Daily Archives: June 12, 2017

Meet the two-headed flatworm from space (Credit: Junji Morokuma, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University)

The Two Headed Worm From Space! It certainly sounds like a good pulpy science fiction story from the 1950s, but in fact, when researchers from Tufts university sent a bunch of flatworms up to the International Space Station (ISS), that's exactly what they wound up with.

On January 10 2015, the researchers sealed up bunch of planarian flatworms (D. japonica) in tubes filled with half water and half air and launched them up to the ISS on a SpaceX resupply mission. What's more, half of the flatworms had parts of their body sliced off. That's not usually a problem for D. japonica, as it has the remarkable ability to regenerate its body in the face of such an event, which is why it's so often studied.

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Meanwhile, another group of worms received the same treatment but were left here on Earth.

The results of the study are going to be published in the journal Regeneration tomorrow.

The worms were kept in space for five weeks and then returned for analysis. The most striking finding was that one of the amputated worms grew back a head at each end. What's more, when those heads were sliced off, the worm was able to regenerate each again, showing that its physiology had been permanently changed. "In more than 18 person-years of maintaining a colony of D. japonica that involves more than 15,000 control worms in just the last five years alone, the Tufts researchers have never observed a spontaneous occurrence of double-headedness," says a Tufts report about the research.

In addition to finding the double-headed mutation, the researchers also found that the space worms underwent spontaneous fission in which they split their bodies up to create two or more identical worms. This did not happen with the worms that stayed at home. Furthermore, the astronaut worms (astroworms?) also had a strange reaction to fresh spring water when researchers placed them in it, unlike the worms that stayed behind. They became partially paralyzed, immobile and curled up in their petri dishes before returning to normal in about two hours.

The point of the study was to see if the worms' regeneration patterns were altered while in space, and to see if such findings might have applications to humans as we increasingly set our sights on living and traveling in space.

"As humans transition toward becoming a space-faring species, it is important that we deduce the impact of spaceflight on regenerative health for the sake of medicine and the future of space laboratory research," said Junji Morokuma, first author on the paper.

The researchers are quick to point out though, that the study has a few issues including its small sample size. For one, the worms that stayed on Earth didn't experience exactly the same temperature and pressure fluctuations as the worms that rocketed to the ISS, so it's hard to say what exactly caused the changes. Also, the amputated worms had the procedure done here on Earth and the researchers feel that a space-based slicing would provide them even more information and keep the experiment purer. They plan to correct for these issues in future experiments.

This work joins previous studies carried out at Tufts in which flatworms were engineered to grow the heads of other species and induced to grow two heads by altering their bioelectric currents.

Source: Tufts University

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Space travel leads to two-headed worm - New Atlas

Astronauts on the International Space Station are growing crystals that could help develop new drugs for use on Earth.

Picture: pixabay.com

Astronauts on the International Space Station are growing crystals that could help develop new drugs for use on Earth. Here are 10 healthcare technologies that have already come from space:

Robots that can remove brain tumours

Developed in Canada during the Space Shuttle era, Canadarm2 is a robotic arm that is attached to the outside of the International Space Station.

It is used for many tasks outside the space station to avoid astronauts having to complete high-risk space walks. This technology led to the creation of neuroArm, that can perform precision surgery inside MRI scanners, such as removing brain tumours.

Eye trackers used in laser eye surgery

In space, the lack of gravity changes the way the eyes move and perceive motion. High-tech eye trackers were developed to see where astronauts look during their normal work in micro-gravity. Eye movements are a problem faced in corrective laser eye surgery. Eye trackers developed for spaceflight are now being used in corrective laser eye surgery to ensure correct laser beam positioning.

Helping asthmatics breathe

Nitric oxide is a commonly found pollutant in the air, both on Earth and on the International Space Station. When a person has inflamed airways, as seen in asthmatics, an increase in nitric oxide is seen in exhaled air. The European Space Agency has developed a device that accurately measures nitric oxide in the exhaled air of astronauts to detect potential inflammation. This way, astronauts can be treated before the situation becomes more serious. This technology is now being used in asthmatics to detect the amount of nitric oxide in their exhaled air caused by inflammation in their lungs.

Keeping your bones strong Without gravity acting on their bodies, astronauts experience massive loss in bone density that is similar to the bone loss seen in elderly people with osteoporosis. Attempts are made to reduce this bone loss through daily exercise. Astronauts have also shown that taking a small amount of bisphosphonate, weekly, further reduces bone loss. Pharmaceutical discoveries like this are already benefiting the Earths ageing population.

Measuring your bodys temperature

Infrared technologies were developed many decades ago in Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory to measure the temperature of planets and stars. In 1991, this technology was turned into in-ear thermometers. In-ear thermometers provide temperature readings in just a few seconds and have been shown to provide accurate temperature readings, making them ideal for use in hospitals, doctors surgeries and even at home.

Measuring pressure inside the skull

While investigating vision changes in astronauts, scientists discovered they occurred due to increased pressure inside the skull, which, in turn, is the result of an increase in cerebrospinal fluid volume. Flight surgeons needed ways to monitor these pressure changes easily. Research in the UK has led to a device that can measure the pressure inside the skull using displacement of the ear drum, which is non-invasive, quicker and can be done anywhere.

A Star Trek tractor beam to help pass kidney stones

Being in space increases the risk of kidney stones forming. In astronauts, kidney stones can cause infections and complications severe enough to require crew evacuation. Research with Nasa has developed Star Trek-like hand-held ultrasound techniques that can detect, move and then pulverise stones making them easier to pass. This technology could benefit people with kidney stones on Earth, too.

Making teeth braces invisible

Translucent polycrystalline alumina. Its a bit of a mouthful. This advanced high-strength, maximum-translucent, shatter-resistant ceramic was developed for defence and aerospace. It was suggested that the material could be used for making translucent brackets for braces that would appear tooth coloured. After it was trialed, it became one of the most successful orthodontic products in history.

Detecting injuries and cancer using medical imaging

Processing digital signals can be tricky. Nasa pioneered high-tech digital-signal processing to help enhance lunar images to find the best Moon landing sites in the Apollo era. These signal processing techniques are now widely used in CT and MRI scanners to help doctors find injuries and cancers without needing to cut patients open to look inside. It is still being developed today.

Simplified kidney dialysis from spacecraft filtration systems

Water is heavy, so astronauts need to reduce the amount that has to be taken up to space from Earth. They achieve this by recycling and purifying most liquids on the International Space Station (including their urine). While developing these filtration systems, scientists applied the same technology to removing toxic waste from used dialysis fluid. This led to new dialysis machines that no longer need continuous water and drain connections, meaning they use less power and are portable, which enables use at home.

Written by Northumbria University lecturer Andrew Winnard and Nick Caplan, the associate professor of Musculoskeletal Health, Northumbria University.

This article was republished courtesy of the World Economic Forum.

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Here's how space travel is helping keep you healthy - Eyewitness News

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before!

We thought wed start off with those famous words by Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generationas nobody does space travel better (fictionally, of course) than they do. It seems like a far-fetched idea for average people like us to travel to space. However, 20 companies are currently working on their technology that may soon make it possible for more humans to experience space travel and to send unmanned spacecraft for innovative cosmic explorations.

No surprises here as SpaceX constantly make headlines worldwide by successfully conducting innovative space missions all year round. Founded by Elon Musk,the company is a world-leader in designing, manufacturing, and launching advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX aims to revolutionize space technology to make it possible for our civilization to live on other planets. As early as 2018, SpaceX willsend a crew to travel to spaceas part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program.

SpaceIL is a non-governmental team from Israel currently taking part in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition: a modern race to the Moon. Beyond the competition, however, SpaceIL has the goal of inspiring the next generation of Israelis to explore space. The group wants to do this by using the future success story of their spacecraft.

In order to win the competition, SpaceIL has three major tasks to accomplish.

[Image Source: SpaceIL via Facebook]

Dubbed as the worlds first spaceline, Virgin Galacticultimates goal is to make space accessible to more people. This goes hand in hand with wanting to conduct other meaningful space explorations. Since the space race began in the 1960s, only 559 people have been to space. Virgin Galactic is working to open the vast cosmic arena to the rest of us. Our purpose is to become the spaceline for Earth; democratizing access to space for the benefit of life on Earth,said the spaceline.

[Image Source: Virgin Galactic]

Founded by Amazons Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin is a privately-funded aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight service. They work on developing technologies that would allow private human space travel at low cost and increased reliability. Blue Origin is driven by the motto Gradatim Ferociter or step by step, ferociously. Their incremental development process builds upon each of the companys success as they continuously develop ground-breaking spaceflight systems.

This is the worlds first private commercial space station. Axiom Space wants to build an international and privately-ownedspace station that will be the successor of the ISS (International Space Station). The company offers services for a number of various sectors such as for sovereign astronaut missions, space tourist missions, on-orbit research, on-orbit manufacturing, space exploration systems testing, and academic research and outreach programs.

[Image Source: Axiom Space]

Space Nation is a space media company from Helsinki, Finland whotook a leading role in the global space boom as they announced the launch of the Space Nation Astronaut Program that is available to everyone. The Finnish start-up envisions a nation of space citizens by liberating space discovery, education, and wellness. You can sign up for free to their astronaut program and unearth your potential for space discovery.

[Image Source: Space Nation]

Deviating from most of the space companies here, DSI is an asteroid mining company that develop technologies to find, harvest, and supply the asteroid resources that will innovate the space economy. Asteroids in the C-group category are rich in water and other important elements like organic carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorus as well as ferrous metals. DSI plans to send bespoke robotic spacecraft to extract water resources from identified asteroids using their next generation Comet water thruster. The extracted water can also be used as a propellant for the return trip.

Think beyond tomorrow is the aerospace companys motto, who sent the first expandable activity module to the International Space Station. Bigelow Aerospace is working on the XBASE (Expandable Bigelow Advanced Station Enhancement) for low-Earth orbit and deep space missions.Bigelows technology is similar to steel belt protection in tires giving their pressurized soft-goods high strength qualities. So far, one of their spacecraft is in orbit on ISS and two have already retired. They are currently developing two next-generationspacecraft for futuristic space missions.

Vulcan Aerospace was founded by Microsofts Paul Allen and is out on a mission to find solutions to some of the worlds most difficult challenges. The companys recent endeavor to reach space is with their recently revealed rocket-launching aircraft called Stratolaunch. The aircraft aims to provide convenient, reliable, and routine access to low Earth orbit. Inspired by space heroes like John Glenn and Alan Shepard, Allen in ultimately working to expand human access to space and improve our civilizations way of working and living.

[Image Source: Vulcan Aerospace]

Odyne Space has a simple mission launching effective and reliable micro- and nano-satellites to space orbit. The companys goal is to support and build the off-earth economy by providing intelligent, motivated entrepreneurs ways to immediately execute their business plans on orbit. We are passionate about seeing humanity become a space-faring society, the company noted. We will be the infrastructure of the new, space economy.

Rocket Labs mission is to remove barriers to commercial space. Thats what they just attempted to do by launching Electron a 3D printed battery-powered rocket into space. The company wants to provide frequent launch opportunities to low Earth orbit in order to achieve its primary mission. So far, Rocket Lab has delivered a number of rocket systems and technologies for fast and affordable payload deployment.

[Image Source: Rocket Lab]

This company is promising the ultimate fantasy of space travel. Floating up more than 100,000 feet within the layers of the atmosphere, you will be safely and securely sailing at the very threshold of the heavens, skimming the edge of space for hours, the company said. World View is currently working hard to develop their Stratollite technology in order to pioneer private space explorations. Their ultimate goal is to offer an affordable, safe, and gentle way for humans to travel to near-space for an unparalleled space experience. This is definitely one to watch out for.

Fireflys primary focus is to create the worlds best and low-cost light satellite launch vehicle. They are working to provide affordable, high-performance space launch capability for considerably small satellite markets. More often than not, these smaller markets have to settle for secondary payload launches and Firefly aims to innovate that under-served industry.

Extending the human presence across the solar system is Masten Space Systems ultimate goal and they are working on this by developing their entry, descent, and landing technologies (EDL). This technology is of paramount importance for spacecraft on a mission to land on other planets and celestial bodies. They are currently developing a lunar spacecraft that can deliver upto 10 tons of payload to the Moons surface.

[Image Source: Masten Space Systems]

Dedicated to both payload and human space travel applications, XCOR Aerospace is a pioneer in the fast development of reusable rocket engines. The company is developing and producing affordable engines and vehicles with low service requirements to make the dream of space missions a reality, as well as to open new opportunities across the space market.

A joint venture between The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin, ULA provides reliable and cost-efficient space launch services to multiple branches of the US government. The company has made their presence known in outer space for more than 50 years now, delivering payloads such as weather, telecommunications, and national security satellites. They are also involved in sending spacecraft to conduct interplanetary explorations and deep space missions in order to enhance our understanding of the universe.

[Image Source: United Launch Alliance]

Boeings Phantom Express spaceplane is intended to innovate space travel and cosmic missions for both their commercial and government clients. The company is developing this spaceplane to provide rapid, aircraft-like access to space. Their outlook on the future is to make space travel our civilizations mission saying, Boeing has and will take humans and technology farther than theyve ever been.

[Image Source: The Boeing Company]

Space Adventures offer space travels to everyone and has completed a total of 8 flights to the ISS for their private clients. Those private clients have flown to the ISS aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, and have dwelled alongside professional astronauts for 10 days or more. Clients were able to marvel the Earth from 250 miles above while traveling at 17,500 mph in a weightless environment inside the spacecraft. The company is inviting everyone to experience space and become one of the first 600 people to have ever flown to space. Get in touch with them by clicking here.

[Image Source: Space Adventures]

SNCs technologies are applied in a wide range of applications like in telemedicine, navigation and guidance systems, threat detection and security, commercial aviation, scientific research, and infrastructure protection. One of their most popular spacecraft is the Dream Chaser, a reusable vehicle for multi-mission, commercial, and transportation services to low-Earth orbit destinations.

Reaching for the stars isthe companys daily business as they design, develop, and operate major space systems. Currently, Airbus is developing and building the European Service Module (ESM). That will power the Orion capsule and its crew towards deeper into space and beyond what has previously been reached. The Orion is the next-generation NASA spacecraft designed for manned space missions beyond low-Earth orbit. It includes destinations like the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.

A lot of these companies promise to make space travel affordable for ordinary people like us. However, they have not disclosed how much roughly it will cost to privately embark on a space odyssey. It is indeed exciting to think that one day, you and I could just take a short holiday to space. Space travel is something that wasbeyond our imagination before. Now, we can confidently hope that all of these endeavors will be a reality during our lifetime.

Think we left out a company working toward space travel for all? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!

Originally posted here:

20 Out-Of-This-World Companies Working On Space Travel Technologies - Interesting Engineering