As humans explore worlds beyond Earth on longer missions in the future, it's crucial to understand how our bodies may react to a sustained lack of gravity and radiation exposure.
The 2019 NASA Twins Study provided an all-encompassing look at the effects of spending nearly a year in space on the human body when NASA astronaut Scott Kelly spent 340 days on the International Space Station while his identical twin Mark (now a US Senator-elect from Arizona) was on Earth.
Now, scientists have gathered the largest set of data about space biology to date based on astronauts including the Kelly twins, mice and insects that have flown on the space station.
The 30 studies, authored by more than 200 researchers from around the world, represent the largest body of information on the risks of space flight to the human body.
The studies identify six key molecular changes that may have a significant impact on astronaut health. Understanding these changes is key for preparing for long-term spaceflight missions to the moon and Mars in the future.
The Biology of Spaceflight collection of 30 studies published Wednesday in the journals Cell, Cell Reports, Cell Systems, Patterns and iScience.
The six molecular changes that occur during spaceflight include DNA damage, oxidative stress, alterations of telomere length, shifts in the microbiome, mitochondrial dysfunction and gene regulation.
Oxidative stress happens when free radicals overwhelm antioxidants in a cell, encouraged by the space environment. This type of stress was found to be largely connected to the other molecular changes the researchers observed.
These changes on a cellular and molecular level can have a significant impact on astronaut health, both during and after their missions. These impacts have been observed on the cardiovascular, central nervous, musculoskeletal, immune and gastrointestinal systems, as well as causing disruptions to circadian rhythms and changes in vision.
Increased cancer risks have also been associated with these changes.
One of the new studies also identified clonal hematopoiesis, when blood cells carrying mutations spread more quickly than others, as a potential risk among astronauts for cardiovascular disease, lymphoma and leukemia. Clonal hematopoiesis was identified in blood samples from astronauts 20 years before the average age when it is normally detected at age 70, compared to 157 cancer patients.
So far, missions to the space station have not exceeded a year, but deep space missions to Mars could last up to five years.
"Understanding the health implications from the (6) features and developing effective countermeasures and health systems are key steps in enabling humanity to reach the next stage of space exploration," the authors wrote at the conclusion of their study spanning the effects of spaceflight.
Telomeres act like caps at the ends of chromosomes to protect them and they shorten as people age.
During the Twins Study, the telomeres in Scott's white blood cells actually grew longer in space and returned to a normal length after he returned to Earth.
In a new study, the blood samples of 10 astronauts collected before and after spaceflight were studied and compared with the results of the Twins Study.
Although these astronauts were shielded from some space radiation during their six-month stays on the space station since it's in low-Earth orbit, the researchers still spotted evidence of damage to their DNA.
The astronauts' telomeres elongated in space due to chronic oxidative stress sustained during spaceflight. Once they returned to Earth, their telomeres were shorter than before spaceflight.
"We now have a foundation to build on - things we know to look for in future astronauts, including telomere length changes and DNA damage responses," said Susan Bailey, author on three of the studies and Colorado State University professor, said in a statement.
"Going forward, our goal is to get a better idea of underlying mechanisms, of what's going on during long-duration space flight in the human body, and how it varies between people."
Bailey, an expert on radiation damage to DNA and telomeres, was also an investigator for the Twins Study.
While longer telomeres may sound like an advantage of space travel, Bailey suspects this effect could lead to other risks rather than serving as a fountain of youth.
"Extended lifespan, or immortality, of cells that have suffered space radiation-induced DNA damage, such as chromosomal inversions, is a recipe for increased cancer risk," Bailey said. "Telomeres really are reflective of our lifestyles - whether on or off the planet. Our choices do make a difference in how quickly or how well we are aging. It's important to take care of your telomeres."
Health issues specific to astronauts include muscle and bone loss, heart and liver problems and immune system dysfunction.
Now, researchers believe these issues are rooted in a broader issue called mitochondrial dysfunction.
Mitochondria are the powerhouses that generate chemical energy required for cells. And when they're exposed to altered gravity or radiation, they essentially malfunction.
"We started by asking whether there is some kind of universal mechanism happening in the body in space that could explain what we've observed," said Afshin Beheshti, senior study author and a principal investigator and bioinformatician at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, in a statement.
"What we found over and over was that something is happening with the mitochondria regulation that throws everything out of whack."
Their study included data from the Twins Study, animal studies and samples from 59 astronauts.
When the mitochondria are suppressed, ripple effects can be observed across the liver, other organs and in the immune system. The researchers believe this dysfunction could also explain the issues astronauts have with disrupted circadian rhythms (body clock) and even cardiovascular issues.
Understanding the root of the problem could help researchers target it.
"There are already many approved drugs for various mitochondrial disorders, which would make it easier to move them toward this application," Beheshti said. "The low-hanging fruit now would be to test some of these drugs with animal and cell models in space."
A study using fruit flies born on the space station, which means they spent half of their lives in space, showed that their hearts were smaller and less efficient at pumping blood. And if astronauts live on the moon or the surface of Mars for a lengthy mission, they may experience something similar.
"For the first time, we can see the cellular and molecular changes that may underlie the heart conditions seen in astronaut studies," said Karen Ocorr, co-senior author of the study and assistant professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, in a statement.
"We initiated this study to understand the effects of microgravity on the heart, and now we have a roadmap we can use to start to develop strategies to keep astronaut hearts strong and healthy."
Fruit fly hearts are similar to those of humans when we're in the womb. The flies were returned to Earth and had their heart function tested by seeing how they fared when climbing up the side of a test tube.
"In the normal fly heart, the muscle fibers work like your fingers when they squeeze a tube of toothpaste. In the space flies, the contraction was like trying to get toothpaste out by pressing down instead of squeezing," Ocorr said. "For humans, this could become a big problem."
The benefits of understanding how the human heart functions in space could help those with heart issues on Earth -- and those planning on future space missions.
"As we continue our work to establish a colony on the moon and send the first astronauts to Mars, understanding the effects of extended time in microgravity on the human body is imperative," said Sharmila Bhattacharya, study author and senior scientist at NASA, in a statement.
"Today's results show that microgravity can have dramatic effects on the heart, suggesting that medical intervention may be needed for long-duration space travel, and point to several directions for therapeutic development."
Read the original post:
- Industry coalition forms to protect GPS - POLITICO - Politico [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- 'The Expanse' Is the Best Sci Fi on TV - The Mary Sue [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- The Bare Minimum Number of Martian Settlers? 110 - Universe Today [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- How many humans are needed to start a colony on Mars? - CTV News [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- This Is How Many People You'd Need to Colonize Mars, According to Science - ScienceAlert [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- According to New Equations, a Mars Colony Would Need This Many People - Futurism [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- Space Outside, Sexism Inside: Mary Robinette Kowals The Relentless Moon - Den of Geek [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Here are the three missions to Mars that are happening this month - CTV News [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Bad weather may delay 1st UAE Mars mission on Japan rocket - CTV News [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Alyssa Carson: The teenager on a mission to Mars - Siliconrepublic.com [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- TWITTER POLL: Arab world should invest in space exploration - Arab News [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- A haunted train, a comedy show and karaoke: Entertainment in Calgary this weekend - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- The Expanse Is Basically Game of Thrones in Space - but Better - CBR - Comic Book Resources [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- UK Space Agency hopes first woman on moon mission will make it key player - The Guardian [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Elon Musk getting a TV show that will reveal how he became genius space billionaire and Channing Tatum is - The Sun [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Huawei negotiating the sale of parts of Honor's smartphone business - comments - GSMArena.com [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Space 2069 - back to the Moon, to Mars and beyond - Room: The Space Journal - ROOM Space Journal [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Warface Has Released The Swarm Season Intro The Game - Bleeding Cool News [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- How Our Technologies Are Shaping the Future We Live In - Programming Insider [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Visualizing the Human Impact on the Earth's Surface - Visual Capitalist [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- The first Thanksgiving night sky: What did the Pilgrims see when they looked up? - Space.com [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Doctor Who: Where the 'Time Lord Victorious' Title Comes From - CBR - Comic Book Resources [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Gee whiz! An uppity-alien tells us how to live. - Johnson City Press (subscription) [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Mitochondria may be responsible for astronauts' health woes - The Burn-In [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Two motorbike concepts for riding on the Moon and Mars - Domus [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- SpaceX tests rocket that will 'SAVE humanity' by shuttling us to Mars - The Sun [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- The best space board games of 2020 - Space.com [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Everything You Need to Know About the Mass Effect Timeline Before ME: Legendary Edition - GameRant [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- Trump will suffer from a mysterious disease, assassination attempt on Putin: Here are Bulgarian Blind Baba Vangas predictions for 2021 - OpIndia [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- The Midnight Sky Takes Us Into Spaceand a Bleak Near-Future - tor.com [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- This 27-course bundle can help you learn to code this new year for just $60 - The Next Web [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- On a planet where you cannot breathe, is living on Mars the best idea? - Florida Today [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- Elon Musk believes future Mars economy is going to be based on cryptocurrencies - Republic World [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- This Brown University graduate may be the first woman to land on moon - IBTimes India [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Starlink: Elon Musks space internet comes to UK as SpaceX CEO says it will help get people to Mars - The Independent [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- 'The Expanse' exclusive: Naomi and Filip have a heated family chat in new clip from season 5, episode 7 - Space.com [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- 14 Mars facts weve only learned in recent years - ZME Science [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Martian Music: NASA to Record Mars' Ambient Sound Through Perseverance Mission for First Time Ever | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather... [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Humans could move to this floating asteroid belt colony in the next 15 years, astrophysicist says - Livescience.com [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Mass Effect Timeline Explained: The Classic Trilogy's Story and Yes, Andromeda, Too - Collider.com [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- New kind of space station detected - Alton Telegraph [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Phosphine in Venus' clouds could be biosignature of life, rekindling idea of floating city - Daily Express [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Team Behind Space Probe Headed To Mars Includes Staff From CU Boulder - Yahoo News [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Mass Effect: 10 Things You Must Know About the Systems Alliance - TheGamer [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Humans could be living in a 'floating asteroid belt colony' in 15 years' time, scientist says - New Zealand Herald [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Elon Musk's plan to send one million people to Mars boosted with colonisation 'solution' - Daily Express [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Starships Will be Launching From These Oil Drilling Platforms Bought by SpaceX - Universe Today [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Humans could move to a floating asteroid belt colony within 15 years, top scientist suggests - pennlive.com [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Opinion | Why Biden must pursue space diplomacy with Russia and China - Politico [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Newly Invented Fusion Rocket Thruster Concept Might be Our Ticket to Mars and Beyond! - Tech Times [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Jeff Bezos Renews Focus on Blue Origin, Which Has Been Slower to Launch - The New York Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Attention foodies: $500,000 on offer if you find a way to feed astronauts [details] - IBTimes India [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- NASA and CSA Will Give $500,000 To The Best Idea of Food Production In Space - Science Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- "The Expanse" shows the dangers of treating extremism as a joke - Salon [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Elon Musk opens up about Mars, Gamestop and Dogecoin | Heres everything he said - Republic World [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- How Elon Musk And A Mission To Mars Might Boost Internet Speeds In The Rural Midwest | netnebraska.org - NET Nebraska [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- College student with Lumberton ties starts company focused on removing oil from wildlife - The Robesonian [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Mars is an example of something that's useless. There are others - Real Change News [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- A Spanish startup is offering trips to space in helium balloons as a cheaper alternative to SpaceX - Business Insider [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Elon Musk, once again the world's richest person, is selling all his possessions so people know he's serious about colonizing Mars - Business Insider... [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- UAE's Hope probe beams back its first picture of Mars - New Atlas [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- The geopolitics of NASA's Perseverance mission to Mars - Quartz [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- 'Glitch in the Matrix' director on simulation theory - Los Angeles Times [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Were Still Dreaming of Mars and Martians - The Wall Street Journal [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Why are there so many missions to Mars? - The Economist [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Space Foundation Discovery Center hosts Mars Week as NASAs Perseverance rover set to land Thursday - FOX21News.com [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- The Quest to Live on Mars: Could Humans Really Survive? - Interesting Engineering [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- This is the first image taken by NASAs Perseverance Mars rover. Now the hunt for life begins. - MIT Technology Review [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- 100 artists find inspiration at Manship during the pandemic - Gloucester Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Stromatolites Fossils of Earliest Life on Earth May Owe Their Very Existence to Viruses - SciTechDaily [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Mars landing 'essential' if we want to send humans to the Red Planet 'Robotic companions' - MSN UK [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Hitting the Books: How NASA survived the Reagan era 'Dark Ages' - Engadget [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- How will Nasa rover look for aliens on Mars? Cameras, helicopter and more revealed - The Sun [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Why Turkey's race to space is a good thing - TRT World [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Perseverance goes to Mars with equipment needed to gather new information - The Robesonian [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- The race to live on Mars - Conversations - ABC News [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Nasa to reveal stunning first footage of Mars Perseverance rover touching down on the Red Planet - The Sun [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Mars rover could answer questions here on Earth - The Union Leader [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Nasa releases first recording of rover DRIVING on Mars but mystery noise leaves them baffled... - The Sun [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2021]
- Life on Mars? We can't even sustain it on Earth - Palatinate [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2021]