Mars mission health risks revealed by new rat study
Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin published a paper in PLOS ONE detailing long-term effects of deep-space exposure on humans.
Study uses rats to simulate space
Scientists cannot run long-term experiments on humans because it is impractical and unethical. To solve this problem, researchers used middle-aged rats to mimic the typical age of career astronauts. NASA developed a hindlimb unloading protocol where the animals had their back legs lifted at a 30-degree angle for 30 days.
Fluids shift toward the head
This specific tilt shifts much of the body fluids to the head and takes weight off the lower limbs. Scientists already know radiation and weightlessness can have a profound impact on the human body. The extent of that impact and how long it lasts remain a mystery.
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