From the September 2007 issue

Would water released from a spacecraft into space boil because of the low pressure or freeze due to the low temperature?

Dan McDermid, Chilliwack, Alabama
By | Published: September 1, 2007 | Last updated on May 18, 2023

Both. When released into space, water boils until it freezes. Space is cold, about –454° F (–270° C). Even though the water may be cool when released into space, it will boil immediately because of the nearly non-existent atmospheric pressure.