Sept. 26, 2024

S03E164: Artemis Radiation Study, Heart Cells in Space, and SETI's Galactic Hunt

S03E164: Artemis Radiation Study, Heart Cells in Space, and SETI's Galactic Hunt

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E164
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have an exciting lineup of stories that span from Earth's orbit to distant galaxies. Buckle up...

Season 3
Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E164
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have an exciting lineup of stories that span from Earth's orbit to distant galaxies. Buckle up and get ready for a thrilling journey through the cosmos.
Highlights:
- Spaceflight Radiation Exposure: During NASA's Artemis I mission, scientists gathered crucial data on radiation exposure using mannequins and advanced sensors. Findings show that enhanced radiation shielding areas provided up to four times more protection, validating spacecraft design for future missions.
- Low Gravity Effects on Heart Cells: Researchers sent human bioengineered heart tissue samples to the ISS. The results revealed significant weakening and disruptions in normal rhythmic beating patterns, highlighting potential health risks for astronauts on extended missions.
- SETI's Search for Alien Technology: In an unprecedented study, scientists used the Murchison Widefield Array to observe 2800 galaxies, searching for technosignatures. While no definitive evidence was found, this research opens new possibilities for future SETI efforts.
- Milky Way's Unique Characteristics: The SAGA survey studied 101 satellite systems similar to our Milky Way, revealing that the number of satellite galaxies varies widely. Our galaxy's relatively low satellite count, despite having the Large Magellanic Cloud, hints at a unique history.
- Mars's Missing Atmosphere: New research suggests Mars's atmosphere may have been absorbed by minerals in Martian clays over billions of years. This theory offers a potential explanation for Mars's transformation and raises the possibility of utilizing trapped methane for future missions.
For more space news, be sure to visit our website at astronomydaily.io. There you can sign up for our free Daily newsletter, catch up on all the latest space and Astronomy news with our constantly updating newsfeed, and listen to all our back episodes.
Don't forget to follow us on social media. Just search for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
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WEBVTT

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Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm your host, Anna,

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bringing you the latest and most fascinating space in astronomy news. Today,

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We've got an exciting lineup of stories that span from

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Earth's orbit all the way.

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To distant galaxies.

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We'll be delving into some groundbreaking research on spaceflight radiation exposure,

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which could help keep our astronauts safer on long journeys.

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Then we'll explore how low gravity affects heart cells, a

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crucial factor for extended space missions. Next up, we'll discuss

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an unprecedented SETI study that's searching for alien technology in

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thousands of galaxies. We'll also take a closer look at

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our cosmic neighborhood with new insights into what makes.

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Our Milky Way unique.

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And finally, we'll unravel the mystery of Mars missing atmosphere.

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Could the answer have been right under our noses all along?

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So buckle up and get ready for a thrilling journey

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through the cosmos. Let's dive in. In a groundbreaking study

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conducted during NASA's Artemis one mission, scientists have gathered crucial

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data on radiation exposure for astronauts using innovative methods. The

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research team employed mannequins named Helga and Zohar, along with

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advanced sensors placed inside the spacecraft to measure radiation levels

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throughout the twenty five day uncrude journey around the Moon

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and back to Earth. This data is vital for understanding

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and mitigating the risks associated with long duration space travel

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beyond Earth's protective magnetic field. Radiation exposure poses significant health

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concerns for astronauts, including increased cancer risk, radiation sickness, and

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potential impacts on the central nervous system. The study revealed

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that areas within the capsule designed with enhanced radiation shielding,

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including a designated storm shelter for astronauts during solar events,

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provided up to four times more protection than less shielded areas.

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This finding validates the spacecraft's design for future missions and

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highlights the importance of strategic shielding placement. Interestingly, the orientation

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of the Orion spacecraft during flight also affected radiation exposure levels.

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When the craft made a ninety degree tis while passing

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the inner Van Allen Belt, radiation exposure dropped by half,

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demonstrating the directional nature of space radiation and the potential

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for mitigating exposure through careful spacecraft positioning and while on

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the subject of astronaut health. In a fascinating study, scientists

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have uncovered new insights into how low gravity affects heart

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muscle cells during space travel. Researchers sent human bioengineered heart

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tissue samples to the International Space Station for thirty days

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to observe the effects of microgravity on cardiac function. The

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results were striking. The heart tissues exposed to low gravity

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conditions showed significant weakening compared to their earth bound counterparts.

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More alarmingly, the spacefaring samples experienced disruptions in their normal

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rhythmic beating patterns. This research provides crucial information about the

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potential health risks astronauts face during extended missions beyond Earth's

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protective magnetic field. As we look towards long term space

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exploration and possible missions to Mars, understanding and mitigating these

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effects on the human body becomes increasingly important. The study

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also offers potential applications for heart research here on Earth,

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providing new models for studying muscle aging and developing therapeutics

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as we continue to push the boundaries of space exploration.

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This research underscores the need for innovative solutions to protect

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astronaut health in the challenging environment of outer space. Next up,

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the search goes on. In a groundbreaking study, scientists have

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taken the search for extraterrestrial intelligence to new heights, or

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rather new distances. The SETI Institute, Berkeley SETI Research Center,

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and the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research have joined

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forces to conduct the first ever search for alien technology

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beyond our own galaxy. Using the powerful Murchison wide Field

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array in Western Australia, researchers were able to observe an

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astounding two thoy eight hundred galaxies in a single session.

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This unprecedented scope allows scientists to cast a much wider

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net in their hunt for signs of advanced civilization. The

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study targeted low radio frequencies around one hundred megahertz, a

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range that could potentially reveal techno signatures telltale signs of

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alien technology. While no definitive evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence was

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found in this initial search, the research has opened up

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exciting new possibilities for future SETI efforts. This innovative approach

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marks a significant leap forward in our quest to answer

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one of humanity's most profound questions, are we alone in

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the universe. By expanding the search beyond the confines of

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the Milky Way, we're increasing our chances of detecting any

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potential cosmic neighbors that might be out there. Now, let's

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take a look at our own neighborhood, The Satellites around

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Galactic Analog Survey or SAGA for short, has recently completed

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an extensive study of one hundred and one satellite systems

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similar to our own Milky Way. This groundbreaking research provides

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fascinating new insights into just how unique our galactic neighborhood

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might be. The survey focused on identifying and characterizing satelle

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l galaxies orbiting around host galaxies with similar mass to

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the Milky Way. These smaller galaxies captured by the gravitational

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pull of their larger hosts, can tell us a lot

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about galactic evolution and structure. One of the most intriguing

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findings is that the number of satellite galaxies in these

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systems varies widely, ranging from zero to thirteen. Our Milky Way,

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with its four known satellite galaxies, falls somewhere in the

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middle of this range. However, when considering the presence of

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the large Magellanic cloud, our galaxy appears to be somewhat

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of an outlier. The study suggests that systems with a

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massive satellite like the LMC tend to have a higher

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total number of satellites. This makes our Milky ways relatively

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low satellite count even more puzzling, hinting at a potentially

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unique history or characteristics of our galactic system. These findings

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not only shed light on the Milky Way's place in

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the cosmic neighborhood, but also provide valuable data for improving

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our models of galaxy formation and evolution. And we couldn't

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let an episode go by without a Mars story, so

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here's today's. In a fascinating twist to the mystery of

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Mars's vanished atmosphere, new research suggests it might not be

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lost to space after all, but rather hiding in plain

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sight right on the planet's surface. Scientists now believe that

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the red planet's atmosphere may have been absorbed by minerals

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in Martian clays over billions of years. This groundbreaking theory

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offers a potential explanation for how Mars transformed from a

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world potentially capable of supporting life to the cold, barren

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planet we see today. The process involves a series of

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chemical reactions where water trickled through certain rock types, setting

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off a chain of events that essentially sucked carbon dioxide

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out of the atmosphere. What's particularly intriguing is that this

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carbon dioxide might have been converted into methane and locked

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up in the clay surface of Mars. If true, this

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could mean that the atmosphere is still present, just in

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a different form. It's an exciting prospect that not only

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solves a long standing puzzle, but also this is the

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possibility of utilizing this trapped methane as a potential energy

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source for future Mars missions. And that wraps up today's

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episode of Astronomy Daily. I'm your host Anna. If you

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want to stay up to date with all the latest

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space and astronomy news, head over to our website at

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Astronomy Daily dot io.

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Thanks so much for listening, and I'll catch you next

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time for more exciting space discoveries and astronomical wonders.

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And remember keep looking.

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Up Sunday Star starz

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So