Why does metal stick together in space?

It sounds counterintuitive, but metals behave radically differently in space than on Earth. Push two metal plates together down here, and nothing happens. But in the vacuum of space, something remarkable occurs: they can actually fuse together. According to Live Science, this phenomenon, known as cold welding, happens because metal surfaces on Earth are coated with oxides and moisture that prevent bonding. In space's airless environment, those protective layers don't form. When two pristine metal surfaces touch, their atoms flow directly into each other, creating a molecular bond so strong it becomes permanent. It's a striking reminder that emptiness itself can forge the deepest connections.

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