NewsBytes by Akash Pandey Jun 16, 2024
A recent study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that women may have a slight advantage over men in tolerating the harsh conditions of space travel. The research, led by Christopher Mason, a professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, indicates that women recover more quickly from the effects of spaceflight than men. Although the study's findings are preliminary, they could potentially influence our understanding of how human biology responds to extended periods in space.
Research details
Study draws from Inspiration4 mission data
The study drew heavily from data collected during the Inspiration4 mission in 2021, a civilian spaceflight mission conducted by SpaceX. The four-person crew provided comprehensive biological samples before, during, and after their three-day orbit. These samples were deemed more representative of the average human, than those typically provided by highly trained astronauts. Data from 64 NASA astronauts was also analyzed as part of the study.
Gender differences
Women recover faster from spaceflight conditions
The study analyzed gene activity and immune system responses in these biosamples. The results showed that female astronauts recovered more quickly from spaceflight conditions upon their return to Earth, than their male counterparts who "appear to be more affected by spaceflight for almost all cell types and metrics," the researchers wrote. Mason suggested that this could be due to women's ability to withstand the stresses of pregnancy, which enables them to "tolerate large changes in physiology and fluid dynamics."
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https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/women-bodies-better-suited-for-challenges-of-space-travel/story
