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SpaceSurprise 5/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on September 14, 2026

Space smells like seared steak and hot metal.

Why it is true

Astronauts returning from spacewalks report that space smells like seared steak, hot metal and welding fumes. The smell clings to spacesuits and is probably caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons created by chemical reactions in the vacuum.

Source: NASA

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