MEXICO: Spending long stretches in space traveling to distant planets could possibly have not-so-desirable effects for mankind’s ambassadors, according to recent lab testing on rats.
A study by Dr. Charles Limoli from the University of California-Irvine and his colleague subjected lab rats to the same amount of charged particle irradiation in the form of fully ionized oxygen and titanium that astronauts might face on say, a three-year journey to walk on the surface of Mars. Cosmic rays in deep space could in fact wear down the brain and cause inflammation of that most important piece of equipment, the scientists say.
They found that significant damage to the central nervous system may lead to cognitive impairments, the kind that might make decision-making in space a liability.
Limoli said in the release of the study that International Space Station astronauts weren’t in danger of brain inflammation and impairments though. They remain within the protective magnetosphere of the Earth, he said.
Limoli added that increased shielding from the cosmic rays on spacecraft would be ideal. The heavier shielding makes for a heavier spacecraft, so additional work (read: innovations) is still needed.
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