Space travel is not as easy as it looks, though. The human body is not designed to function properly outside the gravitational pull of Earth. Muscles atrophy, bones become less dense, and walking becomes an exercise. Space travel is not an easy feat, especially when planning to travel to Mars. One thing that scientists are struggling to achieve is how to keep astronauts physically fit. Surprisingly, the solution to this puzzle is found with tiny space travelers, mice. Recent studies carried out on the International Space Station (ISS) have provided new information about muscles, gravity, and exercise. This information could change the future of space travel for humans.
How mice are helping NASA understand space fitness
Mice have now become an integral part of space research due to their similarities with the human body. According to NASA, by studying mice in space, scientists can see how the muscles, bones, and other components of the body react to space conditions within a short period. In an experiment, mice were sent to space on the ISS. They were subjected to different gravity conditions for about a month. After that, their muscles, movements, and health were studied. According to physiologist Marie Mortreux from the University of Rhodes Island, it is not easy to conduct research directly on the human body due to the “extremely complicated and costly” nature of the research. This is where mice have an edge over other species. They can give researchers quick results about how the human body will react during long-duration space travel to Mars.
The gravity threshold: A breakthrough discovery
One of the most important things learned from this research is the concept of a “gravity threshold” to maintain muscles.What the scientists learned:
- When at 0.33g gravity, the muscles of the mice remained the same in size but lost strength
- When at 0.67g gravity, the muscles of the mice were almost completely preserved
This is a critical discovery because Mars has a gravity of 0.38g, which is less than the gravity threshold to completely maintain the strength of the muscles.To put it simply:
- Mars gravity may not be enough to keep astronauts in shape
- More solutions will be needed
According to a scientist, this discovery will help them come up with better solutions to keep astronauts in good health.
Exercise and training: Lessons from mice
Aside from gravity, other exercise-based remedies are also being considered by scientists, particularly those derived from studies conducted on mice. According to a research conducted by the Johns Hopkins University, jumping exercises can improve the quality of cartilages in mice by at least 26% by thickening the cartilages. The significance of the research, according to the lead researcher Marco Chiaberge, says that the positive effects observed from the research on mice “were unexpected, and it is interesting to consider the possibility of applying it to astronauts.” This means that future training for astronauts can include the following:
- High-impact exercises or resistance training
- Specialized exercises prior to flight
- Exercise systems designed for space travel
Astronauts today still exercise for hours each day while in space, yet they still experience muscle loss.
Why this matters for Mars missions
It is possible for the journey to last for years, and the astronauts will be in a state of low gravity. This could lead to serious muscle weakness.Three major aspects can be derived from the mouse study:
- Mars gravity is not adequate to support muscle strength
- Artificial gravity or equipment for exercises may be necessary
- Animal studies are vital for safe exploration
Researchers from NASA state, “Mice allow scientists to study muscle loss over the entire body, which is not possible to study here on Earth.”
A small step for mice, a giant leap for space health
What might sound like a basic experiment involving mice is, in fact, a significant step towards making human life possible on Mars. These discoveries are helping scientists develop smarter fitness, smarter spacecraft, and smarter missions.Ultimately, the key to space exploration could lie not in our rockets and our technology, but in the groundbreaking research of mice floating high above our heads.
