Latest news with #MichaelaB.Smith
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Inhaling Moon Dust Is Somehow Less Toxic Than Urban Air Pollution
During the Apollo missions, NASA operated out of an abundance of caution to ensure that astronauts didn't track back by planet-threatening microorganisms from the Moon. However, the conditions on Earth might be more dangerous to human life in one specific way. A study by the University of Technology Sydney published last month found that moon dust was far less toxic to our pulmonary system than the air pollution someone would encounter in a city. The study suggests that inhaling moon dust won't cause long-term damage to our airways. Tests showed lunar material didn't trigger significant oxidative stress to lung cells, dissuading the fears provoked by the uncomfortable experiences of Apollo astronauts and other NASA personnel after the missions from a half-century ago. Now, if you're in the exclusive club of scientists with access to powdered lunar regolith, I wouldn't whip out your I.D. badge to start snorting lines of moon dust for a laugh. Michaela B. Smith, lead researcher and Ph.D student, said: "Any dust, if you inhale it, you'll sneeze, cough, and have some physical irritation. But it's not highly toxic like silica, where you end up with silicosis from being on a construction site for 10 years. It's not going to be something like that." Read more: These Should Be The Next Mail Trucks When The Post Office Gets Privatized The researchers emphasized the critical difference between mechanical damage and toxicity. Moon dust is still infamously abrasive. The study noted the irregular shape and rough edges of the dust. According to statically-charged lunar dust would stick to space suits during Apollo's moon walks. This became a serious issue when astronauts returned to the Lunar Module. Once inside, the dust would sting the crew's eyes, cause a sore throat and sneezing. The same thing would happen once the flight surgeon unpaced the suit back on Earth. This new research will be used for Artemis III, NASA's first crewed return to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. The mission is still scheduled for 2027 after numerous delays caused by development issues. However, the entire program has been jeopardized by the Trump administration's funding cuts and cancellation of the SLS rocket program. If Artemis continues, there are plans for a permanent human presence on the surface. Without the looming threats of long-term health issues, NASA could use moon dust to build its base on the surface. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
India Today
18-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Moon dust less harmful to human lungs than city pollution
Researchers have made a stunning new analysis of lunar dust as countries across the world prepare to send humans to live and work on the at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) has found that lunar dust is less harmful to human lung cells than previously feared. They added that it is significantly less toxic than common Earth-based air latest research comes as the US, China, and Russia prepare to mount major manned missions to the Moon in a bid to colonise Earth's lone natural satellite. The latest study provides reassuring data for the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon. The study, published in Life Sciences in Space Research, investigated the impact of the most accurate, new-generation lunar dust simulants on human lung cells in the lab. 'Our findings suggest that while lunar dust may cause some immediate irritation to the airways, it does not appear to pose a risk for chronic, long-term diseases like silicosis, which is caused by materials like silica dust,' lead researcher and UTS PhD candidate Michaela B. Smith study found that while the sharp, abrasive lunar dust can act as a physical irritant, it did not cause the severe cellular damage or inflammation seen from the urban Earth dust. 'It's important to distinguish between a physical irritant and a highly toxic substance,' Smith is worth mentioning that during the Apollo lunar missions, when astronauts landed on the Moon, lunar dust was a big health the Apollo missions, the primary route of exposure occurred after extravehicular activity. 'When astronauts re-entered their landing module, fine dust that had clung to their spacesuits became airborne in the confined cabin and was subsequently inhaled, leading to respiratory issues, sneezing, and eye irritation,' said research focused on fine dust particles (2.5 micrometres), which are small enough to bypass the body's natural defences and penetrate deep into the lower airways of the analysis revealed that dust found on Earth had a greater inflammatory response and was more toxic to the cells than the lunar dust the lunar simulants did not trigger significant oxidative stress, a key chemical damage pathway often associated with fine particle the findings reduce a critical risk factor, Nasa is still taking the threat of dust exposure seriously. Must Watch
