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Space Tastes like Raspberries?

Photo by NASA, JPL-Caltech, Susan Stolovy (SSC/Caltech) et al.

Ask a Rocket Scientist

by Rob Webb on June 19, 2023
Name: Lily
Grade: 8
What is your favorite planet or star? Pluto
Question: Is it true that there is a gas cloud in space that tastes like raspberries?

Hi Lily, thanks for your question! I also really like Pluto (I prefer to call it the “King of the Kuiper Belt”). Although it’s no longer considered a planet, I still think it’s pretty cool. And we’re not alone! Many people today are fascinated by Pluto and believe (at least in their hearts!) that Pluto is still a planet. In fact, each year, the scientific community recognizes Pluto’s demotion with a holiday called “Pluto Demoted Day” on August 24.

Pluto was demoted to the status of “dwarf” planet.

And in case you’re wondering why Pluto is no longer a planet, back in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided to be more specific with the definition of “planet” using three criteria. First, it has to orbit the sun. Second, it has to have a round (spherical) shape. Third, it has to have a “clear neighborhood” in its orbit. And (sadly) Pluto did not make the cut! Although it has a round body and orbits the sun, it cannot clear its path (being so small) and thus has a very “busy neighborhood” (meaning it has many asteroids and other space rocks in its path). So, as a result, Pluto was demoted to the status of “dwarf” planet.1

But just because Pluto lost its official status doesn’t mean it’s not a fascinating (dwarf) planet made by God! One really cool fact about Pluto is that even though it’s orbiting in the cold outer reaches of the solar system, it appears to be a geologically active world. Scientists believe a vast ocean could be sloshing underneath the surface and volcanically active with giant icy volcanoes (called “cryovolcanoes”).

Enhanced color global view of Pluto

Enhanced color global view of Pluto, taken by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft; Photo by NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI.

These findings are obviously shocking for evolutionists (those who hold to the belief that the solar system is billions of years old) who were expecting to find a geologically dead world. But it’s perfectly consistent from a biblical worldview! If we start with the Bible, which says that God created all the planets (and dwarf planets) on day 4 of Creation Week (about 6,000 years ago), then it’s not surprising that Pluto is geologically active—with ice volcanoes on it! Talk about a cool (dwarf) planet!

Also, I noticed you left the “your favorite rocket” field blank. So, in case you need a favorite rocket to choose from, you can use mine! My all-time favorite rocket is the Saturn V (no longer in use) which NASA previously used to launch astronauts to the moon!

Saturn V launch

Saturn V launch; Photo by NASA.

Is it true that there is a gas cloud in space that tastes like raspberries?

Now to your question, is it true that there is a gas cloud in space that tastes like raspberries? I’m assuming you’re referring to the reports (back around 2009) stating that a giant dust cloud (Sagittarius B2) at the center of the Milky Way could smell/taste (vaguely) like raspberries. This (rather funny) conclusion came from a survey done by astronomers where they had identified various molecules floating around in the dust cloud, and one of the molecules they identified was ethyl formate (which apparently smells/tastes like raspberries).

Milky Way galaxy

Image from the Spitzer Space Telescope of the center of our Milky Way galaxy; NASA, JPL-Caltech, Susan Stolovy (SSC/Caltech) et al.

But this finding does not mean “space raspberries” are floating around in the middle of our galaxy. (Since, of course, many other molecules are needed to make a raspberry!) Plus, astronomers have also detected a number of other molecules like methanol and propyl cyanide (which are both lethal!) in the same cloud. So the idea that our galaxy “tastes like raspberries” is likely nothing more than sweet wishful thinking!

Raspberries

Raspberries; Photo by Zach Inglis on Unsplash.

According to astronauts, space has a unique (out-of-this-world) scent!

But interestingly, according to astronauts, space has a unique (out-of-this-world) scent! For instance, when the Apollo astronauts returned from the moon, they described the smell on their spacesuits smelling like gunpowder. And after doing long space walks, many astronauts, upon stepping back into the space station, have reported the same (strange) odor on their suits as a smoky/metallic smell, sort of like seared steak (yum!) or hot metal.2 Maybe one day you’ll become an astronaut when you grow up and have the opportunity to verify this claim!

Astronaut Richard Arnold in space

NASA, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

In the end, God created a fascinating universe for us to explore and discover; we can discover not only all the interesting smells out there in space but also the amazing design of the heavens that display his glory (Psalm 19:1). Let’s remember to always praise our Creator, the Maker of the heavens and the earth . . . and our noses!

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Footnotes

  1. Actually, not all scientists agree with this demotion, and some are even trying to fight that definition, believing there are other (better) ways of deciding what a planet is. The main reason is that space is full of objects, so every planetary body has at least some sort of “neighborhood” around it. See all footnotes
  2. NASA scientists think that the metallic aspect of this space odor may come from high-energy vibrations of ions. See all footnotes