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Space week day 5: A bit more gravity for my brain, please

Space week day 5: A bit more gravity for my brain, please

Microgravity is the condition when astronauts experience weightlessness in space. While orbiting the Earth, astronauts aboard the International Space Station experience just that. A lack of gravitational force is known to affect multiple physiological functions of astronauts, particularly damage to the central nervous system. Notably, it affects the brain, where

Space week day 4: Sleeping with altered circadian rhythm, nights and day turmoil and no gravity

Space week day 4: Sleeping with altered circadian rhythm, nights and day turmoil and no gravity

Astronauts rely heavily on mental sharpness and emotional stability to perform their duties during space missions. And adequate sleep is critical for maintaining physical and behavioral health. Extensive evidence indicates that regular nightly sleep of 7–8 hours is sufficient to maintain health. But despite having scheduled sleep times of

Space week day 3: Is there gender equality on Mars?

Space week day 3: Is there gender equality on Mars?

Space travel presents a range of challenges to the human brain, and sex and gender do play roles in how individuals respond to cosmic voyages. The human brain (on Earth) shows key differences between men and women in structure, neuron development, and chemical pathways, which may affect how astronauts cope

Space week day 2: Safeguarding astronaut minds

Space week day 2: Safeguarding astronaut minds

As space missions extend into deep space, the psychological well-being of astronauts is just as vital as their physical and technical readiness. Space exploration has progressed far beyond the moon landings of 1969, with plans for missions like a +1,000-day journey to Mars. Astronauts then face even year-long missions

Space week day 1: Brain health in space - stress and inflammation.

Space week day 1: Brain health in space - stress and inflammation.

Spaceflight poses a wide range of brain health challenges for astronauts, extending far beyond the obvious dangers of venturing into space - to advance human exploration (Thx!). The effects on the central nervous system of being that far away from home are profound, leading to changes in brain function and

Theme Food IV: How your personality traits determine how much you eat

Theme Food IV: How your personality traits determine how much you eat

Some people try to shed weight by limiting food intake, a behavior referred to as "restrained eating." But are restrained eaters self-restrained in other aspects of life? While often seen as a sign of disordered eating, research shows that restrained eating is not inherently harmful. When practiced within

Theme Food III: Short-term fasting doesn’t hurt brain power

Theme Food III: Short-term fasting doesn’t hurt brain power

My dad always stressed the importance of eating breakfast before school, insisting that an empty stomach would “dull my brain and make learning much harder.” I dutifully ate my oats—but was he right? There are two main theories about how fasting could affect the brain. One hypothesis suggests that