Why are water droplets spherical in the universe?

On Earth, whether it's in a lake or in a cup, gravity pulls the liquid down into its shape. But in the universe, the influence of attraction is different.

Objects flying in orbit are also affected by gravity, but they are in a free-falling state, continuously moving sideways while falling towards the earth. This makes them relatively weightless.

There, the surface tension turns the water into a sphere. Magnets like magnets on the surface of the water cause this surface to behave in a layer of elastic skin. Each molecule is stretched by surrounding molecules with equal tension. This tightly bound group of molecules creates the smallest possible area - a sphere.

Astronaut Leroy Chiao, an officer on the international space station (crew 10) is observing a spherical drop of water suspended between him and the camera, on the station.In the drop of water shows up the image of Chiao.(Photo: NASA)

T. An