**Lifestyle**
By Katherine Donlevy
Published Jan. 10, 2024, 7:49 p.m. ET
Have you ever wondered what the universe smells like? It turns out space helmets serve a dual purpose — to keep air in and stink out.
Just like Earth, the universe emits various smells from every corner of the never-ending universe, often which are generally unpleasant, Space.com reported, citing numerous space expeditions over the decades.
Astronauts have long described strong odors clinging to their space suits after they return to their air-locked chambers. According to scientists, the source of the metallic, burnt meat stink can be attributed to Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), found in charred foods on Earth and routinely occurring in outer space.
Some astronauts who removed their helmets after a space walk have also reported that the ozone smells bitter and smoky and even like rum and raspberries, connected to Sagittarius B2, a vast dust cloud at the center of our galaxy that contains loads of alcohol.
As if its name didn’t give it away, Uranus smells strongly of flatulence, made up of hydrogen sulfide, the compound that creates the smell of rotten eggs and farts, while comets give off a sweet aroma of almonds and a stench of urine.
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, has the distinct smell of gasoline — which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering it is covered in rivers and lakes of oil.
The universe, it turns out, has a lot of interesting smells, some pleasant and some not so much.
(Source: Space.com)