Explore NASA's Bioscience Research Universe

AI-powered summaries of NASA's bioscience publications repository. Discover experimental impacts, identify knowledge gaps, and gain actionable insights for space mission planning.

80+ Publications
608 Total Studies
3-5 min Read Time
Spaceship Brain - Neurology Digestive System - Digestive Lungs - Respiratory Heart - Cardiovascular Body - Musculoskeletal
Body - Musculoskeletal
Earth - Technology Sun - Genetics Rat - Animals Plant - Plants

Featured Research

High Priority
4 min read

Microgravity and Cellular Biology: Insights into Cellular Responses and Implications for Human Health

This comprehensive review synthesizes findings on how microgravity alters fundamental cellular processes, revealing both significant health risks for astronauts and novel opportunities for terrestrial medicine. Microgravity disrupts immune function, bone density, and metabolic homeostasis, while paradoxically enhancing stem cell differentiation and cardiomyocyte maturation, offering new avenues for regenerative therapies.

MicrogravityHuman PhysiologyTissue Engineering
Read full summary

Latest Publications

View all publications
3 min read

Tardigrade Proteins Protect Mammalian Cells from Dehydration Stress

Researchers successfully transferred stress-tolerant proteins (CAHS) from extremophile tardigrades into human cells. The engineered cells showed increased resilience to hyperosmotic stress, a proxy for dehydration, suggesting a powerful new biotechnology for protecting biological materials during space missions.

TechnologyGeneticsAnimals
Read full summary
4 min read

Aging and Putative Frailty Biomarkers are Altered by Spaceflight

Analysis of rodent and astronaut multi-omics data reveals that spaceflight induces gene expression patterns associated with aging and frailty syndrome. Key findings show altered inflammatory and metabolic pathways, suggesting spaceflight may accelerate a state of increased physiological vulnerability, highlighting the need for a 'frailty index' to monitor astronaut health on long-duration missions.

Human PhysiologyGeneticsMicrogravity
Read full summary
4 min read

Ethical Frameworks for the New Era of Commercial Spaceflight

This analysis highlights critical gaps in ethical, legal, and medical policies for the growing commercial spaceflight sector. It argues for unified international guidelines to ensure the safety and ethical treatment of non-governmental space travelers, addressing challenges in crew selection and human subject research.

Human PhysiologyMicrogravityTechnology
Read full summary
4 min read

Space Radiation Damage Rescued by Inhibition of Key Spaceflight-Associated miRNAs

A novel countermeasure targeting three specific microRNAs (miRNAs) successfully protected human microvessel cells from simulated deep space radiation. The treatment significantly reduced DNA damage, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, offering a promising pharmacological strategy to mitigate cardiovascular risks for astronauts on long-duration missions.

RadiationGeneticsCardiovascular
Read full summary
4 min read

Tardigrade Secretory Proteins Protect Biological Structures from Desiccation

Study reveals that tardigrade Secretory-Abundant Heat Soluble (SAHS) proteins act as potent extracellular stabilizers, protecting cellular membranes from dehydration damage. These findings present a new class of biopreservatives with significant potential for stabilizing microbial systems for agriculture and space-based life support.

ProteomicsMicrobiologyTechnology
Read full summary
4 min read

Proteomic and phosphoproteomic characterization of cardiovascular tissues after long term exposure to simulated space radiation

A study on mice exposed to simulated galactic cosmic rays (GCR) reveals long-term changes in heart and plasma proteins 8 months post-exposure. A key finding is the activation of pathways leading to Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in heart tissue, a process linked to inflammation, tissue damage, and thrombosis, highlighting a significant cardiovascular risk for long-duration space missions.

CardiovascularRadiationAnimals
Read full summary
3 min read

Identification of a novel Golgi-localized putative glycosyltransferase protein in Arabidopsis thaliana

Researchers have identified and localized a new protein, AtGTLP, in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This protein resides in the trans-Golgi apparatus and is predicted to be a glycosyltransferase, an enzyme critical for cell wall biosynthesis and protein modification, providing foundational knowledge for plant-based life support systems in space.

GeneticsProteomicsTechnology
Read full summary
4 min read

Nuclear Architecture Shapes DNA Damage from Cosmic Radiation

Re-analysis of radiation exposure data reveals that heavy ions like 56Fe cause persistent epigenetic changes (DNA methylation), while others cause transient effects. The 3D structure of chromatin within the cell nucleus significantly influences this damage, with outer layers acting as a partial shield and active gene regions being most vulnerable.

GeneticsRadiationHuman Physiology
Read full summary