New microgravity experiment: the first-ever weightless anti-bubble

From April 15 to 19, Benoit Scheid and his team produced and observed, for the very first time in the world, antibubbles in zero gravity. Their work could lead to advances in water treatment and drug encapsulation.

Twice a year, the European Space Agency (ESA) organizes weightlessness (or microgravity) flights. These flights are almost exclusively dedicated to research, and bring on board scientists from all over Europe to carry out experiments in microgravity.

Last week, an A310 took off from Bordeaux, carrying a large number of European researchers. They were accompanied by ESA astronaut candidates who were having their first experience of microgravity, with Thomas Pesquet at the controls. ...