Astronauts' 9-month stay in space could help with healthier mission to Mars
Social Sharing
As astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams get their land legs back on Earth, the effects of being stranded in space for nine months — and their recovery — will give scientists a chance to improve preparations for eventual, and even longer, space flights, say experts.
NASA aims to send humans to Mars as early as the 2030s; flights which, there and back, could take 21 months.
"The extreme environment of space, the radiation, the lack of gravity, even just those confined spaces, it can really take a toll on our health," said Dr. Farhan Asrar, associate dean of clinical faculty relations at Toronto Metropolitan University's medical school, who researches space medicine.
"Literally I would say pretty much from head to toe it can cause issues."
Without gravity, bodily fluids shift upward, leading to facial swelling and increased pressure in the skull, which can affect vision.
On Earth, the pull of gravity on bones and muscles helps prevent bone and muscle loss. To try to counteract that, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) exercise for an average of two hours a day.
WATCH | Canadian prepares to head to the moon:
Canada's role in planned trips to the moon
3 years ago
Duration 6:14
What's more, the cardiovascular system changes, which can lead to difficulty regulating blood pressure upon return to Earth. Asrar pointed to one Canadian study that suggested carotid arteries of astronauts can age the equivalent of 20 years from just six months in space.
Heart and lungs, the balance mechanism in our ears, and our immune systems are also highly impacted by space flight, says Robert Thirsk, a former astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency and a retired medical doctor,
Thirsk trained at NASA with Williams and says he's looking forward to speaking with her about how to improve training for Mars missions.
He says astronauts will need to be more autonomous on Mars, given that it takes 20 minutes to send a message from there to mission control — too long, for example, if a crewmate's heart suffers an arrhythmia.
"I think health-care delivery is the number one issue that needs to be resolved before we're ready to launch the first crew," Thirsk said on Tuesday.
He says it'll be essential to have a physician on board for the Mars crew, along with AI-enabled diagnostic and monitoring tools.
Despite their extended stay on board the ISS, others have been in space much longer than Wilmore and Williams. The record is held by Valery Polyakov, who was on board Russia's Mir station for 437 days, or more than 14 months, in the mid 1990s.
Back then, Mir had an ultrasound on board to monitor changes to cosmonauts' health. It was about the size of an ABM.
Now, Asrar says, the ultrasound on the ISS is the size of a gaming console.
Similarly, astronauts also use the Canadian Space Agency's Bio-Analyzer, a portable tool that tests their blood, saliva and urine from just a few drops. Wilmore's and Williams's readings from before their trip will be compared with their condition now.
Thirsk says astronauts are made well aware of the impacts of space flight on their abilities, including stress. Self-care, teamwork, cross-cultural skills and the ability to both lead and follow are all important skills for their careers.
"I think the difference between a good astronaut and a great astronaut is mastery of some of these personality traits," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Canadians still waiting longer for surgeries than before COVID
The massive surgical backlogs left after rolling pandemic lockdowns are clearing but Canadians are still waiting longer than they were pre-COVID for new hips and knees, cancer surgeries and other 'priority' procedures, new data show. Even though 26 per cent more hip and knee replacements were done in 2024 than 2019, it still wasn't enough to meet the need: just 68 per cent of Canadians received a hip replacement within the 26-week benchmark last year, compared to 75 per cent in 2019. For those needing a knee replacement, 61 per cent got a slot in the operating room within the 182-day threshold, compared with 70 per cent in 2019, even though 21 per cent more knee replacements were performed in 2024 than in 2019. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Median wait times for breast, bladder, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer surgery also rose, with prostate cancer seeing the biggest bump in wait times, an extra nine days over 2019. Wait times for scans to diagnose diseases and injuries also increased, 'with MRI scans requiring an additional 15 days and CTS scans three more days compared with 2019,' the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported in a background release. Canadians waited a median 57 days for an MRI scan in 2024. One in 10 waited 198 days. The longer people wait, the more they deteriorate. Delays getting to an operating room 'can lead to disease progression, increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, risk of mental health flareups and worsening of surgical and nonsurgical patient outcomes,' Canadian researchers have warned. Hospitals across the country pushed back non-urgent surgeries during the early waves of COVID to free up beds. Almost 600,000 fewer operations were performed in the first 22 months of the pandemic alone compared to 2019, CIHI reported. The backlog has meant that by the time people see a surgeon, their problem is more complex than it would have been in the past, Dr. James Howard, chief of orthopedic surgery at University Hospital – London Health Sciences Centre said in the news release. Canada's aging baby boomer generation, with arthritis and other joint conditions, is also putting pressure on the system. 'So even with surgeons collectively working as much as they can and completing more surgeries than we have in the past, we are not seeing wait times come down due to the complexity and volume of patients presenting to orthopedic surgeons,' Howard said. While case numbers are bouncing back — five per cent more surgeries of all types were performed in 2023 than in 2019 — the volumes still haven't kept up with population growth (seven per cent over the same period) or the 10 per cent rise in demand for surgery among those 65 and older, CIHI reported. 'Although an increase in the volume of procedures performed across Canada means that the surgical backlog from the height of the pandemic period has effectively been cleared, ripple effects in the health systems — due in part to the pandemic — persist that impact wait times in Canada,' CIHI's Cheryl Chui, director of health system analytics, said in a statement. Factors driving those longer wait times include a shortage of specialists and nurses, limited operating room time, space and staff, and emergency cases that take priority over scheduled ones. Ontario and other provinces are trying to push through more surgeries and procedures, partly by doing more on an outpatient basis, meaning no overnight hospital stay. Ontario has also announced plans to expand the number of private clinics providing publicly covered hip and knee replacements. Other provinces have done the same, though 'the impact on surgical volumes and wait times is still being assessed,' CIHI said. According to the agency's latest waitlist snapshot, while the number of hip replacements increased from 22,000 in 2019, to 28,000 in 2024, and the number of knee replacements from 35,000 to 42,000 over the same period, a smaller proportion of people received joint replacement surgery within the recommended six months. Nationally, in 2024, only 68 per cent of people needing a new hip were treated within the 26-week benchmark, compared to 75 per cent in 2019. Ontario fared better than all other provinces: 82 per cent of hip replacement patients were treated within that timeframe. Newfoundland and Labrador (41 per cent) and Prince Edward Island (45 per cent) performed the worst. British Columbia (63 per cent), Saskatchewan (50 per cent), Manitoba (54 per cent) and Quebec (49 per cent) also scored below the proportion nationally. In Alberta, 73 per cent of hip replacements were performed within the benchmark in 2024. Ripple effects in the health systems — due in part to the pandemic — persist that impact wait times in Canada Overall, patients waited a median 125 days for hip surgery in 2024 (half waited less, half waited more). One in 10 waited 340 days. For knee replacements, 79 per cent of patients in Ontario received surgery within the 26-week benchmark in 2024, compared to 38 per cent in Quebec, 47 per cent in Saskatchewan, 55 per cent in B.C. and 62 per cent in Alberta. While efforts are being made to better manage and monitor surgical waitlists, researchers have warned that people with severe pain or worsening symptoms aren't being prioritized. Wait times for cataract surgery were close to pre-pandemic levels — 69 per cent of people were treated within a 16-week benchmark in 2024 versus 70 per cent in 2019. The percentage of people who received radiation therapy within 28 days and surgery to repair a fractured hip within 48 hours dropped slightly, by three percentage points from 2019 to 2024, falling to 94 per cent and 83 per cent, respectively. The volume of prostate cancer surgeries performed dropped by three per cent, from 3,500 in 2019, to 3,400 in 2024. And men waited longer for the procedure — from a median 41 days in 2019, to 50 days in 2024. Slower-growing cancers like prostate cancer tend to have the longest surgical wait times, CIHI reported. Median wait times for breast cancer surgery increased from 18 days in 2019 to 23 days in 2024, and wait times for bladder cancer increased from 24 days to 28 days. National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Vancouver Sun
9 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Opinion: Exercise improves cancer survival — and a Canadian study leads the way
Last week, history was made in the world of cancer research — not with a new drug, but with something far more accessible and powerful: exercise. A landmark study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has confirmed, for the first time in a randomized controlled trial, that a structured exercise program can significantly improve survival for people treated for early-stage colon cancer. The Challenge trial showed that a three-year structured exercise program initiated after chemotherapy reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 28 per cent, and improved overall survival by 37 per cent. Compared to health education alone, this was a 7.1 per cent improvement in the likelihood of being alive at the eight-year mark. Let that sink in: Brisk walking a few times a week can improve survival as much — or more — than many modern cancer drugs, with none of the side effects and at a fraction of the cost. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. For years, observational studies hinted that physically active cancer survivors tended to live longer and feel better. But these studies were limited by their design — confounded by the fact that healthier people might be more likely to exercise. Now, the Challenge trial provides the gold-standard evidence we've been waiting for — led by Drs. Christopher Booth and Kerry Courneya through the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, this 'first-in-class' trial enrolled 889 patients in Canada, Australia, and the UK and confirmed that supervised exercise with behaviour change support improves both disease-free and overall survival, while enhancing physical functioning and quality of life. This has profound implications for cancer care — and for our health system. First, it's time to redefine 'treatment.' Cancer care has long focused on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. But what happens after treatment is often an afterthought. Survivors may be left with side effects, fatigue, and fear of recurrence, and limited resources to support them. The Challenge trial flips that paradigm: recovery isn't passive. Exercise is not a 'nice to have' — it is a powerful, life-prolonging intervention. Second, access to structured exercise programs are not currently a standard-of-care for cancer survivors in Canada. That must change. These programs require relatively modest investment compared to the high costs of systemic therapies — yet they deliver survival benefits on par with expensive drugs. And unlike drugs, exercise can also reduce cardiovascular risk, improve mental health, and enhance overall quality of life. Third, this is a Canadian success story. The Challenge trial was conceived, led, and executed by Canadian investigators. The Canadian Cancer Society, together with global partners, funded this 15-year effort — a testament to the power of sustained investment in publicly funded clinical research. At a time when Canada's health research ecosystem faces financial strain, the success of Challenge highlights what's possible when we back bold ideas with the resources they deserve. Finally, the findings call on all of us — policymakers, cancer agencies and clinicians — to act. We must embed exercise into survivorship care across the country and simply telling people to exercise is not enough. This will require funding to support exercise professionals in cancer centres and the community, build incentives for survivor-focused programming, and eliminate structural barriers to participation. Survivorship care is not optional — it's essential. Of course, exercise is not a cure-all. Some patients may be unable to participate due to comorbidities or limitations. But for the majority, supervised aerobic activity like walking or cycling can and should be part of the care plan. Importantly, the Challenge program was designed to be adaptable and accessible — guided by behavioural science, delivered by trained consultants, and tailored to each patient's fitness level. We should applaud the Challenge investigators, the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, and the hundreds of patients who participated in this transformative trial. Their commitment will change how we support people after cancer — not just in Canada, but around the world. Now, it's our turn to rise to the challenge. Dr. Sharlene Gill is a medical oncologist at B.C. Cancer, professor of medicine at the University of B.C., and chair of the GI Disease Site for the Canadian Cancer Trials Group.
Toronto Star
13 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Carney government balancing AI regulation against the promise to unlock its potential
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Mark Carney believes artificial intelligence is key to unlocking Canada's economic potential. He carved out a specific ministry for the file, installing former broadcaster Evan Solomon as the country's first-ever minister of AI. The 'transformative nature' of the technology garnered a mention in the sole mandate letter he issued for his cabinet. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Capitalizing on the use of AI is one of Carney's three 'core missions' as he prepares to host next week's G7 leaders' summit. Yet among the nascent Liberal government's ambitious promises to return Canada to its position as a global AI leader, promote the widespread adoption of the technology, and invest in the infrastructure needed to do so, there are no concrete pledges to regulate the sprawling uses of the rapidly evolving tools. 'AI is a fundamentally transformative technology and has the capacity to change the way we do almost everything. So I see this as just a point in history where we are transforming the way our markets work, the way our societies work, and we want that to be good,' said Gillian Hadfield, a professor of AI alignment and governance at Johns Hopkins University, and former member of the Canadian AI Advisory Council. 'When I look around the world, I see governments that have not really figured out: 'What do we need to do in the legal and regulatory space to manage this transition well?'' On Tuesday, Solomon danced around the issue of regulation, noting the difficulties of spurring AI development while also ensuring the technology is deployed responsibly. 'It's easy for editorials to write: 'Just find the right balance. Don't be so unconstrained as the U.S. and China, who see any regulation as a constraint on security or innovation. But don't be too overly protective like Europe,'' Solomon said at a Canada 2020 conference in Ottawa. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'OK. Perfect. Easy. Throw the dart, blindfolded, after six beers.' What Solomon did suggest is that the Carney government will distance itself from the previous Liberal government's appetite for imposing regulations. 'We are moving from our back foot of just warning and overindexing on warnings and regulation, to our front foot, to make sure that the Canadian economy and all Canadians benefit from … using this technology productively,' he said. Carney has pushed for advancing AI in myriad ways, from pledging to build data centres, proposing tax credits that would incentivize businesses to adopt the technology, and using it to improve government efficiency. But his government has not addressed what will happen to the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), which was folded into a larger bill aimed at updating privacy laws and creating a regulatory framework for AI. The bill never became law due to the suspension of Parliament earlier this year and the triggering of a snap spring election. The act was a particularly contentious prong of the proposed legislation, with critics blasting the act for concentrating too much power in unwritten regulations, concerns that having the same ministry simultaneously regulate and champion AI would introduce conflicts, and a lack of clarity on what AI systems it would apply to and what kinds of harms the legislation would minimize. But some experts urged the government to swiftly pass the legislation, warning that Canada was falling 'out of sync' with the uncontrollable pace at which technology was being used. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Solomon referenced the bill Tuesday, saying he wouldn't 'abandon regulation,' but that Canada will need to 're-examine, in this new environment, where we're going to be on that.' Ignacio Cofone, a professor of AI regulation at the University of Oxford and former Canada research chair in data governance at McGill University, told the Star in an email that it was critical that Canada move forward with an improved version of the act. 'AI systems already shape decisions in consequential areas as diverse as housing, employment, health care, and criminal justice, often in opaque and unaccountable ways,' Cofone wrote, adding that industry, which has 'incentives to prioritize profit' should not be left to regulate itself. Two former senior government officials with knowledge of the previous government's AI strategy told the Star, on the condition they not be named, that they believe the Carney government will take a more hands-off approach. One source said they believed that Carney is likely wary of the 'political mess' the Trudeau government found itself in as it crafted its legislation. 'Every day Canada doesn't advance its own responsible use policies or regulatory frameworks, we are just going to be further and further behind,' the source said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Another source said that while they agreed that Canada cannot 'overregulate' the industry, particularly in the face of unprecedented trade disputes with the U.S., 'it shouldn't be controversial to say that we need to enshrine rights for Canadians against some of these uses.' Teresa Scassa, a Canada research chair in information law and policy at the University of Ottawa, said Canada appears to be stuck between Europe — which last year passed the world's first AI regulation law — and the U.S., which has dismantled efforts to address the risks of the technology. Scassa said a Canadian AI regulation law could be leveraged in the country's trading relationship with the EU, potentially allowing Canadian companies to do business in Europe. 'On the other hand, we have a government south of the border that sees everything through a trade lens. And if Canada has strong AI regulation or even weak AI regulation, that could be seen as a trade irritant,' Scassa said. But Hadfield said the government should not be looking at innovation and regulation as mutually exclusive objectives. 'Our economies are built on good, reliable, legal infrastructure. And if the economy is changing so rapidly with this very different technology … then we absolutely need to be thinking very hard about governance,' Hadfield said. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
