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When the planet Mercury formed 4 billion years ago, conditions may have been just right to form a thick layer of diamonds below its surface

When the planet Mercury formed 4 billion years ago, conditions may have been just right to form a thick layer of diamonds below its surface

SpaceX launched two batches of its Starlink internet satellites on Sunday (June 23), sending them aloft from Florida and California.

Astronauts are considered by many to be an elite bunch of people; healthy, fit and capable in many disciplines. Went they travel into space they can face health issues related to weightlessness from reduction in bone density to issues with their eyesight. These are people at the peak of physical fitness but what will happen to the rest of us when space tourism really kicks off. It is likely that anyone with underlying health issues could worsen in space. A new study suggests those with cardiovascular issues may suffer heart failure in space!

Space travel and automatic intelligence (AI) are two fabulously interesting topics. Combine them and you have a fascinating story. Dr Lex Van Loon from the Australian National University has been using AI and mathematical models to explore human physiology and the impact of space exploration. In a recent study he created digitally identical AI twins, one with an underlying heart condition. 

The interest driving the study is the advancement toward space tourism and the opening up of space to those less physically fit than astronauts. As space travel becomes more available to the mass population we will start to see a shift in demographic of space travellers to older, more wealthy individuals but they are more likely to have health issues. We will eventually see people with a whole multitude of conditions wanting to holiday in space, but what are the likely impacts. 

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst gets a workout on the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). Credit: NASA

Microgravity causes a redistribution of fluids around the body and can cause conditions like ‘puffy face bird leg syndrome.’ The name aptly describes the effect, the face swells up and the legs thin. It results in an increase in venous pressure in the upper body, this is fine for healthy people but heart failure sufferers are at a much higher risk. Given that there are over 100 million people around the world that suffer heart failure it is essential this is explored. 

Looking at the wide spectrum of heard failure, conditions can be grouped into two categories; a weak hart that cannot pump effectively and a heart that cannot relax and fill properly. All possible conditions need to be studied with specific ways to treat and mitigate the risk during space travel. 

This is a study that is difficult to collect real data in space so we have to turn to computer modelling to simulate the effects. The team led by Dr Loon showed that a microgravity environment leads to an increase in cardiac output (the quantity of blood pumped by the heart in a given period of time.) This is not a problem for most people but with heart failure patients it is accompanied by a rise in pressure in the left atrial region of the heart, to dangerous levels. If left unchecked, it can lead to a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs known as a pulmonary edema, making it difficult to breathe!

With the increase in corporate interest in space travel, space tourism is slowly becoming a reality. People can already pay for trips into space but as costs come down, the number of people heading out into space will increase. Eventually, trips into space will be as common as trips to other countries. It is imperative we understand the impact on our health and what we can do to make space as widely accessible as possible without putting our health at risk. 

Source : Heart failure in space: scientists calculate potential health threats facing future space tourists in microgravity

The post Will Space Tourists Be Getting Heart Attacks in Space? appeared first on Universe Today.

A recent study found that eating ultraprocessed plant-based foods was linked to heart attack and stroke risk. But the devil is in the details

Neutron stars smashing together may create and trap ghost particles called neutrinos, and this discovery could help us better understand how elements like gold are forged.

Video: 00:24:06

John McFall, a member of the European astronaut reserve from the ESA astronaut class of 2022, brings a diverse background to his role. With experience as an orthopaedic and trauma surgeon and a former Paralympic sprinter, John is participating in the groundbreaking "Fly!" feasibility study. This initiative seeks to enhance our comprehension of the challenges posed by space flight for astronauts with physical disabilities, aiming to overcome these barriers. Tune in to discover more about John and the "Fly!" project.

This is Episode 9 of our ESA Explores podcast series, delving into everything you want to know about the ESA astronaut class of 2022. Recorded in November 2023.

Find out more about John.

About the ESA astronaut class of 2022.

Hosted by Laura Zurmühlen, with audio editing and music by Denzel Lorge, and cover art by Gaël Nadaud.

Access all ESA Explores podcasts.

Boeing moving toward a June 1 launch of its first-ever Starliner astronaut mission for NASA.

A study of small city gardens in the Netherlands found insects were just as abundant in those with exotic plants as in those filled with native plants

A study of small city gardens in the Netherlands found insects were just as abundant in those with exotic plants as in those filled with native plants

Electromagnetic launches of material from the lunar surface can be more efficient than conventional rocket launches that rely on chemical fuels sent from Earth. But are they feasible?

Yes, but can your thunderstorm do this?

Brawls over the honesty of online and cable news today owe their origins to World War I and a debate that divides us still

The Centaurus constellation holds some of the best southern targets, including the Omega Centauri globular cluster and the Centaurus A galaxy.

The post Centaurus Constellation: Glimpse the Greatest Globular appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Tai Chi, yoga, water exercises and other low-impact workouts may help prevent severe falls among older adults

A new film details the history of Ed Dwight and NASA’s first Black astronaut candidates

We still expect children to express emotions in gendered ways. It’s harmful and needs to stop

Mosquito experts break down how to choose and use the best mosquito repellents

All issues encountered during the first astronaut mission of Boeing's Starliner capsule must be addressed before the vehicle is certified for long-duration crewed flights.

Microplastics are everywhere, Olympic ambitions for the Seine River are complicated by poop, and the Starliner spacecraft delays its return to Earth.