Latest news with #Earthbound
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
How studying what space travel does to astronauts' health is leading to innovations on Earth
When astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore finally splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico following a nine month space odyssey — what was initially meant to be a mere eight-day test flight — crews had to carry out their atrophied bodies from the SpaceX capsule and onto stretchers. It's become a common procedure for astronauts returning from extended travels in space, who often experience intense nausea and difficulty walking on re-entry to Earth, experts said. Our bodies, evolved over hundreds of millennia to adapt to Earth's environments, are not designed to survive in the cosmos. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Canada Space debris is cluttering our orbit. Can falling space junk hit a plane? A new paper by University of British Columbia researchers paints a stark picture of the risks of space debris on commercial flights. Canada Space debris is cluttering our orbit. Can falling space junk hit a plane? A new paper by University of British Columbia researchers paints a stark picture of the risks of space debris on commercial flights. 'Space as a whole is an extreme environment. And it can be very disabling, even to the fittest individual,' said Dr. Farhan Asrar, associate dean at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Medicine and a global faculty member at International Space University. As researchers examine deep space travel, longer voyages and even the colonization of other planets, the question of how we can keep humans healthy in space has become a vital one. A new commentary by Asrar, published in Nature Monday, delves into the key challenges with space medicine — as well as the myriad of benefits the endeavour has had on Earthbound health care. What space travel does to the human body Space travel can affect us in numerous, often surprising ways. Away from the protection of Earth's ozone layer, the human body will be bombarded by extreme levels of radiation. It's estimated that astronauts on their way to Mars will experience what amounts to a year's worth of radiation on Earth every day of their months-long voyage. This can significantly raise one's risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and more, Asrar said. 'And now, people are focusing on looking at deep space voyages — the radiation tends to be even higher there.' Then there's the lack of gravity. Our bones, muscles and heart are calibrated to strain against this fundamental force; in its absence, these systems can quickly start breaking from disuse, explained Mathieu Caron, director of astronauts, life sciences and space medicine at the Canadian Space Agency. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Life Opinion Leanne Delap: Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez jet off on a controversial trip to space. Why their 'glam' getaway isn't a giant leap for womankind The billionaire-funded Blue Origin expedition lifts off with a celebrity-stacked, all-women crew today. Life Opinion Leanne Delap: Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez jet off on a controversial trip to space. Why their 'glam' getaway isn't a giant leap for womankind The billionaire-funded Blue Origin expedition lifts off with a celebrity-stacked, all-women crew today. The effects are similar to accelerated ageing: 'Six months in space can correspond to about ten or sometimes even 20 years of aging on the ground,' Caron, who is not affiliated with Asrar's paper, said. 'Fortunately for the astronauts, when they come back down on Earth, they can actually recover a lot of what they've lost.' Time spent in microgravity, combined with the radiation exposure, can ravage our bodies and lead to losses in bone density, vision changes due to fluid shifts in the eyes or even organ damage, Asrar's paper reads. In some cases, the damage was lasting, he said — some astronauts had to start wearing glasses or reported bone fractures after returning to Earth. On top of all the physical hurdles, astronauts must also contend with the psychological toll of what may be months spent in a cramped, dangerous and stressful environment, away from loved ones, he continued. 'On Earth, if someone has a health issue, you can immediately call an ambulance or go to the ER,' Asrar said. 'But in space, obviously, it just makes the health care delivery so much more challenging.' How do astronauts stay healthy in space? Astronauts undergo a great deal of preparation both before, during and after their space trips to ensure their health — including health checks and training before flight, regular physical conditioning while in space and weeks of physical therapy and rehabilitation after re-entry to Earth. But for trips into deep space, these may not be enough. Asrar's paper defined four 'key strands' of space medicine critical for mission success, as well as human health on Earth: Remote health care, mental health, food production and basic human biology. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Astronauts depend on telemedicine to monitor and support their health, Asrar writes. But long space voyages can disrupt this process; it can take 20 minutes each way for astronauts on Mars to communicate with doctors on Earth — much too long when dealing with emergencies like a heart attack, for example. The development of artificial intelligence health systems may provide a solution. But there are still more issues to contend with; many ingredients in medications degrade faster as a result of the intense radiation, for example, and resupplying crucial medicines in deep space is 'infeasible,' Asrar's paper reads. Canada 'He had the weight of Canada on his shoulders': An oral history of Canada's first trip to space, 40 years later Marc Garneau flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on Oct. 5, 1984, becoming the first Canadian in space. This is the story of that flight, Canada 'He had the weight of Canada on his shoulders': An oral history of Canada's first trip to space, 40 years later Marc Garneau flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on Oct. 5, 1984, becoming the first Canadian in space. This is the story of that flight, Then there's the challenge of maintaining mental health amid the fatigue, stress and isolation of space travel. While further research is needed on this front, advancements are being made, from lighting systems meant to maintain more conventional circadian rhythms to virtual-reality headsets. It could take seven to ten months to travel to space — meaning spacefarers would need to produce their own food. On this front, a number of new systems that require few resources to grow fruits and veggies in harsh environments are being developed. Finally, Asrar and Caron note there is still much unknown about how extended space trips will affect our biology. 'The International Space Station is really close, relatively speaking, to the Earth,' Caron said. 'But if we venture towards the moon, that's about a thousand times further away. Mars is a million times farther away. We really, absolutely need to know what happens to the human body before we reach those destinations.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW How space health care is leading new innovations on Earth Each of the four strands identified by Asrar come with significant benefits for health care on Earth. For example, advancements in telemedicine have helped deliver crucial care to members of remote communities and have skyrocketed in use during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Asrar said. Similarly, optimizations in the dosage and storage of drugs may help improve medications on Earth, his paper read. Meanwhile, insights into maintaining mental health in isolation have proven invaluable in resolving Earthbound crises — Asrar's paper noted that, in 2010, the Chilean government consulted NASA when 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground. World NASA astronauts step outside space station to perform the 5th all-female spacewalk CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An astronaut who missed out on the first all-female spacewalk because of a spacesuit sizing issue got her chance s… World NASA astronauts step outside space station to perform the 5th all-female spacewalk CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An astronaut who missed out on the first all-female spacewalk because of a spacesuit sizing issue got her chance s… Improving food production can help feed isolated communities struggling with food insecurity; if we can grow veggies in the void of space, we can grow them in the harsh environment of northern Canada, Asrar said. Finally, insights into how human biology unravels in space can lead to a better understanding of our own bodies. Even the struggle to keep astronauts physically fit in space has translated into sports medicine and athletics on Earth, he said. 'There's a number of areas where I would say that space has been playing a role — especially when we look at things that are being developed for deep space missions — that would be relevant for us here on Earth,' Asrar concluded.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
This Government-Funded Snack From The '60s Was Originally Made For Astronauts
Back when going to the moon was the world's hottest topic, companies were doing whatever they could to get a piece of the pie. Brands were sending their products straight to space, and customers were eating it up. Omega debuted a watch fit for spacewalkers, and Tang pushed advertisements for space-approved soda, but Pillsbury — under contract with the U.S. government — was more focused on the astronauts heading to the stars than the consumers on the ground. Pillsbury was tasked with creating the first space-safe solid food by none other than the Quartermaster Food and Container Institute of the United States Armed Forces in the early '60s. The company started with teeny condensed food cubes, which were chowed down by NASA astronaut Scott Carpenter on the Aurora 7 in the summer of 1962. A few years later, NASA had another assignment for Pillsbury: create an energizing snack that could fit through an astronaut's helmet. The airtight suits didn't make it easy, but Pillsbury delivered with Space Food Sticks. The nutrient-packed snack was like a chewy chocolate power bar squeezed into a thin tube, which made it a hit for not just astronauts but growing kids everywhere. Before it was a popular lunchbox snack, Space Food Sticks accompanied Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong to the moon in 1969. Read more: 15 Vintage Snacks No One Remembers Anymore The energizing snack may have been made exclusively for astronauts, but it was a far bigger hit on Earth. Early advertisements for Space Food Sticks declared they were "developed by Pillsbury under a government contract, in support of the U.S. aerospace program" — but that language didn't last long. Into the next decade, Pillsbury began running ad campaigns for the astronaut-endorsed snack, but more geared towards Earthbound folks. The concept of Space Food Sticks integrated seamlessly with the other space-themed commercials of the time, making them an instant sensation. In later ads, Pillsbury kept it simple, labeling Space Food Sticks as a "balanced nutrition snack." Buzz and Armstrong only got a taste of the original chocolate flavor, but Pillsbury introduced dozens of other varieties over the years. Each flavor seemed to hang onto the "chewy" descriptor, with added flavors like peanut butter, orange, caramel, and chocolate mint. There are dozens of vintage snacks that no one really remembers anymore, but Space Food Sticks should never be forgotten. Only a few years after they were introduced, Pillsbury dropped the word "space" from the label, shortening them to just Food Sticks, but the legacy lives on. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA astronaut captures rare Northern Lights aurora display over North America from the International Space Station
Source: X A recent celestial display left both Earthbound viewers and astronauts aboard the International Space Station in awe, as the Northern Lights lit up the skies over parts of the United States and Canada according to the ET reports. Captured by NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers , the aurora appeared unexpectedly while she was photographing severe storms on Earth. The stunning green and purple lights were triggered by heightened geomagnetic activity, with the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reporting a Kp index of 6. This level of intensity not only enhanced visibility from space but also offered a breathtaking natural spectacle across much of the Northern Hemisphere. NASA astronaut captures glimpse of northern lights over North America Ayers subsequently posted the video online, showing colorful green and purple waves of aurorae swooshing through the top part of the atmosphere over much of the northern United States and Canada. "The Aurora appeared this past weekend when I didn't anticipate it!" Ayers posted. "I was attempting to catch the huge storms that moved through both North and South America and had a pleasant surprise." — Astro_Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tabletă 2 în 1 Ultraportabilă - Reducere Explozivă Azi! LYH Cumpără acum Undo The aurora occurred at local sunset times in the Northern Hemisphere and could be seen both from space and on Earth in parts of the US and Canada. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said the activity in the aurora was caused by high geomagnetic conditions, with the Kp index, a system for measuring the strength of geomagnetic storms reaching a level 6 out of a maximum of 9. A Kp index at this level tends to produce brighter and more extensive auroral activity, increasing visibility from Earth and low-Earth orbit. Ayers captures Earth's beauty while contributing to science Since her landing on the ISS in March 2025 as a member of NASA's Crew-10 mission aboard SpaceX, Ayers has posted regular time-lapse footage and Earth photography, providing both scientific information and visual magic. One of her earlier posts in April also recorded aurora activity while in orbit, showing how common and large such displays can be under good solar conditions. In a recent blog, Ayers commented on the double nature of her imagery: scientific usefulness and aesthetic beauty. "We see beauty, while scientists see data," she wrote. "These pictures can help researchers get the information they need." Ayers also discussed her filming of geological landforms, such as a flyby of Italy's Mt. Etna volcano, which is currently active. Observing the clear absence of city lights surrounding the active volcano, Ayers explained how she knew the landmark at once. "I knew right away where we were because of the absence of lights where the volcano is." What causes the northern lights Aurora borealis , or northern lights, are a result of the interaction between streams of charged particles that are emitted by the Sun, referred to as solar wind, and Earth's magnetosphere. The particles spiral down magnetic field lines towards the poles and collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere, specifically oxygen and nitrogen. These impacts eject photons, creating the aurora's characteristic glow. Green and red light are emitted by oxygen, while nitrogen adds purples and blues, yielding an active spectrum of color in the sky. Also Read | How big is the universe? Discover what scientists have uncovered beyond Pluto
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Selfie on Mars? Here's how NASA caught a new glimpse of the Martian surface
A Martian selfie is giving Earthbound astronomers a look at environmental details on the red planet's surface. But the selfie was not taken by an extraterrestrial. Rather, it was a manmade explorer. On May 10, NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its 1,500th sol, or Martian day, to take a selfie from the edge of the Jezero Crater called 'Witch Hazel Hill,' according to NASA on Wednesday. The selfie came together using a compilation of 59 individual pictures showing the whole rover and the Martian surface, NASA stated. 'To get that selfie look, each WATSON [Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering] image has to have its own unique field of view,' Megan Wu, a Perseverance imaging scientist from Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, said in NASA's statement. 'That means we had to make 62 precision movements of the robotic arm. The whole process takes about an hour, but it's worth it.' Unique to the complete image is a swirling natural phenomenon seen on Earth. To the left of the center of the image is a dust devil, 'located 3 miles to the north in Neretva Vallis,' Justin Maki, Perseverance imaging lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said in NASA's statement. 'Having the dust devil in the background makes it a classic,' Wu said. 'This is a great shot.' Located on a gray spot just below the rover is the 'Bell Island' borehole, in which the rover collected a sample of Mars' soil, astronomers said. The selfie also gives NASA a chance to see what the Perseverance rover looks like over four years since it landed on the red planet. Though covered in dust, an American flag can still be seen on the rover's chassis. At the time the selfie was taken, Perseverance analyzed 37 rocks and boulders, collected 26 rock cores and has used its six wheels to drive more than 22 miles since it landed. New research says our universe only has a quinvigintillion years left, so make 'em good ones Video: Erupting volcanoes cause 'dancing' light show in space Massive solar flare erupts, causing radio blackouts across Earth Where will failed '70s Soviet probe land after it crashes back to Earth? Nobody knows Sorry, Pluto: The solar system could have a 9th planet after all, astronomers say Read the original article on MassLive.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Unknown bacteria found on China's space station ‘never seen on Earth' with ‘unique ability' after astronauts swab cabin
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MYSTERIOUS form of bacteria has been discovered aboard China's space station, with unique abilities that help it survive hundreds of kilometres above the ground. Scientists found the bacteria, called Niallia tiangongensis, after astronauts swabbed a cabin on the Tiangong orbital outpost in May 2023. 2 While it is related to similar bacteria on Earth, it's not clear where the new N. tiangongensis came from, or whether it evolved on the station Credit: Getty Researchers from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering say the study of this new bacteria and others is "essential" in protecting astronauts' health. While it is related to similar bacteria on Earth, it's not clear where the new N. tiangongensis came from, or whether it evolved on the station. It's possible it arrived on Tiangong in spore form, with at least a few of its distinguishing features in place. Scientists are still working out if N. tiangongensis poses any threat to astronauts health. A bacterial cousin on Earth can cause sepsis in immunocompromised patients. A new study on the bacteria, published in a leading microbiology journal, found the new species can break down gelatin as a source of nitrogen and carbon. This rare ability allows it to build a protective biofilm shield over itself when conditions become too extreme to survive. Related bacteria on Earth are able to consume other energy-packed substances for survival - but N. tiangongensis appears to have lost this ability. N. tiangongensis' new skill of breaking down gelatin, paired with the deadliness of its Earthbound bacterial cousin, suggests it could pose a risk to health. US gearing up for all-out SPACE WAR with Russia and China as general warns West 'must be ready' for orbit battlefield Astronauts on the Tiangong space station regularly disinfect surfaces and monitor microorganisms to control the growth of bacteria. There are also air filtration systems built into the space station to purify the air. But despite best efforts, astronauts can get sick with microbial infections from space station bacteria - just like they do on Earth. It cannot be completely prevented, despite the cleaning and monitoring regime, as well as the quarantining of astronauts prior to flight.
