Science Notes
Space medicine, physiology
Living in space poses risks
Space shuttle commander Christopher Ferguson and his crew took a small but crucial step for space travel in the past two weeks, enlarging the International Space Station so it can house six astronauts instead of three.
But a bigger leap is needed for humans to survive weightlessness, exotic forms of space radiation and the loss of the earthly rhythms of light and darkness, scientists say. In orbit about 200 miles from the ground, the space station pushes mankind just a baby step into the cosmos. Even going that far can put astronauts at a risk of cataracts, bone loss and possibly heart problems. A Mars mission would take at least six months each way, during which the crew would face unknown dangers –cancer, depression, dementia, cardiovascular disease, accidents associated with sleep deprivation and possibly premature aging.
The crew of the space shuttle Endeavour just completed its challenging 16-day mission, delivering what Ferguson called “the most jam-packed logistics module we have ever carried up there.”
They added two bedrooms, a new refrigerator, a toilet, a water-recycling system and an exercise apparatus. Once the station starts housing more astronauts, as soon as mid-2009, NASA will finally have the manpower to begin doing controlled medical experiments.
In the meantime, the Bush administration’s 2004 directive for manned moon and Mars missions has channeled money to ground-based scientists to better understand the risks of space travel. “The uncertainty is the real problem,” said Frank Cucinotta, chief scientist for NASA’s Space Radiation Program.
–Philadelphia Inquirer
Teen drivers need their sleep
The National Sleep Foundation, Students Against Destructive Decisions and insurance giant Liberty Mutual have an early holiday greeting they’d like to pass along: Get at least eight hours of sleep before heading over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that drowsy driving is the main cause of 100,000 police-reported crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths every year in the United States. A 2005 National Sleep Foundation poll found that 37 percent have fallen asleep at the wheel, and 13 percent of those dozers said they have nodded off at least once a month.
To raise awareness, the NSF, SADD and Liberty compiled a pair of surveys that show drowsy driving is particularly an issue among teen drivers and that states are inconsistent, at best, in their prosecution of the cases.
The survey, which polled 3,580 teenagers and organized six focus groups, points out that teen drivers get an average of 7.4 hours of sleep a night, and that about 45 percent of teen drivers say they are likely to fall asleep behind the wheel late at night.
–Chicago Tribune
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