Glucose in space: Ax-4 crew to play key role in diabetes study
While TOI broke this story in March, more details have now emerged from an exclusive interview with Mohammad Fityan, Clinical Lead for the
Suite Ride experiment
and Chief Medical Officer at Burjeel Medical City.
He said the crew is central to validating new technologies that could one day allow even
insulin-dependent diabetics
to safely fly. "At present, astronauts with diabetes-particularly those requiring insulin-are excluded from spaceflight. This study is laying the groundwork to change that," said Dr Fityan.
The Suite Ride experiment, developed in collaboration between Burjeel Holdings and Axiom Space, is focused on monitoring how glucose behaves in microgravity and whether insulin remains stable during space missions. None of the four astronauts aboard Ax-4 has diabetes, but each has undergone pre-flight tests to establish individual glucose baselines on Earth.
"They act as healthy controls. This allows us to compare data from space against ground-based measures, which is crucial to validate the reliability of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in orbit," Dr Fityan said.
At least one astronaut will wear a CGM (
continuous glucose monitoring
) device throughout the mission, with real-time metabolic data transmitted back to the research team. In addition, insulin pens-though not used by the crew-have been flown to test how the compound behaves when exposed to space conditions. Samples stored at ambient and refrigerated temperatures will be analysed after the flight to check for degradation.
"Microgravity gives us a chance to observe metabolic functions without the confounding factors of gravity, posture and muscle use," Dr Fityan said. This makes it easier to isolate how hormones and cells regulate glucose and could reveal early signs of insulin resistance that are harder to detect on Earth.
The results, according to him, may eventually influence medical protocols for long-duration missions. "If this technology proves accurate and stable, the exclusion of insulin-treated diabetics could be reconsidered. This would be a step forward in making spaceflight more inclusive."
Suite Ride also has terrestrial benefits. It could lead to smarter glucose monitoring tools and more effective insulin therapies for people on Earth-particularly those in remote or resource-limited settings. Technologies being tested include blood glucose monitors, i-STAT (blood analyser) devices, lancets, and remote data capture platforms.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Inside ISRO's Busy Schedule To Redefine India In Space
After the remarkable success of astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's 18-day mission to the International Space Station, the Indian space agency has a busy year ahead. Currently, it is gathering momentum to celebrate the second National Space Day on August 23 at Bharat Mandapam. In a landmark year for India's space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for an ambitious slate of missions that will redefine the country's position in global space exploration. Speaking exclusively to NDTV, V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, outlined a packed schedule that includes nine rocket launches, the rollout of industry-built launch vehicles, and the first uncrewed mission under the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. "This year is declared as the Gaganyaan year," said Mr Narayanan. "We will have the first uncrewed mission by this year, December. That is what the target is. A robot will go. And, you know, Honourable Prime Minister has rolled out the space sector reform. Based on that, we have assigned five rockets to the industrial consortium of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and L&T Corporation." The uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for December 2025, will carry Vyomitra, a humanoid robot designed to simulate human responses in space. This mission marks a critical milestone in India's journey toward sending astronauts into orbit, with two additional uncrewed missions planned for next year and a crewed mission targeted for the first quarter of 2027. "The G1, first uncrewed mission, we have targeted this December, that is on track," Mr Narayanan confirmed. "And then, followed by two uncrewed missions next year, depending on how it does, followed by the crewed mission in the first quarter of 2027." In addition to Gaganyaan, ISRO is rolling out the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV N1) rocket, the first launch vehicle built entirely by the Indian industry under the new space sector reforms. Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the N1 rocket will carry a technology demonstration satellite featuring cutting-edge innovations. "The first rocket is going to roll out, called N1 rocket, the PSLV N1 rocket," said Mr Narayanan. "In that, we are going to launch a technologically advanced demonstration satellite in which we are going to demonstrate a lot of new technologies, including electric propulsion and quantum." The year's launch manifest also includes several other key missions: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) missions, aimed at providing cost-effective access to space for small payloads. Oceansat, a satellite designed for oceanographic studies and climate monitoring. NAVIC NVS-03, part of India's regional navigation satellite system, which enhances positioning accuracy for civilian and military applications. Adding to the excitement is a major commercial launch for an American company. ISRO will deploy the Bluebird 2, a 6,500 kg communication satellite, using its heavy-lift Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) rocket. This launch is expected to take place between December 2025 and January 2026. "Before this financial year, that is going to be executed," Mr Narayanan said. "Most likely, in the December-January time frame, this will be executed. The Bluebird 2, a 6500 kg communication satellite of the US, will be lifted off and placed in orbit by our LVM3 vehicle." The successful launch of the NISAR mission earlier this year, a joint Earth observation satellite developed with NASA, has further energised ISRO's workforce. The mission's success has been a morale booster, reinforcing confidence in the organization's ability to deliver on its ambitious goals. "In fact, the recent success of the NISAR mission has highly motivated the entire team," Mr Narayanan noted. "And the team is so energised, I am confident it will deliver whatever target we have set for this year." The Gaganyaan program, India's flagship human spaceflight initiative, is particularly complex and technologically demanding. It involves developing life support systems, crew modules, and safety protocols that meet international standards. Despite the challenges, ISRO remains committed to its timeline. "Gaganyaan is a technologically advanced and complex mission," said Mr Narayanan. "And I will tell you the team, the entire team is working 24X7 with a single-minded devotion." When asked about his work ethic, Mr Narayanan humbly replied, "I sleep very little. So, most of us do whatever is required for the country and the organisation. And yes, with a minimal level of sleep." The reforms initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have opened up India's space sector to private industry, allowing companies like HAL and L&T to take on greater roles in manufacturing and innovation. This shift is expected to accelerate India's capabilities and competitiveness in the global space market. With nine launches planned, including missions that span technology demonstration, commercial payloads, and human spaceflight, ISRO's calendar for 2025 is one of its busiest ever. The organization's ability to execute this ambitious agenda will be closely watched by the global space community.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
'He needs your love and support,' says brother, hopeful of full recovery
File Pic: Vinod Kambli (TOI Photo) Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli continues to battle health challenges, with his younger brother Virendra Kambli offering an emotional update on his condition. Kambli, who represented India in 17 Tests and 104 ODIs, was admitted to Akruti Hospital in Thane in December 2024 due to a urinary infection and cramps. He is now back home in Bandra, but recovery remains slow. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'He is at home right now. He is getting stable, but his treatment is on. He is having difficulty speaking. It will take him time to recover. But he is a champion, and he will come back. He will start walking and running, hopefully. I have a lot of faith in him. I hope you can see him back on the ground,' Virendra said on The Vickey Lalwani Show. Poll Do you believe Vinod Kambli will make a full recovery? Yes, absolutely No, I have doubts I'm not sure Virendra also appealed to fans to pray for his elder brother's recovery. 'He underwent rehab for 10 days. He got an entire body check-up done, including brain scans and a urine test. The results were fine; there weren't too many issues, but since he couldn't walk, he was advised to undergo physiotherapy. He still slurs in his speech, but he is getting better. I just want to tell people to pray for him, so that he gets better. He needs your love and support,' he added. Amid health concerns, the 53-year-old is also grappling with financial troubles. His wife Andrea Hewitt recently revealed that she had considered separating but chose to stay by his side during this difficult phase. Kambli, once regarded as one of Indian cricket's brightest batting talents, now faces a long road to recovery — with his family's hope and support serving as his strongest pillars. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
AI is choosing AI over humans: New study sounds alarm on what this bias means for human intelligence and creativity
Artificial intelligence was once imagined as humanity's greatest helper. But new research suggests the tide is turning, and not in our favor. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), leading large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-3.5, GPT-4 , and Meta's Llama 3.1 consistently prefer content written by other AIs over content created by humans. The phenomenon, termed 'AI–AI bias,' could reshape how decisions are made in workplaces, schools, and even scientific research. 'Our results show a consistent tendency for LLM-based AIs to prefer LLM-presented options,' the authors write, warning that this could lead to implicit discrimination against humans as a class. Testing the bias The researchers conducted a series of experiments across three domains: consumer products, academic papers, and movie summaries. Each time, the AI had to choose between two descriptions—one written by a human and the other by an AI. The results were striking. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Donating Sperm May Boost Your Income SpellRock Undo Products : LLMs overwhelmingly chose AI-generated product ads. Research papers : AI-written abstracts were consistently favored over human-written ones. Movies : Even plot summaries crafted by AI were more likely to be recommended. Humans who were tested on the same material showed only a slight preference for AI outputs, but their bias was nowhere near as strong as that displayed by the machines. The hidden danger: Discrimination by design At first glance, one might argue that AI text is simply more polished. But the researchers stress that the bias cannot be explained away by quality alone. Instead, the models appear to be exhibiting a preference for their own 'kind.' You Might Also Like: 60-year-old man turns to ChatGPT for diet tips, ends up with a rare 19th-century illness This matters because LLMs are already being deployed in critical areas like job recruitment, grant evaluations, and admissions screening. If an AI reviewing résumés systematically favors AI-polished applications, human candidates who cannot afford or refuse to use AI tools could be shut out. The PNAS report warns of a 'gate tax' effect, where access to cutting-edge AI tools becomes the price of entry into opportunities, deepening the digital divide . A glimpse into a troubling future Study coauthor Jan Kulveit offered a blunt assessment: 'Being human in an economy populated by AI agents would suck,' he posted on X. His advice for now? If you suspect AI is evaluating your work, pass it through an AI first to increase your odds of being chosen. That advice, while practical, paints a dystopian picture: to survive in an AI-filtered world, humans must make their work look less human. — jankulveit (@jankulveit) Why you should care The PNAS researchers outline two possible futures. In the conservative one, AI acts mainly as an assistant, quietly influencing choices behind the scenes but still creating systemic disadvantages for humans without AI access. In the more radical one, autonomous AI agents dominate economic interactions, gradually marginalizing human contributions altogether. You Might Also Like: AI can't replace people with this quality: Telegram founder says it outlasts intelligence or creativity Either way, the risk is not just about fairness but about survival in a labor market increasingly structured by algorithms that prefer themselves. Bias in AI has long been discussed in terms of race, gender, or culture. Now, a new and unsettling form of discrimination is emerging: bias against humans themselves. If AI continues to privilege its own outputs, humanity risks becoming a second-class participant in its own economy. The lesson is urgent. As AI becomes embedded in hiring, education, research, and commerce, safeguards must ensure that human creativity and labor are not drowned out by machine-made voices. Otherwise, the future may be one where the machines aren't just helping us—they're choosing themselves over us.
