Research Explores How Space Travel Affects Human Body
2024-06-18
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1Childhood cancer survivor Hayley Arceneaux and three other American civilians went to space in 2021.
2They travelled in a mission called Inspiration4 for the private company SpaceX.
3The four-member crew made history as the first all-civilian team to orbit Earth.
4But they also provided the most detailed data ever on the effects of space travel on the human body.
5New research based on this data details changes in the brain, heart, muscles, kidneys, skin, immune system and stress levels.
6The research also provides information on the activity of cell structures called mitochondria in zero-gravity, increased radiation, and other changes experienced in space travel.
7More than 95 percent of the health changes, or biomarkers, returned to normal levels in the months after the crew returned to Earth.
8But some abnormalities, including in the mitochondria continued, the researchers said.
9But the data suggested that spaceflights - at least short-term trips - are not big health risks.
10"We did not see anything that was worrisome, thankfully," said Chris Mason.
11He is a professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York who helped lead the research.
12The studies were published Tuesday in Nature and other journals.
13Mason added that there was evidence of brain stress during the mission, which has also been found in previous studies.
14Mason said this might be explained by findings in experimental mice flown to space.
15The mice experienced disruptions in the blood-brain barrier, a layer of cells protecting the brain.
16Brain function was not affected, Mason noted.
17Arceneaux is a doctor's assistant at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and the mission's medical officer.
18Her three crewmates, two men and one woman, were monitored before, during and after the flight.
19They went through extensive testing and provided blood, saliva and other bodily materials.
20The research also included information from 64 astronauts who had longer stays on the International Space Station (ISS) and other missions.
21Inspiration4 flew at about 590 kilometers above Earth, higher than the ISS.
22That means the crew faced higher radiation levels.
23The beginning of a "second Space Age" led by private space travel companies has increased the demand to understand health risks, says Afshin Beheshti.
24He is with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science in Seattle, Washington, and helped lead the research.
25Researchers consider the amount of time in space to be an important factor in the health effects.
26The longer the time in space, "the greater the increase in health risks observed," Beheshti said.
27Beheshti added the data detailed the major effect of spaceflight on mitochondrial and immune function.
28The "new findings indicate that microgravity and space radiation systematically affect the body, leading to dysfunction at the cellular level that impacts multiple organs, including muscles, kidneys, heart, skin, and (central nervous system) tissues," Beheshti said.
29He added that spaceflight is known to quicken aging and many diseases.
30But, he said, the research is identifying major health risks that can be targeted for preventative treatment.
31The scientists are looking forward in their work.
32"If humans are going to be living and working in space, or living on the moon and Mars," scientists need a basic understanding of how the body responds to space, Mason said.
33I'm Dan Novak.
1Childhood cancer survivor Hayley Arceneaux and three other American civilians went to space in 2021. They travelled in a mission called Inspiration4 for the private company SpaceX. 2The four-member crew made history as the first all-civilian team to orbit Earth. But they also provided the most detailed data ever on the effects of space travel on the human body. 3New research based on this data details changes in the brain, heart, muscles, kidneys, skin, immune system and stress levels. The research also provides information on the activity of cell structures called mitochondria in zero-gravity, increased radiation, and other changes experienced in space travel. 4More than 95 percent of the health changes, or biomarkers, returned to normal levels in the months after the crew returned to Earth. But some abnormalities, including in the mitochondria continued, the researchers said. But the data suggested that spaceflights - at least short-term trips - are not big health risks. 5"We did not see anything that was worrisome, thankfully," said Chris Mason. He is a professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York who helped lead the research. The studies were published Tuesday in Nature and other journals. 6Mason added that there was evidence of brain stress during the mission, which has also been found in previous studies. 7Mason said this might be explained by findings in experimental mice flown to space. The mice experienced disruptions in the blood-brain barrier, a layer of cells protecting the brain. 8Brain function was not affected, Mason noted. 9Arceneaux is a doctor's assistant at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and the mission's medical officer. Her three crewmates, two men and one woman, were monitored before, during and after the flight. They went through extensive testing and provided blood, saliva and other bodily materials. 10The research also included information from 64 astronauts who had longer stays on the International Space Station (ISS) and other missions. Inspiration4 flew at about 590 kilometers above Earth, higher than the ISS. That means the crew faced higher radiation levels. 11The beginning of a "second Space Age" led by private space travel companies has increased the demand to understand health risks, says Afshin Beheshti. He is with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science in Seattle, Washington, and helped lead the research. 12Researchers consider the amount of time in space to be an important factor in the health effects. 13The longer the time in space, "the greater the increase in health risks observed," Beheshti said. 14Beheshti added the data detailed the major effect of spaceflight on mitochondrial and immune function. 15The "new findings indicate that microgravity and space radiation systematically affect the body, leading to dysfunction at the cellular level that impacts multiple organs, including muscles, kidneys, heart, skin, and (central nervous system) tissues," Beheshti said. 16He added that spaceflight is known to quicken aging and many diseases. But, he said, the research is identifying major health risks that can be targeted for preventative treatment. 17The scientists are looking forward in their work. 18"If humans are going to be living and working in space, or living on the moon and Mars," scientists need a basic understanding of how the body responds to space, Mason said. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters. 21________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23immune system - n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections 24stress - n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc. 25gravity - n. the natural force that tends to cause physical things to move towards each other 26function - n. the special purpose or activity for which a thing exists or is used 27saliva - n. the liquid produced in your mouth that keeps your mouth moist and makes it easier to swallow food