[ad_1]
An experiment suggests that the problem of fluid pressure associated with weightlessness and which has a negative impact on the brain of astronauts is caused by nitric oxide.
As you sit around your Thanksgiving table, here on Earth, the astronauts on the International Space Station also celebrated the holiday.
The three astronauts currently on the ISS are Alexander Gerst (Germany), Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor (United States) and Sergey Prokopyev (Russia).
The crew members had a traditional Thanksgiving meal consisting of turkey, candied yams, stuffing and poundcake, all wrapped to prevent damage.
Do you thaw your turkey? The Space Station team is also preparing for Thanksgiving! Tomorrow, an American, a European and a Russian will celebrate together in the space with their own special meal. Thanksgiving by the International Space Station! pic.twitter.com/VVW5QEEvKY
– Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) November 21, 2018
Thanksgiving can be stressful, but at least you will not have to worry about the role of gravity, or the absence of.
The effect of weightlessness on the lives of astronauts goes beyond simple preparation and preparation of meals. It also affects their health, especially that of their brain.
When gravity decreases, body fluids rise
Russian Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single stay in the space in history, having spent more than 14 consecutive months (438 days) aboard Mir space station.
This is not even close to what is expected of NASA astronauts when they leave for a trip to March.
Between the return trip and their stay there, the astronauts will stay around three years in a reduced gravity environment.
NASA is studying the effects of long-duration space flight on the human body in order to send astronauts to March.
Read more: NASA's InSight Lander is ready to enter the atmosphere of Mars
Space imposes extreme conditions on astronauts, such as radiation and weightlessness, which could have serious repercussions on the health of the body and the brain.
Weightlessness has several detrimental effects on the body, such as a decrease in muscle and bone density, but its most serious stress concerns the brain.
A weightless environment alters the distribution of body fluidsmainly blood, causing them to go up to the brain.
As fluids accumulate in the facial cavities, astronauts experience impaired vision and their sense of smell weakens, which may explain their desire for hot sauce.
The phenomenon is characterized by redness and roundness of the face – at NASA, we call it the Charlie Brown effect.
It is also known as "Paws of inflated head birdSyndrome.
Zero gravity, nitric oxide and the brain
Damian Bailey, Professor of Physiology and Biochemistry at the University of South Wales, wanted to get to the bottom of things and find the causes of the formation of liquids in the head.
In an article published in ConversationBailey provides new clues as to how the abnormality affects the brain.
He suggests that the culprit might be nitric oxide.
"I think some parts of the brain end up getting too much blood because nitric oxide accumulates in the blood. This allows the arteries supplying the brain with blood to relax, so that they open too much. Due to this incessant increase in blood flow, the blood-brain barrier – the "shock absorber" of the brain – may be overwhelmed, "Bailey said.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas consisting of oxygen and nitrogen molecules. In the human body, NO molecules are not free radicals and play a role in many physiological processes.
To test his theory, Bailey mounted the Vomit Comet, an airplane that simulates a reduced gravity environment.
Tom Cruise, known for his stunts, used the Vomit Comet to shoot a Zero-G sequence for The Mummy movie.
Read more: New study reshapes the view of emergent gravity theory
The eight Bailey volunteers, however, had to make four flights abroad with the Vomit Comet once a day.
Bailey has taken many steps during the experiment, including nitric oxide levels in the blood.
His "The first results confirmed our expectations. Nitric oxide levels increased after repeated episodes of weightlessness, which coincided with an increase in blood flow, especially in the arteries that feed the back of the brain. This forced the opening of the blood-brain barrier, even though there was no evidence of structural damage to the brain. "
Now, Bailey said he would follow up with more detailed measurements of fluid changes in the brain to confirm his findings.
"We will also explore the effects of countermeasures such as rubber pants – which create negative pressure in the lower body with the idea of being able to" suck up "the brain blood of astronaut drugs to counter Increase of nitric oxide. "
Will gravity, which is already a thorn in the back of astrophysicists, hinder the conquest of Mars?
[ad_2]
Source link
