Space Age

Based on my readings and conclusion, do organisms really age slower in space? In the Science News article by Tina Hesman Saey, titled “Space trek cuts signs of aging.” Scientists study these nematodes worms, also known as Caenorhabditis elegans, due to this specimen’s short life span. According to the article, 11 days in a gravity-free atmosphere for the worms is equivalent to 16 years for a person in space.

I found very interesting as I continued with my readings and research that after a gravity-free 11 days orbit in space, the results were that these tiny transparent nematodes had fewer clumps of aging-related proteins known as Q35 in their muscles. And that by having a low activity of 199 genes possibly affected how the worms perceive their environment compared to the worms on Earth. Results also indicated that the worms in space appeared to age much slower than the worms on earth as well. The genes called gar-3, cha-1 and shk-1 are produced in their nervous system, two of them made in muscle. In past, studies of other animals and mammals in low micro-gravity resulted in the specimens being under more physiological stress. Hence, making their muscles weaken and their body’s aging process accelerate. But scientists expected the results to be the opposite in experiments of human space flight.

After returning to Earth, worms that visited the space station were frozen immediately. Therefore, scientists were incapable of experimenting if time in space allowed the worms to live longer.

Scientists study these worms and other living creatures in an effort to learn how low-gravity can affect their bodies and the impact of one’s life span. But I too believe that this study will help design ways to better protect the health of astronauts.