Arkk9 said: Bare skin? In space? Enjoy your explosive decompression...
Actually explosive decompression is a falacy. It has been proved scientifically that human skin can withstand the lack of pressure of space. This is the basis for the designs of next generation spacesuits, which will be skintight with only a bubble shaped presurized helmet covering the head... (see BIOSUIT).
Explosive decompression is more likely to occur when working at great ocean depths and not following safe decompression procedures. There was a horrible accident of this type in a drilling platform during the early 80s...
I don't want to list all the scientific explanation here, but basically one does not explode when exposed to the space, neither does he freeze into an iced human immediately since space is practically vacuum and conduction and convection are impossible.
The more likely consequences of entering the vacuum of the space are the bends as the dissolved gases in the bodily fluids are released and bubble in the blood vessels, and water molecules on and near the skin surface freezing due to temperature drop caused by decompression. Also the skin may swell and redden a bit, accompanied by the bursting of capillaries in parts like the eye sockets. Then there is the problem with the radiation as Anelaid said, but as far as I know they aren't deadly within moments. A prolonged exposure would surely cause sickness at least though.
Lick_King said: I don't want to list all the scientific explanation here, but basically one does not explode when exposed to the space, neither does he freeze into an iced human immediately since space is practically vacuum and conduction and convection are impossible.
The more likely consequences of entering the vacuum of the space are the bends as the dissolved gases in the bodily fluids are released and bubble in the blood vessels, and water molecules on and near the skin surface freezing due to temperature drop caused by decompression. Also the skin may swell and redden a bit, accompanied by the bursting of capillaries in parts like the eye sockets. Then there is the problem with the radiation as Anelaid said, but as far as I know they aren't deadly within moments. A prolonged exposure would surely cause sickness at least though.
The only way you could be dead within moments is if you are in an area with a lot of radiation or happen to walk out at the same time as a solar flare, but far as I know, our solutions for a solar flare today are to pray for the best.
Anelaid said: The only way you could be dead within moments is if you are in an area with a lot of radiation or happen to walk out at the same time as a solar flare, but far as I know, our solutions for a solar flare today are to pray for the best.
Radiation in space is mostly cosmic and UV. Exposure to cosmic radiation will cause sickness if sufficiently prolonged but no worse than many radioactive isotopes we deal with on a day to day basis. What you should look out for is catching the sunrise. Without UV protection from the atmosphere bare skin will burn very badly from the UV.
