Unveiling the Mystery: What 37 Days in Space Did to Mice on the ISS

Space travel is tough on our bodies, and science is starting to uncover exactly how. When astronauts are in microgravity for long periods, they experience several changes. For instance, they can lose blood cells and weaken their bones. Understanding bone loss is crucial for future missions, especially those far from Earth.

NASA warns that for every month spent in space, weight-bearing bones can lose at least 1% of their density. Along with this, astronauts might lose around 20% of their muscle mass in just two weeks. Such significant losses highlight the need to better understand how microgravity affects human health during space travel.

Recent experiments focused on female mice that lived aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 37 days. Researchers compared their bone growth with mice on Earth. They found that bone loss varied depending on the bones being stressed by weight rather than muscle use. For example, the femurs, which bear weight, lost more mass compared to the spines.

Interestingly, it’s clear that microgravity plays a role in this bone loss. In past studies involving medaka fish sent to the ISS, increased activity of bone-degrading cells, known as osteoclasts, was observed. In space, these cells appear to ramp up their activity, leading to a decrease in bone density.

Not every bone reacts the same way, though. Some, like the femur, are more affected, while others, like the mandible and some cranial bones, can actually become denser. This change may be due to the elevated blood pressure in astronauts’ upper bodies when they first arrive in space. This condition can cause facial swelling and even "space headaches," but it usually levels out as the body adjusts.

This research sheds light on the complexities of living in space and the different ways our bodies respond. Understanding these effects is vital as we prepare for longer missions, like those to Mars and beyond. For those interested in the detailed study, it was published in the journal PLOS One.

As we venture further into space, keeping astronauts healthy will remain a significant challenge. Exploring and understanding these changes can help create safer and healthier journeys in the future.

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