It turns out which gender is more affected by space travel
It turns out that women are more resistant to space travel than men.
It is known that leaving the Earth and spending some time in space can have effects on the human body such as weakening of bones, suppression of the immune system and damage to DNA.
While staying outside the Earth's protective magnetic field for a long time can have serious consequences, scientists are looking for ways to protect astronauts in this period when the space race is accelerating.
In a study published June 11 in Nature Communications, researchers examined how space travel affects the immune system.
Scientists analyzed data from two women and two men who spent three days in low Earth orbit as part of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission in 2021, as well as 64 astronauts who had made similar journeys in the past.
According to preliminary findings, men's genes are more likely to be disrupted than women's. In addition, it takes longer for the genes to return to normal after returning to Earth.
"The data collected so far suggest that men are more sensitive in terms of gene regulation and immune response to space travel," the scientists wrote in the paper.
More studies are needed to confirm these trends, but such results could have implications for recovery time and possibly crew selection. More women could be selected for high-altitude, lunar and deep space missions.
It is not known why women are better able to withstand the physiological stress of the space environment. But researchers think it may be linked to their ability to cope with the stress of pregnancy.
Christopher Mason, who led the study, explains:
Being able to withstand major changes in physiology and fluid dynamics can be great not only for managing pregnancy, but also for managing the stress of spaceflight on a physiological level.
This research is among some 40 new studies that examined data from the Inspiration4 mission as well as other astronauts. One of these studies, published on Tuesday in Nature, found that Mars travel can cause permanent damage to the kidneys.
While scientists emphasize the need to take precautions to protect astronauts, others believe that these problems will put space missions at risk.
On the other hand, "There is no obstacle," Mason says:
There's no reason why we can't get to Mars and back safely.
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