#space medicine

Research into how astronauts age during long missions is sharpening scientists’ understanding of how inactivity, circadian disruption, and isolation may accelerate ageing back on Earth.

Scientists working with stem-cell-derived heart tissue say microgravity can both accelerate heart-like decline and help grow more complex cardiac structures, potentially speeding studies of heart failure and repair.

A mysterious medical episode that left veteran astronaut Michael Fincke briefly unable to speak is sharpening concerns about crew health as NASA moves toward longer lunar missions.

New research on muscle atrophy in low-gravity environments suggests that the Martian surface's gravity—about 38 percent of Earth's—may be insufficient to prevent the severe muscle loss that would threaten the long-term health of any human colony.

Researchers have published new findings on blood clotting risks specific to female astronauts, addressing a gap in space medicine that could affect long-duration missions.