them is quite frightening. Different series have contributed to this belief, such as Star Trek, with the destruction of the planet Vulcan by a black hole.

As huge and powerful as they are, black holes cannot exist without matter to absorb, otherwise they will eventually collapse in on themselves. Of course, the largest of them would be able to modify the fabric of space-time around them. But in the event that a black hole of a mass equivalent to that of our sun was in the place of the latter, we would not be absorbed. Neither quickly nor slowly over the years (well, we hope). Black holes, however, remain entities of which we know little, and which are part of the quantum domain.

(Of course, this is theoretical. A black hole of the mass of our sun could not really exist, because its mass would be too weak. It would rather be a dwarf star).

#4. The sun is yellow

When you're a child, you usually learn two things: the sun is hot and it's yellow. If the 1st is true (6001.02 Kelvin / 5726.85 degrees Celcius), the second is unfortunately absolutely false. Indeed, the sun, with a very high temperature, can only have one color: white. More exactly, it is of all colors, which by superposition gives white. And yes, the sun has never been yellow. We see it yellow because of our atmosphere, which filters light rays. The sun also emits light rays that our eyes cannot perceive, such as UV and infrared rays.

So what about all the photos taken by space agencies? The sad (but necessary) reality is that colors are added AFTER the photos are taken. Of course, the purpose of the space agencies has not been to lie to us all these years. The colors that we see in the photos are the result of long approximations and analyzes of the atmospheres, to help them in their work (for lack of being able to go and check on site).

#3. Meteorites are hot and explosive

A great classic if ever there was one. Most movies show us meteorites as fiery bombs that will crash to the ground with a resounding impact and lots of special effects. All is not wrong, however. Meteorites actually descend into the atmosphere in flames. More precisely, it is the thin layer of air surrounding them. Subjected to the pressure between the meteor and the atmosphere, this thin layer of air heats up to the point of catching fire, giving meteorites the infernal aspect that we know them.

But since the latter have just spent a few million years in space, where the temperature is very low, a few minutes in the middle of the flames are not enough to make them hot. And even if the temperature rises rapidly, contours that have been heated tend to shatter upon landing. Assuming the meteorite hasn't disintegrated.

#2. The human body explodes in space

We have all seen a few low-budget films where the characters explode when they are in direct contact with space. But the reality is quite different.

It is indeed possible for a human to walk around in space without a helmet and not instantly explode into a thousand pieces. This is possible thanks to two things.

First, our skin protects our body so well that it is able to cancel the explosion effect of the decompression of our environment.

Secondly, our blood circulation system is extremely adaptive, and is therefore able to continue circulating blood normally even when we suddenly find ourselves in a totally different environment.

Walking around in space without a suit and a helmet is also not possible. It is the absence of oxygen and external pressure that is fatal. Air is instantly expelled from the body, and attempting to retain it in one's lungs is very dangerous. The blood will struggle to keep its liquid form, and gradually even the oxygen in the red blood cells will eventually "evaporate".

#1. The far side of the Moon is black. All the time.

Sorry to break your childhood memories, but the dark side of the Moon does not exist. In fact, this belief comes from a misinterpretation of a real fact. What is true is that you can only see one side of the Moon from Earth. There is therefore a hidden side from our point of view. The sun sees many of them. Of course, the Moon is not permanently illuminated from all sides, but as on Earth, one part of the Moon is in shadow when the other is illuminated.

So there is a side of the Moon that we can't see from Earth, but that doesn't make it a dark place, banished to eternal shadows and serving as a secret base for an entire army of Transformers in fury.