We’ve got stomach to go further into space..
SCIENTISTS claim astronauts could travel farther into the cosmos thanks to a new Irish study on the International Space Station about microbiology.
The claim was made after University College Dublin worked with NASA on the hidden impact of spaceflight on gut health.
UCD, which last year published a study about growing vegetables on Mars, yesterday stated its new research could “shape the future of longduration space missions”.
A UCD spokesperson said: “Scientists have uncovered how spaceflight profoundly alters the gut microbiome. The research offers the most detailed profile to date of how space travel impacts the gut microbes we carry into space. “It revealed previously unknown effects on host physiology that could shape the future of long-duration space missions.”
Microbiomes are full of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi and other microscopic living things – known as microorganisms, or microbes for short.
The international team of researchers is led by UCD, McGill University in Canada, and NASA.
The joint study used advanced genetic technologies to examine changes in the gut microbiome, colons, and livers of mice aboard the International Space Station over three months.
Mystery
The findings reveal significant shifts in specific bacteria. They examined how these shifts affect a body’s immune system and also metabolic issues that are experienced by astronauts.
Chief study author Dr Emmanuel Gonzalez, of McGill University, said: “Spaceflight extensively alters astronaut physiology, yet many underlying factors remain a mystery.
“By integrating new genomic methods, we can simultaneously explore gut bacteria and host genetics in extraordinary detail and are beginning to see patterns that could explain spaceflight pathology.
“It’s clear we’re not just sending humans and animals to space, but entire ecosystems. The understanding of [this] is crucial to help us develop safeguards for future space exploration.”
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