Do you age rapidly in space?
Do you age rapidly in space?
Flying through outer space has dramatic effects on the body, and people in space experience aging at a faster rate than people on Earth. These studies showed that space alters gene function, function of the cell’s powerhouse (mitochondria), and the chemical balance in cells.
Is aging slower in space?
That’s because space-time isn’t flat — it’s curved, and it can be warped by matter and energy. And for astronauts on the International Space Station, that means they get to age just a tiny bit slower than people on Earth. That’s because of time-dilation effects.
How is 1 hour in space 7 years?
The first planet they land on is close to a supermassive black hole, dubbed Gargantuan, whose gravitational pull causes massive waves on the planet that toss their spacecraft about. Its proximity to the black hole also causes an extreme time dilation, where one hour on the distant planet equals 7 years on Earth.
Do astronauts age faster in space?
Because astronauts like the ones on the International Space Station (ISS) are moving so quickly, they’re also aging a bit more slowly than the rest of us. Due to a principle of physics known as time dilation, after a six-month stint on the ISS, returning astronauts are just a tiny bit younger than the rest of us.
Can space travel help us better understand aging?
These changes resemble aging in people age on Earth, but happen more quickly. That makes spaceflight an opportunity to study – and perhaps lessen – the effects of aging. “There is something about being in space for an extended period of time, more than several weeks,” said Roberts.
How does aging affect the muscles of an astronaut?
Older peoples’ muscles tend to shrink and atrophy as they age and become less mobile. Astronauts’ muscles react in a similar way because they are barely used. That’s why astronauts in space for extended periods of time use special exercise machines to help mitigate this effect.
What happens to your body when you go to space?
Previous research has shown that spending time in space causes bone density loss, immune dysfunction, cardiovascular issues such as stiffening of arteries, and loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength in both humans and rodent models. These changes resemble aging in people age on Earth, but happen more quickly.
