Science in Microgravity - round flames
Microgravity tends to produce rounder, cooler flames, as this comparison of combustion in normal gravity (left) and microgravity (right) illustrates. Unlike on Earth, hot, less-dense air does not rise in microgravity. As a result, other processes, like the diffusion of particles from a high temperature to a low temperature area, dominate.
Studying combustion in space reveals more about the fundamental physics of the phenomenon and could help develop fire-suppression technology for future space missions.
