Field Notes: A 25-Year-Old Fisher Space Pen Experiment and Spaceflight Curiosities

Overview

In this Field Notes episode from The Rest Is Science, Michael brings a Fisher space pen kept since space camp and they run a hands on test to see if a 25 year old bullet pen still writes, including upside down writing and an attempted underwater scenario. The discussion branches into how space pens work, the realities of writing in zero gravity, and memories from space training.

Key insights

• The Fisher space pen uses pressurized gas to push ink, enabling writing in zero gravity, upside down, and underwater.
• Pencils in space are problematic due to graphite debris and eraser residue in a closed environment; a space pen avoids this issue.
• A 25 year old space pen can still write smoothly, demonstrating the durability of space grade ink and mechanisms.
• The episode weaves in space camp memories, the design of space pens, and an accompanying Cancer Research UK sponsorship segment discussing cancer biology and therapeutics.

Introduction and Setup

The Rest Is Science hosts begin Field Notes by revisiting a childhood object, a Fisher space pen, claimed to be from Michael's space camp days. The purpose is to conduct a practical experiment and to capture the moment for their audience. They acknowledge a long running personal project that has culminated in this test and comment on the importance of recording the journey.

The Space Pen: Mechanics and Myth Busting

The discussion explains how regular ballpoint pens rely on gravity and how space pens address the weightless environment. The pen in question is a bullet shaped Fisher space pen. The hosts describe its inside components—a pressurized gas chamber above the ink that pushes the ink out through the nib rather than relying on gravity. They debunk the common anecdote that NASA spent vast sums on a space pen while the Soviets used pencils. The hosts emphasize why pencils are unsuited for spacecraft due to debris and potential electrical contamination from graphite particles and eraser fragments. They examine the pen visually, noting age and ink appearance, and prepare to test it on paper with traditional and inverted writing, acknowledging the cap at the back and the overall cosmetic appeal.

Live Testing: Upside Down and Beyond

When they attempt writing normally, upside down, and then hypothetically underwater, the pen demonstrates functionality consistent with its design. The ink flows smoothly, and they remark on the pen writing upside down as well as a normal grip. They discuss how such a tool remains usable after decades, highlighting the durability of space era materials and inks. The conversation also touches on the nostalgia and design aesthetics reminiscent of space themed typography, likening the space pen branding to sci fi styles.

Space Camp Memories and Tech Details

The conversation shifts to space camp experiences in Hutchinson, Kansas, Cosmosphere, and what the training entailed, including neutral buoyancy training and a safety oriented scuba certification. They describe busy boards underwater for training, crew assignments, mission simulations, and how the training shaped their understanding of spaceflight. Michael reveals his early affection for space tools and the way the pen became a memento rather than something to be used regularly. They reflect on how childhood passions can influence professional curiosity and lifelong learning.

Sponsorship and Public Health Spotlight

The episode includes a sponsored segment for Cancer Research UK, discussing the challenges of drugging undruggable proteins using the ubiquitin proteasome system, ubiquitin tagging, and degradation strategies. They describe degraders as a therapeutic frontier that could tackle solid tumors in children, including neuroblastoma, with potential to cross the blood brain barrier. They explain how breakthroughs in targeted protein degradation could transform pediatric cancer treatments and emphasize the role of research charities in funding international teams and translational science.

Audience Questions: Orientation in Space

Following the break, the hosts address a question about how astronauts perceive orientation in deep space. They explain how the inner ear senses gravity and rotation, and how the perception of up and down becomes frame dependent in a weightless environment. Astronauts often describe their frame of reference with their feet anchored; the environment around them appears to reorient rather than their own body. The discussion covers zero gravity as weightlessness rather than true absence of gravity, and clarifies that the ISS remains in orbit due to free fall rather than a loss of gravity entirely.

Audience Questions: Clapping and Sound Physics

Another audience question explores how loud clapping could affect a building and whether global synchronized clapping could damage structures. They analyze the physics of sound propagation and the inverse square law, noting that achieving perfect synchronization across billions of people is impractical. They cite a Guinness World Record clap reaching about 117 decibels in a specific test and discuss why the impact on buildings would be minimal compared to the physical crowd dynamics and safety concerns. The hosts propose a playful community around clapping styles and competition, joking about ClapperCon and the evolution of clapping techniques analogous to the Fosbury Flop in high jump history.

Questions: Kardashev Scale and Speculation

The final question examines Kardashev's energy harnessing scale, its developments over time, and Earth’s current position on the scale. The hosts briefly explain the Type 1, 2, and 3 civilizations and the meaning of energy harnessing, planetary and stellar energy, and galactic energy. They discuss Tabby’s Star and the Dyson sphere hypothesis, noting that most signals attributed to megastructures are later explained by mundane phenomena such as dust. They reflect on the appeal and limitations of the Kardashev framework, arguing that it is a compelling speculative tool but not a deterministic measure of a civilization’s worth or progress. They close with a preference for broader questions about civilization, consciousness, and sustainable energy rather than chasing a single numeric target. The episode ends with invites for questions and a warm sign off.

Conclusion

As the show wraps, the hosts emphasize the value of raw, genuine discussion about science, curiosity, and practical experiments, leaving the door open for future episodes and community engagement through questions and comments.