#riadvent

Have you ever poured water into a glass and seen it shatter? Ever wondered why?

If the difference in temperature between the two substances – the water and the glass – is large enough, it can cause the glass to shatter. As the water and glass try to get into thermal equilibrium with each other, energy is transferred. As the glass rapidly changes temperature, it distorts.

The inside of the glass changes shape faster than the outside, as it’s in direct contact with the water, meaning that the glass is pulled apart, and breaks.

“ I believe the time will come when most human cultures will be engaged in an activity we might describe as a dandelion going to seed.”

When the Japanese Kibo module was installed on the ISS, the astronauts quickly discovered that the distance between walls was such that if a colleague was placed carefully in the centre, they could not escape except by swimming through the air.

Poet Mark Grist on diversity in space travel, and its worth to us as a society. Watch Mark perform the full poem as an argument with himself.

Mercury rising: America's first steps into space

In 1959, Project Mercury became the United States' maiden space programme. This is the story of that programme, told through beautiful archive footage.

Over 200 people have visited the International Space Station. But who are they? What does it take to join the elite crew of people who have looked down on the earth from this tiny outpost circling above the clouds?

In 1991 Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space. We asked her if she ever dreams of being back there. This animation is the first instalment of the 2015 Ri advent calendar, A Place Called Space. Check back every day for a new instalment of space travel-themed goodness.

And for now, watch day 1:

What’s the best sort of advent calendar? A space-themed one!

Check out rigb.org/advent for A Place Called Space: a new serving of space travel awesomeness every day until Christmas. There’ll be animations, infographics, experiments in zero gravity and more. Check back every morning or sign up to receive each nugget of galactic goodness in your inbox each day.