Do you know what’s up with him? brain of an astronaut when he is in space for a long time? It has always drawn attention to what happens to the body of astronauts when they travel to space, due to the lack of gravity. A new study reveals interesting data, do you want to know them?
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We have seen that the lack of gravity has caused astronauts to have vision problems, digestive problems or muscle atrophy, to the point that it is difficult for them to walk. A new study from the Oregon Health and Science University, released Thursday May 5 published for the magazine Scientific Reports, reveals the changes that occur in the brains of astronauts who spend long periods of time in space. Here’s what it reveals:
HOW MANY ASTRONAUTS WERE PERFORMED IN THE STUDY AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
The study carried out by researchers from American scientific institutions was commissioned to analyze the changes in the perivascular spaces in the brains of 15 astronauts before being sent for a long time to the International Space Station (ISS) and following their return to Earth.
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WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ASTRONAUT’S BRAIN WHEN YOU SPEND A LONG TIME IN SPACE?
Astronauts’ brains undergo changes when in orbit, due to the lack of gravity, according to research published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The analysis revealed abnormalities in the perivascular spaces, which surround the cerebral blood vessels in astronauts who traveled to the International Space Station for the first time, the volume of this space was greater. “This might be because astronauts with more experience – who have traveled more times to space – have reached a kind of homeostasis (ability to adapt and compensate for changes)”said Juan Piantino, director of the research team at Oregon Health and Science University.
Memory
The astronauts did not show any problems with balance or memoryso there is no reason to think that they are experiencing problems because of these changes.
Due to the lack of gravity, fluids tend to accumulate in the upper part of the body, so the face swells and it might also be the cause of the decrease in vision that several of the astronauts in the study have suffered.
WHAT IS THE STUDY FOR?
The normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain is affected in space, due to the absence of the force of gravity, which indicates that the evolution of human physiology in all these years is linked to the gravitational pull of planet Earth. What is the discovery for? Juan Piantino, director of the research team said that “These findings not only help to understand the fundamental changes that occur during spaceflight, but also for people on Earth who suffer from diseases that affect the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid”.
WHAT KINDS OF JOBS ARE REQUIRED AT NASA?
It is important to mention that not only astronauts work at NASA, but also scientists, biologists, chemists, mathematicians, physicists, engineers, information technology specialists, accountants, technicians, writers and many professionals specialized in different fields. In the case of engineering, a career that has several branches, NASA is mainly looking for people with a university degree endorsed by a respectable university in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Chemical Engineering, says the blog of the Technological University of Mexico (UNITEC).
