Latest news with #PhotonGrav
India Today
2 days ago
- Science
- India Today
India's Shubhanshu Shukla working on developing brain-computer in space
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, living aboard the International Space Station, is working on constructing a brain-computer partnered with astronaut Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski in the Space Station's Columbus laboratory module to analyse near-infrared technology to record brain the experiment, Wisniewski wore a special cap connected via Bluetooth to a laptop computer, which recorded his brain activity. Meanwhile, Shukla optimised the signal quality and calibrated the "The pair also recorded and downlinked video of crew activities for the Astronaut Mental Health study. Shukla also looked at muscle cell stem cultures through a microscope to understand the muscle repair process in weightlessness," Nasa said in an update."Thoughts over Gravity" (PhotonGrav) is a study testing how well a special brain-computer interface works in space using a device called Cortivision but smiles from our crew! #Ax4 Peggy Whitson (@AstroPeggy) July 1, 2025This device measures brain activity using near-infrared light. The goal is to see if astronauts can use their brain signals to interact with computers while in microgravity like on the International Space main goals of the study are:To see if this brain-computer system can work for communication in check if the device can measure how focused a person is on a task by looking at brain activity in specific areas (called the DLPFC and MFG).To find out what kinds of interference or errors happen in microgravity that affect brain signal test if using motion sensors (like accelerometers and gyroscopes) can help remove or reduce those understand how hard or easy it is for astronauts to use this brain-computer system and how satisfied they are with create and test a new way to process brain signals in real-time, making the system more effective during space missions. advertisementIn short, the study is exploring how astronauts might use their brains — literally — to control or communicate with computers in space, even in challenging low-gravity on his 14-day mission, Group Captain Shukla has been leading seven Indian studies and recently recorded a video for students explaining to them how the human digestive system adapts to veteran astronaut and Ax-4 Commander Peggy Whitson assisted Tibor Kapu with the biomedical hardware and measured his blood pressure inside the Tranquillity module. "Both studies are supported by different organisations, with the first seeking to prevent space-caused blood clots and the second to protect crew visual processing and perception in microgravity," Nasa said.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Can we control comps with just thoughts? Shubhanshu Shukla & crew may find out
Can human thought — unaided by muscle or speech — be used to control machines? That's the bold question the Ax-4 crew, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, are probing at the International Space Station (ISS). Wearing a specialised headset that tracks blood flow in the brain, the astronauts participated in 'PhotonGrav', a European Space Agency (ESA) and Polish Space Agency (POLSA) experiment exploring whether brain signals alone could one day operate computers and spacecraft systems. The headset uses near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor attention levels and detect logical errors, capturing neural activity without any physical movement. If successful, this research could revolutionise how astronauts interact with onboard systems — especially in high-stress or hands-free conditions — by turning thought into action. While the crew kicked off the study on day four of their stay at the ISS, the project led by Slawosz Uznanski is expected to continue through their stint there. As space missions grow longer and more complex, projects like PhotonGrav could lay the groundwork for more seamless, intuitive interfaces — maybe even bringing science fiction a step closer to everyday use. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Will aid people On Earth While the experiment is being trialled in orbit, its real-world impact could be profound, as per ESA and Axiom Space. On Earth, the same brain-computer interface technology could power new assistive tools for people with mobility or communication challenges, and offer breakthroughs in neurorehabilitation. Shux, who had begun his research at ISS with myogenesis study, which could uncover how microgravity contributes to muscle loss before moving on to his microalgae study, continued the operations for myogenesis in the Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG) of the ISS. The study, by identifying the molecular pathways behind skeletal muscle dysfunction, could lead to targeted therapies to prevent atrophy during long-duration spaceflight. These insights may also translate to improved treatments for muscle-wasting conditions on Earth, including those linked to aging and immobility. 'Finally, the crew documented activities for the Astronaut Mental Health study, contributing to research on cognitive well-being in space. This project can benefit others on Earth by developing remote technologies for diagnosing and treating mental disorders, particularly for individuals in isolated or challenging environments where access to mental health care is limited,' Axiom Space said. An ultrasound scan was conducted as part of the 'Telemetric Health AI' study, which merges biometric data with mission analytics to better understand how spaceflight affects cardiovascular and balance systems. 'Using advanced data science, the project aims to enable smarter, real-time health monitoring for astronauts with potential applications for remote health care on Earth,' Axiom said.
