Latest news with #HorribleScience
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC star Big Manny's life off screen including Prince William link
TikTok sensation Big Manny is showcasing his talents in the BBC's new series, a creation from the team behind Horrible Histories. Horrible Science made its debut on CBBC on May 9, with the entire series now available for streaming on iPlayer. Much like its predecessor, Horrible Histories, this new comedy show makes education fun for kids through quick-fire sketches centred around scientific themes. Five out of the fifteen episodes even cover topics found in primary school curriculums, including outer space, motion, light and electricity. The show features a recurring cast along with guest appearances from First Dates' Fred Sirieix and social media scientist, Big Manny. While audiences may be familiar with Fred, this could be their first encounter with Manny on television. Let's take a closer look at the life of this viral star off-screen, reports the Daily Record. Who is Big Manny? (Image: Getty Images) Big Manny, whose real name is Emanuel Wallace, uses his nickname across his social media platforms. The BBC star began sharing educational science videos on TikTok in 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown when children were forced into home schooling. Fresh from graduating with a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of East London, Manny started working as a science technician in a secondary school. It was this experience that inspired him to start posting videos online. "I could see first-hand that students were struggling in science because of the lockdown," the London native revealed to Chemistry World in 2023. After four years since his debut post, the TikToker has now amassed a whopping two million followers on TikTok and another 1.6 million on Instagram. But that's not all - Manny recently scooped up the Education Creator of the Year accolade at the first-ever TikTok Awards in December 2024. Manny demonstrates scientific experiments in short videos (Image: TikTok/ @ Manny resonates with younger audiences by breaking down intricate scientific concepts using everyday London vernacular. His ultimate mission? is to show young folks from all walks of life that they too have a place in the science world. In a heart-to-heart with The Voice in 2024, he shared: "So what I am trying to do with my platform is show young people that there are scientists out there that look like you, talk like you, dress like you, come from the same background as you. "So if they can become a scientist then there is no reason why you can't as well." Manny recently collaborated with Prince William (Image: Instagram/@ Meanwhile, back in January, Manny caused quite the stir among his fans with an unexpected Royal cameo. While visiting Nature Metrics, an environmental DNA research group, none other than Prince William dropped in to collaborate with the scientist on an experiment. Proclaiming himself as "Manny's beautiful assistant," for a tutorial on strawberry DNA extraction, the Duke's cameo stunned viewers. The brief 48-second TikTok video racked up over six million views, and fans flooded the comments. One astonished viewer couldn't help but express their shock, exclaiming: "PAUSE? ? IS THAT PRINCE WILLIAM? ?" Meanwhile, another was equally taken aback, jokingly remarking: " I LITERALLY BLINKED TWICE TO CONFIRM WHAT I WAS SEEING." Big Manny guest stars in Horrible Science, streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Who is Big Manny? Meet the TikTok sensation starring in BBC's Horrible Histories spin-off
The Biomedical Science graduate boasts over three million followers on social media TikTok star Big Manny is putting his skills to the test in BBC's new series, brought to life by the team behind Horrible Histories. Horrible Science premiered on CBBC on May 9, with the entire boxset available to stream on iPlayer. Like Horrible Histories, the new comedy show makes learning accessible for children through fast-paced sketches, all related to scientific topics. Five of the fifteen episodes even feature themes that are on primary school curriculums, including outer space, motion, light and electricity. Among its reoccurring cast, the show also has guest appearances from First Dates star Fred Sirieix and social media scientist Big Manny. While viewers will be acquainted with Fred, this may be their first time seeing Manny on the big screen. Below, we delve into the viral sensation's life off screen. Why is Big Manny famous? Big Manny's real name is Emanuel Wallace, however he uses the moniker on his social media platforms. The BBC star started posting educational science videos on TikTok in 2021, when the COVID-19 lockdown had forced children into remote learning. Having just graduated with a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences, from the University of East London, Manny began working as a science technician in a secondary school. His stint at the school sparked the idea to start sharing videos online. "I could see first-hand that students were struggling in science because of the lockdown," the Londoner told Chemistry World in 2023. Four years on from his first post, he now boasts two million followers on TikTok and an additional 1.6 million on Instagram. His accolades don't stop there, Manny was recently honoured with the Education Creator of the Year award, at the inaugural TikTok Awards in December 2024. The content creator appeals to young audiences by using colloquial London slang to explain complex scientific theories. Ultimately, he aims to demonstrate to young people that anyone can pursue a career in the science field, regardless of their background. He opened up about the motivation behind his content to The Voice in 2024, saying: "So what I am trying to do with my platform is show young people that there are scientists out there that look like you, talk like you, dress like you, come from the same background as you. "So if they can become a scientist then there is no reason why you can't as well." Prince William link Back in January, Manny shocked his followers with a royal guest star. During a visit to Nature Metrics, a research group that studies environmental DNA, Prince William joined the scientist for an experiment. The royal described himself as "Manny's beautiful assistant," before showcasing a step-by-step guide on how to extract DNA from a strawberry. The short 48-second clip garnered over six million views on TikTok, and sent fans wild.
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC to air disastrous First Dates episode as Fred Sirieix steps in
One dater's bizarre behaviour was actually for a very interesting reason CBBC is set to air its own spin on Channel 4's First Dates, and viewers are in for a wild ride. Fred Sirieix, known for hosting the beloved dating show, is guest starring in BBC's new children's comedy, Horrible Science. The fifteen-episode series is helmed by the BAFTA-winning team behind Horrible Histories, which featured iconic sketches about real historical figures. In a similar vein, this new series treats viewers to comical sketches with a focus on scientific topics. In episode eight, Fred steps into his well-known role and hosts 'Scientific First Dates,' which he introduces by stating: "The world may often seem cold and hard, but there is beauty and romance to be found." Tying in with the show's theme, this segment revolves around animals' mating rituals, which the first dater believes will help him find his perfect match. Liam is introduced as an animal lover, who has been studying wild courtship rituals ahead of the dinner date. As soon as he meets his new match, Kayleigh, he makes his first bizarre move. He offers her pebbles and instructs her to choose a favourite. While it comes across as strange, the courtship ritual is actually common among Adélie penguins, but naturally, Kayleigh is less than impressed by the offer. She quickly fires back: "I don't suppose you know any penguins that present their partners with chocolates?" Unfazed by his partner's reaction, Liam springs into a new ritual, this time it's a bird dance. He explains the courtship tradition, saying: "Well, the blue-capped cordon-bleu bird impresses its date by bobbing, singing and tapping its feet so fast, you can't see the move" Before Kayleigh can even respond, Fred rushes to the rescue, calling attention to a different ritual that had fallen under the radar. "Sorry to interrupt but we've had a complaint about the smell," says the maître d, prompting Liam to reveal: "That's me, I weed on my head, like a billy goat trying to impress a nanny goat." The dinner spirals into even more chaos as Liam admits that he also pooed in the restaurant, mimicking male hippos' unusual mating ritual. However, despite the odd date, Kayleigh is charmed by her date's effort and accepts to see him again for a second date. Fans of Fred's First Dates antics are in for a treat with the new BBC show, which premieres tonight on CBBC. The 53-year-old has cameos in episodes three, eight and eleven, all of which feature different dating disasters. Horrible Science premieres tonight at 5pm on CBBC. The entire series is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
From how to get rid of wee in space to items left on the moon, take our horribly tricky quiz
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HERE'S a question: do you know what happens to pee in space? If yes, urine with a chance of nailing this quiz. 6 Do you know what happens to astronaut when they pee in space? Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 Our quiz will test your knowledge of all things space 6 We have a set of questions that will take you round the solar system Credit: Supplied If not, you (and the kids) can swot up with the new CBeebies series Horrible Science, starting May 9. From the award-winning brains behind Horrible Histories, it promises to make science fun. In the meantime, give our quiz a go and find out if your science know-how is out of this world . . . Q1 IF astronauts throw up while they're in space, what happens to their sick? a) It turns blue b) It turns ball-shaped c) It smells of flowers Q2 WHICH method has NEVER been used to get rid of pee in space? a) Throwing pee straight out of the spacecraft b) Turning pee into drinking water c) Using the pee as rocket fuel Q3 NASA plans to return to the Moon next year with the Artemis project. Which of the following items have been left on the moon during previous missions? a) Golf balls b) A hammer and a feather c) 96 bags of poo Weirdest things spotted on Mars revealed Q4 SOME parts of the Moon have hugely horrible names – which TWO are real ones? a) The Sea of Blood b) The Ocean of Pain c) The Marsh of Decay d) The Lake of Death 5. The Horribly Huge Grand Tour This takes you to the edge of the solar system (our Sun and planets). Simply answer a question at each stop on the way. Stop 1: The Sun The Sun is so big that it takes up 99.8 per cent of all the matter in the solar system. And it is super-powerful. Imagine a piece of sun the size of a postage stamp – how much light would it produce? a) Equal to a dim light bulb b) Equal to over 1,000 light bulbs c) Nothing – it would explode Stop 2: Mercury During the day Mercury gets hotter than 430C. Why do scientists think there's ice on Mercury? a) It's special ice that only melts at very high temperatures. b) The ice is at the centre of the planet. c) The ice is in deep craters that stay in shadow. Stop 3: Venus Venus is hotter than a pizza oven. What weird weather might you find there? a) Acid clouds and metal snow b) Natural toffee rain caused by sugars heating in the atmosphere c) Stinky-steamy fog – imagine a hot shower in a blocked toilet Stop 4: Earth Planet Earth ought to be Planet Water because it's mostly covered by the wet stuff. Like all planets, Earth orbits the Sun. But how fast is our planet moving? a) It moved 27km in the time you took to read this question b) It moved 27million km in the time you took to read this question c) It moved 27cm in the time you took to read this question. 6 Is Jupiter's big red spot caused by alien bacteria? 6 The new CBeebies series Horrible Science starts on May 9 Credit: Supplied Stop 5: Mars Mars is a grim planet. It's icy cold and there's nothing to breathe. It does have two little moons. Deimos is the smallest – it has weak gravity. How weak? a) If you fart, you'll fly into space b) If you let the air out of a balloon, you'll fly into space c) If you ride a bike, you'll fly into space Stop 6: The Asteroid Belt Between Mars and Jupiter there's a dwarf planet called Ceres and millions of asteroids (space rocks, remember?). Asteroids come in all shapes and sizes but there's one thing they don't have – what is it? a) Gold b) Atmosphere c) Moons Stop 7: Jupiter It is so big all the other planets can fit inside it. Why does Jupiter have a big red spot? a) It's a horribly huge infection caused by alien bacteria b) It's a horribly huge hurricane bigger than the entirety of Earth c) It's a horribly huge area of red rocks Stop 8: Saturn Saturn's famous rings are made from rocks – some as big as houses and some as small as bugs. Why do the rings vanish every 15 years? a) They reflect sunlight but only do this from certain angles b) They break apart and need to re-form from time to time c) The rings are very thin and you can't see them when they're end-on to Earth Stop 9: Uranus Uranus is mainly made up of gas – its atmosphere stinks of farts (that's due to hydrogen sulphide). Why is the winter especially cold and miserable? a) Uranus is a slow-spinning planet b) The planet spins at an odd angle and has a long year c) The stinky atmosphere is like a deep-freeze keeping the planet cold Stop 10: Neptune Neptune is another cold, gassy planet. How windy is Neptune? a) The wind blows at 2,000km per hour b) The wind blows at 50km per hour c) No one knows – a robot space probe was sent to measure the weather, but it got blown back to Uranus Q6 WHICH of the following can happen to astronauts when they're in space? a) They get taller b) They need to pee more regularly c) Their fingernails can fall off 6 Check below to see how many you got right Answers A1 b) It turns ball-shaped. With no gravity to pull it downward, vomit comes out in free-floating blobs of chunky fluid. The blobs can drift and break into small blobs, which can be a big problem in a sealed, sensitive environment like the International Space Station. NASA prepares for this by training astronauts to vomit into special 'barf bags' that are designed for space. Unlike regular sick bags, these space ones have a one-way valve to prevent anything from floating back out. But if anyone misses the bag, the crew must treat it as a biohazard. As the vomit is free-floating, it could get into equipment and short-circuit the electronics or clog up air filters, risking the air flow into the spaceship. WHY A BALL? On Earth, when you vomit, gravity pulls the liquid downward – into a toilet, a bag, the floor (hopefully not the last one). But in space, gravity isn't pulling things down. On the ISS, astronauts are in microgravity, which means they're constantly free-falling around Earth – essentially experiencing weightlessness. When you throw up in microgravity, the vomit comes out of your mouth, but instead of falling, it just floats. Liquids in space naturally clump into blobs due to surface tension – the force that makes water form droplets. So vomit in space forms a gross, sticky sphere that just hovers there until it hits something – like a face. In space, surface tension dominates, so ALL fluids – water, sweat, pee and vomit – will float around in blobs unless contained. Vomiting in space is totally a thing, especially during the first few days when astronauts are getting used to floating around in microgravity. 'Space Sickness' affects about two thirds of astronauts in the first 48 hours; the brain gets confused because the inner ear is used to gravity-based cues for balance and in space everything is floaty and weird! A2 c) It has never been used as rocket fuel. The space shuttles of the 1980s dumped pee into space. One astronaut described how it froze into shiny crystals that twinkled as the Sun set behind Earth. That's beautiful. On the International Space Station, the astronauts drink their own purified pee – fancy a glug? A3 a), b) and c): There's no way of refuelling on the moon, so Nasa had to send the heavy fuel that would be needed to blast back off again from the moon and return to Earth, along with the astronauts when they originally blasted off into space. To save any further weight, the missions that went to the moon also left as much behind as possible to save on the amount of fuel then needed to get back home – hence there are quite a lot of items still up there! Alan Shephard left golf balls on the moon after taking two shots during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. George Scott left a hammer and a feather on the moon during the Apollo 15 mission, also in 1971, after proving Galileo's theory that in the absence of air resistance, objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass. During a moonwalk, he held a geologist's hammer (heavy and solid) and a falcon's feather (light and delicate). He dropped them at the same time on the lunar surface and . . . they hit the ground at exactly the same time. It was a beautiful, simple demonstration of physics, proving Galileo's famous theory from around 380 years earlier. The Moon gave a perfect laboratory to test the theory as it has no atmosphere, so no air resistance, to cause the feather to flutter as it fell. NASA also deliberately placed long-term science experi-ments on the surface, including seismo-meters to detect Moonquakes. The Apollo missions also left messages for future generations, and symbols of peace including a gold olive branch and a plaque that says 'We came in peace for all mankind'. A4 c) and d): One day they might have to change these names – they're sure to put off space tourists! A5 1. b) The Sun is seriously bright. But you know that already – the Sun is 148million km away from us and it is still dazzling! c) The craters are at the poles which get less sunlight than the rest of the planet. a) Venus is a really stupid place to go on holiday. a) Earth moves at 107,000km per hour – and don't forget it spins too. How come we aren't totally dizzy? b) Deimos looks amazingly like a potato but it's actually covered in about 100 metres of space dust. Dusty old potatoes – yuck! b) Asteroids don't have enough gravity to stop an atmosphere floating into space. Some have gold and some have their own tiny moons! b) The hurricane has been raging for centuries and no one knows why it's red! It may be due to coloured chemicals in the hurricane. c) The rings are tens of thousands of kilometres wide but less than one kilometre thick! b) Uranus actually spins sideways in space so its poles face the Sun in turn. The other pole is very cold and dark. And since one year lasts 84 Earth years, winter takes 21 years! No wonder it's so cold and miserable. a) Neptune is actually the windiest place in the solar system. A6 1. a), b) and c): In space, astronauts get a little taller because there's no gravity to squish their spines. Without gravity, their bones can stretch out, making them about two inches taller. But when they return to Earth, gravity pulls everything back to normal and they shrink back to their regular height. In space, astronauts also pee more. Normally, gravity pulls fluids down to their legs but in space there's no gravity to hold things down. So, all the fluids in their body float up to their chest and head. Their body notices the shift and starts making extra pee to get rid of the extra fluid. After a few days, their body gets used to space and everything goes back to normal. It's like their body has to adjust to the weirdness of space before things settle down. Astronauts' fingernails can fall off in space because their gloves are super tight, which puts pressure on their hands and nails. Plus, in space, their blood flow changes, so their nails don't get the nutrients they need to stay strong. The result? Sometimes their nails just fall off. It's one of the weird things astronauts have to deal with. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
From how to get rid of wee in space to items left on the moon, take our horribly tricky quiz
Sun Reporter Published: Invalid Date, HERE'S a question: do you know what happens to pee in space? If yes, urine with a chance of nailing this quiz. 6 6 If not, you (and the kids) can swot up with the new CBeebies series Horrible Science, starting May 9. From the award-winning brains behind Horrible Histories, it promises to make science fun. In the meantime, give our quiz a go and find out if your science know-how is out of this world . . . Q1 IF astronauts throw up while they're in space, what happens to their sick? a) It turns blue b) It turns ball-shaped c) It smells of flowers Q2 WHICH method has NEVER been used to get rid of pee in space? a) Throwing pee straight out of the spacecraft b) Turning pee into drinking water c) Using the pee as rocket fuel Q3 NASA plans to return to the Moon next year with the Artemis project. Which of the following items have been left on the moon during previous missions? a) Golf balls b) A hammer and a feather c) 96 bags of poo Weirdest things spotted on Mars revealed Q4 SOME parts of the Moon have hugely horrible names – which TWO are real ones? a) The Sea of Blood b) The Ocean of Pain c) The Marsh of Decay d) The Lake of Death 5. The Horribly Huge Grand Tour This takes you to the edge of the solar system (our Sun and planets). Simply answer a question at each stop on the way. Stop 1: The Sun The Sun is so big that it takes up 99.8 per cent of all the matter in the solar system. And it is super-powerful. Imagine a piece of sun the size of a postage stamp – how much light would it produce? a) Equal to a dim light bulb b) Equal to over 1,000 light bulbs c) Nothing – it would explode Stop 2: Mercury During the day Mercury gets hotter than 430C. Why do scientists think there's ice on Mercury? a) It's special ice that only melts at very high temperatures. b) The ice is at the centre of the planet. c) The ice is in deep craters that stay in shadow. Stop 3: Venus Venus is hotter than a pizza oven. What weird weather might you find there? a) Acid clouds and metal snow b) Natural toffee rain caused by sugars heating in the atmosphere c) Stinky-steamy fog – imagine a hot shower in a blocked toilet Stop 4: Earth Planet Earth ought to be Planet Water because it's mostly covered by the wet stuff. Like all planets, Earth orbits the Sun. But how fast is our planet moving? a) It moved 27km in the time you took to read this question b) It moved 27million km in the time you took to read this question c) It moved 27cm in the time you took to read this question. 6 6 Stop 5: Mars Mars is a grim planet. It's icy cold and there's nothing to breathe. It does have two little moons. Deimos is the smallest – it has weak gravity. How weak? a) If you fart, you'll fly into space b) If you let the air out of a balloon, you'll fly into space c) If you ride a bike, you'll fly into space Stop 6: The Asteroid Belt Between Mars and Jupiter there's a dwarf planet called Ceres and millions of asteroids (space rocks, remember?). Asteroids come in all shapes and sizes but there's one thing they don't have – what is it? a) Gold b) Atmosphere c) Moons Stop 7: Jupiter It is so big all the other planets can fit inside it. Why does Jupiter have a big red spot? a) It's a horribly huge infection caused by alien bacteria b) It's a horribly huge hurricane bigger than the entirety of Earth c) It's a horribly huge area of red rocks Stop 8: Saturn Saturn's famous rings are made from rocks – some as big as houses and some as small as bugs. Why do the rings vanish every 15 years? a) They reflect sunlight but only do this from certain angles b) They break apart and need to re-form from time to time c) The rings are very thin and you can't see them when they're end-on to Earth Stop 9: Uranus Uranus is mainly made up of gas – its atmosphere stinks of farts (that's due to hydrogen sulphide). Why is the winter especially cold and miserable? a) Uranus is a slow-spinning planet b) The planet spins at an odd angle and has a long year c) The stinky atmosphere is like a deep-freeze keeping the planet cold Stop 10: Neptune Neptune is another cold, gassy planet. How windy is Neptune? a) The wind blows at 2,000km per hour b) The wind blows at 50km per hour c) No one knows – a robot space probe was sent to measure the weather, but it got blown back to Uranus Q6 WHICH of the following can happen to astronauts when they're in space? a) They get taller b) They need to pee more regularly c) Their fingernails can fall off 6 Answers A1 b) It turns ball-shaped. With no gravity to pull it downward, vomit comes out in free-floating blobs of chunky fluid. The blobs can drift and break into small blobs, which can be a big problem in a sealed, sensitive environment like the International Space Station. NASA prepares for this by training astronauts to vomit into special 'barf bags' that are designed for space. Unlike regular sick bags, these space ones have a one-way valve to prevent anything from floating back out. But if anyone misses the bag, the crew must treat it as a biohazard. As the vomit is free-floating, it could get into equipment and short-circuit the electronics or clog up air filters, risking the air flow into the spaceship. WHY A BALL? On Earth, when you vomit, gravity pulls the liquid downward – into a toilet, a bag, the floor (hopefully not the last one). But in space, gravity isn't pulling things down. On the ISS, astronauts are in microgravity, which means they're constantly free-falling around Earth – essentially experiencing weightlessness. When you throw up in microgravity, the vomit comes out of your mouth, but instead of falling, it just floats. Liquids in space naturally clump into blobs due to surface tension – the force that makes water form droplets. So vomit in space forms a gross, sticky sphere that just hovers there until it hits something – like a face. In space, surface tension dominates, so ALL fluids – water, sweat, pee and vomit – will float around in blobs unless contained. Vomiting in space is totally a thing, especially during the first few days when astronauts are getting used to floating around in microgravity. 'Space Sickness' affects about two thirds of astronauts in the first 48 hours; the brain gets confused because the inner ear is used to gravity-based cues for balance and in space everything is floaty and weird! A2 c) It has never been used as rocket fuel. The space shuttles of the 1980s dumped pee into space. One astronaut described how it froze into shiny crystals that twinkled as the Sun set behind Earth. That's beautiful. On the International Space Station, the astronauts drink their own purified pee – fancy a glug? A3 a), b) and c): There's no way of refuelling on the moon, so Nasa had to send the heavy fuel that would be needed to blast back off again from the moon and return to Earth, along with the astronauts when they originally blasted off into space. To save any further weight, the missions that went to the moon also left as much behind as possible to save on the amount of fuel then needed to get back home – hence there are quite a lot of items still up there! Alan Shephard left golf balls on the moon after taking two shots during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. George Scott left a hammer and a feather on the moon during the Apollo 15 mission, also in 1971, after proving Galileo's theory that in the absence of air resistance, objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass. During a moonwalk, he held a geologist's hammer (heavy and solid) and a falcon's feather (light and delicate). He dropped them at the same time on the lunar surface and . . . they hit the ground at exactly the same time. It was a beautiful, simple demonstration of physics, proving Galileo's famous theory from around 380 years earlier. The Moon gave a perfect laboratory to test the theory as it has no atmosphere, so no air resistance, to cause the feather to flutter as it fell. NASA also deliberately placed long-term science experi-ments on the surface, including seismo-meters to detect Moonquakes. The Apollo missions also left messages for future generations, and symbols of peace including a gold olive branch and a plaque that says 'We came in peace for all mankind'. A4 c) and d): One day they might have to change these names – they're sure to put off space tourists! A5 1. b) The Sun is seriously bright. But you know that already – the Sun is 148million km away from us and it is still dazzling! c) The craters are at the poles which get less sunlight than the rest of the planet. a) Venus is a really stupid place to go on holiday. a) Earth moves at 107,000km per hour – and don't forget it spins too. How come we aren't totally dizzy? b) Deimos looks amazingly like a potato but it's actually covered in about 100 metres of space dust. Dusty old potatoes – yuck! b) Asteroids don't have enough gravity to stop an atmosphere floating into space. Some have gold and some have their own tiny moons! b) The hurricane has been raging for centuries and no one knows why it's red! It may be due to coloured chemicals in the hurricane. c) The rings are tens of thousands of kilometres wide but less than one kilometre thick! b) Uranus actually spins sideways in space so its poles face the Sun in turn. The other pole is very cold and dark. And since one year lasts 84 Earth years, winter takes 21 years! No wonder it's so cold and miserable. a) Neptune is actually the windiest place in the solar system. A6 1. a), b) and c): In space, astronauts get a little taller because there's no gravity to squish their spines. Without gravity, their bones can stretch out, making them about two inches taller. But when they return to Earth, gravity pulls everything back to normal and they shrink back to their regular height. In space, astronauts also pee more. Normally, gravity pulls fluids down to their legs but in space there's no gravity to hold things down. So, all the fluids in their body float up to their chest and head. Their body notices the shift and starts making extra pee to get rid of the extra fluid. After a few days, their body gets used to space and everything goes back to normal. It's like their body has to adjust to the weirdness of space before things settle down. Astronauts' fingernails can fall off in space because their gloves are super tight, which puts pressure on their hands and nails. Plus, in space, their blood flow changes, so their nails don't get the nutrients they need to stay strong. The result? Sometimes their nails just fall off. It's one of the weird things astronauts have to deal with.
