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Scientific American
6 days ago
- Health
- Scientific American
Are We Ready for Death in Space?
In 2012 NASA stealthily slipped a morgue into orbit. No press release. No fanfare. Just a sealed, soft-sided pouch tucked in a cargo shipment to the International Space Station (ISS) alongside freeze-dried meals and scientific gear. Officially, it was called the Human Remains Containment Unit (HRCU). To the untrained eye it looked like a shipping bag for frozen cargo. But to NASA it marked something far more sobering: a major advance in preparing for death beyond Earth. As a kid, I obsessed over how astronauts went to the bathroom in zero gravity. Now, decades later, as a forensic pathologist and a perennial applicant to NASA's astronaut corps, I find myself fixated on a darker, more haunting question: On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. What would happen if an astronaut died out there? Would they be brought home, or would they be left behind? If they expired on some other world, would that be their final resting place? If they passed away on a spacecraft or space station, would their remains be cast off into orbit—or sent on an escape-velocity voyage to the interstellar void? NASA, it turns out, has begun working out most of these answers. And none too soon. Because the question itself is no longer if someone will die in space—but when. A Graying Corps No astronaut has ever died of natural causes off-world. In 1971 the three-man crew of the Soviet Soyuz 11 mission asphyxiated in space when their spacecraft depressurized shortly before its automated atmospheric reentry—but their deaths were only discovered once the spacecraft landed on Earth. Similarly, every U.S. spaceflight fatality to date has occurred within Earth's atmosphere—under gravity, oxygen and a clear national jurisdiction. That matters, because it means every spaceflight mortality has played out in familiar territory. But planned missions are getting longer, with destinations beyond low-Earth orbit. And NASA's astronaut corps is getting older. The average age now hovers around 50—an age bracket where natural death becomes statistically relevant, even for clean-living fitness buffs. Death in space is no longer a thought experiment. It's a probability curve—and NASA knows it. In response, the agency is making subtle but decisive moves. The most recent astronaut selection cycle was extended —not only to boost intake but also to attract younger crew members capable of handling future long-duration missions. NASA ' s Space Morgue If someone were to die aboard the ISS today, their body would be placed in the HRCU, which would then be sealed and secured in a nonpressurized area to await eventual return to Earth. The HRCU itself is a modified version of a military-grade body bag designed to store human remains in hazardous environments. It integrates with refrigeration systems already aboard the ISS to slow decomposition and includes odor-control filters and moisture-absorbent linings, as well as reversed zippers for respectful access at the head. There are straps to secure the body in a seat for return, and patches for name tags and national flags. Cadaver tests conducted in 2019 at Sam Houston State University have proved the system durable. Some versions held for over 40 days before decomposition breached the barrier. NASA even drop-tested the bag from 19 feet to simulate a hard landing. But it's never been used in space. And since no one yet knows how a body decomposes in true microgravity (or, for that matter, on the moon), no one can really say whether the HRCU would preserve tissue well enough for a forensic autopsy. This is a troubling knowledge gap, because in space, a death isn't just a tragic loss—it's also a vital data point. Was an astronaut's demise from a fluke of their physiology, or an unavoidable stroke of cosmic bad luck—or was it instead a consequence of flaws in a space habitat's myriad systems that might be found and fixed? Future lives may depend on understanding what went wrong, via a proper postmortem investigation. But there's no medical examiner in orbit. So NASA trains its crews in something called the In-Mission Forensic Sample Collection protocol. The space agency's astronauts may avoid talking about it, but they all have it memorized: Document everything, ideally with real-time guidance from NASA flight surgeons. Photograph the body. Collect blood and vitreous fluid, as well as hair and tissue samples. Only then can the remains be stowed in the HRCU. NASA has also prepared for death outside the station—on spacewalks, the moon or deep space missions. If a crew member perishes in vacuum but their remains are retrieved, the body is wrapped in a specially designed space shroud. The goal isn't just a technical matter of preventing contamination. It's psychological, too, as a way of preserving dignity. Of all the 'firsts' any space agency hopes to achieve, the first-ever human corpse drifting into frame on a satellite feed is not among them. If a burial must occur—in lunar regolith or by jettisoning into solar orbit—the body will be dutifully tracked and cataloged, treated forevermore as a hallowed artifact of space history. Such gestures are also of relevance to NASA's plans for off-world mourning; grief and memorial protocols are now part of official crew training. If a death occurs, surviving astronauts are tasked with holding a simple ceremony to honor the fallen—then to move on with their mission. Uncharted Realms So far we've only covered the 'easy' questions. NASA and others are still grappling with harder ones. Consider the issue of authority over a death and mortal remains. On the ISS, it's simple: the deceased astronaut's home country retains jurisdiction. But that clarity fades as destinations grow more distant and the voyages more diverse: What really happens on space-agency missions to the moon, or to Mars? How might rules change for commercial or multinational spaceflights—or, for that matter, the private space stations and interplanetary settlements that are envisioned by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other tech multibillionaires? NASA and its partners have started drafting frameworks, like the Artemis Accords —agreements signed by more than 50 nations to govern behavior in space. But even those don't address many intimate details of death. What happens, for instance, if foul play is suspected? The Outer Space Treaty, a legal document drafted in 1967 under the United Nations that is humanity's foundational set of rules for orbit and beyond, doesn't say. Of course, not everything can be planned for in advance. And NASA has done an extraordinary job of keeping astronauts in orbit alive. But as more people venture into space, and as the frontier stretches to longer voyages and farther destinations, it becomes a statistical certainty that sooner or later someone won't come home. When that happens, it won't just be a tragedy. It will be a test. A test of our systems, our ethics and our ability to adapt to a new dimension of mortality. To some, NASA's preparations for astronautical death may seem merely morbid, even silly—but that couldn't be further from the truth. Space won't care of course, whenever it claims more lives. But we will. And rising to that grim occasion with reverence, rigor and grace will define not just policy out in the great beyond—but what it means to be human there, too.
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Cinematic and Streaming Highlights: 12 to 18 May 2025
As the entertainment calendar unfolds for the week of May 12 to 18 2025, film buffs and streaming enthusiasts are in for a treat with a host of theatrical and OTT releases spanning genres, languages, and formats. Theatrical Releases: Big Names and Regional Showstoppers Hollywood makes a thunderous return to cinemas with Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning hitting theatres on May 17, promoted by Think Ink Communications. Anticipation runs high as fans gear up for what is believed to be the concluding chapter in the beloved franchise. Final Destination: Blood Lines will be hitting the theatres on May 15. From the heart of Bollywood, three prime releases are lined up—Pune Highway (PR by 1H), Romeo S3, and Suswagatam Khushaamadeed. While the latter two are yet to confirm their promotional representatives, they're poised to draw attention across multiplexes. Interestingly, there are no Bollywood non-prime, re-releases, or Hindi-dubbed prime releases scheduled this week. Regional cinema offers a colourful mix, with noteworthy entries across several languages: Marathi: April May 99, Posco 307, and Banjara Gujarati: Bhram and Surprise Malayalam: Written & Directed by God, Narivetta, Oru Vadakkan Pranaya Parvvam, and Samshayam Telugu: Devil's Double Next Level and 23 (Iravai Moodu) Tamil: Eleven, Jora Kaiya Thattunga, and Maaman Kannada: Rhythm and LightHouse Bengali: The Eken – Benaras e Bibhishika Streaming Platforms: On Netflix, a staggering line-up of original series and films is scheduled, including the return of beloved anthologies like Love, Death & Robots S4 and new series such as The Reserve and Thank You, Next S2, all premiering on May 15. True crime enthusiasts can look forward to Fred and Rose West – A British Horror Story on 14th May. Among Netflix's original films, the highlight is The Quilters (May 16), a documentary feature alongside others such as Untold – The Liver King and American Manhunt – Osama bin Laden. Jio Hotstar enters the spotlight with its original series Hai Junoon (May 16, Hindi) and the anime feature The Lord of the Rings – The War of the Rohirrim (May 13). Sumanth Akkineni's Anaganaga will be showing from May 15 on Etv Win. Sony LIV adds to the theatrical-on-OTT slate with Maranamass (May 15, Malayalam), while Hoichoi brings in Kabuliwala (May 16, Bengali). Netflix also premieres Paddington in Peru (May 15), continuing its trend of hosting theatrical releases post-cinema. BookMyShow features the Marathi release Sa La Te Sa La Na Te on May 13.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Why not watch the documentary instead?': Netizens react to trailer of Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine
The Smashing Machine trailer: Dwayne Johnson is one of the most popular names in the film industry. 'The Rock', as WWE fans refer to him as, has impressed movie buffs with his comic timing and striking screen presence. He is now in the limelight because of his latest film, The Smashing Machine. The trailer of the sports drama is out and it has created a great deal of buzz among netizens. The film is based on the 2002 documentary of the same name and features Dwayne as MMA icon Mark Kerr. X reacts to trailer of The Smashing Machine The trailer of The Smashing Machine is out, and it has become the talk of the town in no time. The video features Dwayne Johnson in the titular role and is touted to be a game-changer for him. He plays Mark Kerr in the biggie, and his transformation for this role is remarkable. The trailer suggests that this will be a gritty and hard-hitting biopic. However, not everyone is impressed by it. Some netizens took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their opinions about the trailer. A user said that it would be better to watch the 2002 documentary as most of the scenes (featured in the trailer) are recreations of the ones seen in it. Having watched the trailer for The Smashing Machine more than ever I'm left wondering. Why not just watch the documentary? Most scenes in the trailer is a recreation of the documentary. Plus the documentary doesn't have the uncanny valley of Dwayne Johnson in that makeup Another one too echoed similar sentiments. Looks like they just dramatized an already great documentary (The Smashing Machine). One fan said he was shocked to see an Israeli flag in the trailer. WHY TF IS THERE AN ISRAEL FLAG IN THE FIRST 10 SECONDS OF THE SMASHING MACHINE TRAILER LMAOOO, CANT MAKE THIS UP! 😂😂😂 Another netizen wondered if the trailer should have been given an 'R' rating because of the violence in it. I'm also guessing the ufc style violence in smashing machine isn't enough to warrant its R rating The trailer comes at a time when WWE fans are criticising Dwayne for missing WrestleMania 41 despite the fact that he was an integral part of the John Cena-Cody Rhodes storyline. About The Smashing Machine The Smashing Machine is a biographical sports drama directed by Benny Safdie. The film delves into the life of MMA legend Mark Kerr who left a strong impact on UFC. The film features Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the lead. The cast includes Ryan Bader, Bas Ruden, and Oleksandr Usyk. The Smashing Machine will hit the screens on October 3. For all the latest coverage on Southern cinema & OTT shows, click here
Scottish Sun
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I got a £100 designer perfume for just £7.99 thanks to my favourite little-known hack – it's great for holidays too
Plus, the best perfume dupes on the high street right now SCENT-SATIONAL I got a £100 designer perfume for just £7.99 thanks to my favourite little-known hack – it's great for holidays too WITH the cost-of-living crisis soaring, affording the finer things in life is becoming increasingly challenging for many cash-strapped Brits. Whether it's your top make-up product or favourite designer perfume, stretching pounds has become a struggle for millions. 2 One savvy mum revealed how to get your favourite designer scent for just £7.99 Credit: TIKTOK/@squashedpickled 2 The wallet-friendly pods hold about 5ml of perfume - which gives you around 65 sprays Credit: TIKTOK/@squashedpickled However, one savvy woman has discovered an easy trick to help you enjoy your favourite designer perfume without emptying your bank account. The mum, known as Snack Queen on TikTok, shared her ingenious hack to get high-end perfumes without the hefty price tag. She recently told fellow beauty buffs on the platform: ''This has to be favourite Superdrug hack. Did you know that you that you can buy a perfume pod at Superdrug and get it filled up for free?'' These pods, available in a range of summery colours, such as light blue, pink and green, cost just £7.99 ''and hold about 5ml of perfume''. This, according to Superdrug website, ''gives you approximately 65 sprays''. The handy size makes them perfect for travelling - or chucking into your purse before you head out on a date or a brunch with your friends. Once you've purchased the pod, you can then choose any perfume of your liking - even the most expensive option, the customer emphasised in the video. This hack is great, as it also gives shoppers the chance to test out any viral perfume they've had their eyes on before committing to forking out the full sum. The savvy mum decided to treat her hubby to a posh Valentino perfume, which usually retails for ''over £100''. Thanks to this little-known trick, she was able to get it for more than whopping ten times less. LadBaby Mum shares hilarious fake tan blunder that left her kids thinking she'd drank so much coffee she'd turned orange ''I repeat - this is completely free to fill up. It's such a perfect thing to keep in your handbag, or you're travelling on the plane, or you go to gym.'' She went on in the caption: ''How did I only find out about this great hack? ''So good for gifts!'' Since being shared online, the informative clip has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it's won the mum over 340k views in less than 24 hours. The best perfume dupes on the high street WE all love a good perfume, but they can also be pricey. So why not try a dupe from the high street instead? Here's some of the best: *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue Marks & Spencer: Apothecary Warmth, £9.50 - dupe for Le Labo's Santal 33 - BUY NOW Sea Salt and Neroli, £13 - dupe for Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino - BUY NOW Midnight Blossom, £10 - dupe for Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium - BUY NOW Soft Iris, £10 - dupe for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle - BUY NOW Zara: Energetically New York, £25.99 - dupe for Le Labo's Santal 33 Nude Bouquet, £12.99 - dupe for Dior's Miss Dior Applejuice, £12.99 - dupe for DKNY's Be Delicious Sublime Epoque, £22.99 - dupe for Armani My Way Aldi: Empress, £5.99 - dupe for Paco Rabanne Olympéa Feminine, £6.99 - dupe for Coco Mademoiselle Masculine, £6.99 - dupe for Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male Hotel Collection No39 Poppy and Barley, £6.99 - dupe for Jo Malone's Poppy and Barley It also has close to 22k likes, over 6,700 shares, as well as 274 comments. One shopper said: ''Didn't know this, thanks! I always thought why they are so expensive empty.'' Another wrote: ''Guys this isn't about 'oh you might as well buy the full size'. It's about getting to try a perfume without paying full price.'' ''Perfume shop do this too!'' a third chimed in. ''I have that Valentino perfume and I'm obsessed with it. Thanks for the tip!''a beauty lover said.
