Deep-Space Radiation Could Damage Astronauts & # 039; Guts

Deep-Space Radiation Could Damage Astronauts & # 039; Guts

Deep-Space Radiation Could Damage Astronauts & # 039; Guts







The missions in deep space, to Mars and beyond, could mean problems for astronauts, according to new research that shows that cosmic radiation can damage the digestive tract, stomach and colon. 



	

	Spending weeks or months in space can cause muscle loss, impaired cognitive ability and bone formation, and even Eye sight problems for the astronauts. As we prepare to send astronauts to a deeper place in space, researchers are investigating how these longer trips will affect the human body.

		"While short trips, such as the times when astronauts traveled to the moon, may not expose them to this level of damage, the real concern is the lasting injury of a long trip, such as a Mars. [mission] or other missions in deep space, which would be much longer, "Kamal Datta, principal investigator of the study and project leader of the NASA Specialized Research Center (NSCOR) at the Georgetown University Medical Center, said in a statement. .

He[[What does space travel do to your intestinal microbes? (Video)]

		To simulate how galactic cosmic radiation in deep space will affect future astronauts, researchers at the Georgetown University Medical Center studied the impact of radiation on the small intestine of mice. Their findings suggest that exposure to a low dose of iron radiation could cause Gastrointestinal damage (GI), as well as tumor growth in the stomach and colon. according to the statement.





						


A new work shows how radiation from deep space travel could damage the insides of astronauts.

            						    Credit: NASA 


		It is important to consider how radiation will impact astronauts on longer space missions because the digestive tract is an important source of immune function in the body. In general, new cells replace the upper layer of cells in our gastrointestinal tract every three to five days. However, heavy ion radiation tends to interrupt this process, causing GI tissue to break down and causing long-term problems, according to the study. 

		When new cells can not be adequately replenished, it affects how the human body absorbs nutrients and, as a result, causes an abnormality or growth of cancerous tissue.

		Galactic cosmic radiation does not affect humans on Earth, because the magnetosphere of the planet protects us However, heavy ions such as iron and silicon that are found in deep space can damage the human body, because these atoms have a "higher mass compared to massless photons, such as X-rays and the gamma rays (γ), [which are] "It prevails on Earth, as do the low mass protons in outer space," Datta said in the statement. 

		For the study, the researchers exposed one group of mice to heavy ions, while another group received only gamma rays. Then, the scientists compared the results of these two groups with those of an unexposed control group. 

		Mice exposed to iron radiation showed a growth of cancerous tissue, as well as DNA damage that increased the number of senescent cells in mice, a type of cell that is incapable of division or regular cell regeneration. Specifically, these cells can slow down the replacement of healthy GI cells and, as a result, slow down the normal GI function. 



		Senescent cells "generate oxidative stress and inflammatory molecules that induce more damage," says Datta. he said in the statement. "This greatly affected the migration of the cells that are needed to replace the intestinal lining, which delayed GI functioning."

		The radiation seems to cause permanent damage, according to the study. In addition, the researchers suggested that exposure to heavy ions can cause similar responses to damage in other organs. 

		"With the current shielding technology, it is difficult to protect astronauts from the adverse effects of heavy ion radiation," said Datta. "Although there may be a way to use drugs to counteract these effects, such an agent has not yet been developed."

		While the mice were used only as a model of what astronauts might experience, the researchers said they plan to continue studying the effects of radiation on mice so they can better understand the risk faced by astronauts during longer missions. 

		"It is important to understand these effects in advance, so that we can do everything possible to protect our future travelers from space," said Datta.

		The findings were published on Monday (October 1) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 



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