Space\u2019s Hidden Health Mystery<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\u00a0During long-duration missions, astronauts may experience a gradual reduction in bone density\u2014typically around 1% to 2% per month\u2014even with consistent exercise routines. While scientists understand how bones work on Earth, they aren\u2019t sure exactly why bones weaken so quickly in microgravity.<\/strong><\/p>\nPrevious research aboard the space station revealed that microgravity changes how stem cells behave and what substances they release. Scientists now want to dig deeper into these cellular changes to better understand what causes bone loss in space and explore potential ways to prevent it.<\/p>\n
Blocking a Potential Bone Thief<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B (MABL-B) investigation focuses on special stem cells called mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs. As these cells mature, they build new bone tissue in the body.<\/p>\n
Scientists suspect that a protein called IL-6 might be the culprit behind bone problems in space. Data from the earlier MABL-A mission<\/a> suggests that microgravity promotes the type of IL-6 signaling that enhances bone degradation. The MABL-B experiment will investigate this by testing ways to block this IL-6 signaling pathway.<\/p>\nThe experiment will grow mesenchymal stem cells alongside other bone cells in special containers designed for space research. Cells will be cultured for 19 days aboard the space station, with crew members periodically collecting samples for analysis back on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How this benefits space exploration<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe research could lead to targeted treatments that protect astronauts from bone loss during long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. As crews venture farther from Earth, bone health becomes increasingly critical since medical evacuation or emergency return to Earth won\u2019t be possible during Mars missions.<\/p>\n
How this benefits humanity<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe findings could provide new insights into age-related bone loss that affects millions of people on Earth. Understanding how the IL-6 protein affects bone health may lead to new treatments for osteoporosis and other bone conditions that come with aging.<\/p>\n
Related Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B (MABL-B)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-A (MABL-A)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About BPS<\/strong><\/h3>\nNASA\u2019s Biological and Physical Sciences Division<\/strong><\/a> pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by\u00a0using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPowered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\nGet The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 33rd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission for NASA, scheduled to liftoff from the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in late August, is heading to the International Space Station with an important investigation for the future of bone health. The experiment will test how microgravity affects bone-forming and bone-degrading cells and explore potential ways [\u2026] Continue reading
Previous research aboard the space station revealed that microgravity changes how stem cells behave and what substances they release. Scientists now want to dig deeper into these cellular changes to better understand what causes bone loss in space and explore potential ways to prevent it.<\/p>\n
Blocking a Potential Bone Thief<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B (MABL-B) investigation focuses on special stem cells called mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs. As these cells mature, they build new bone tissue in the body.<\/p>\n
Scientists suspect that a protein called IL-6 might be the culprit behind bone problems in space. Data from the earlier MABL-A mission<\/a> suggests that microgravity promotes the type of IL-6 signaling that enhances bone degradation. The MABL-B experiment will investigate this by testing ways to block this IL-6 signaling pathway.<\/p>\nThe experiment will grow mesenchymal stem cells alongside other bone cells in special containers designed for space research. Cells will be cultured for 19 days aboard the space station, with crew members periodically collecting samples for analysis back on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How this benefits space exploration<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe research could lead to targeted treatments that protect astronauts from bone loss during long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. As crews venture farther from Earth, bone health becomes increasingly critical since medical evacuation or emergency return to Earth won\u2019t be possible during Mars missions.<\/p>\n
How this benefits humanity<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe findings could provide new insights into age-related bone loss that affects millions of people on Earth. Understanding how the IL-6 protein affects bone health may lead to new treatments for osteoporosis and other bone conditions that come with aging.<\/p>\n
Related Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B (MABL-B)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-A (MABL-A)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About BPS<\/strong><\/h3>\nNASA\u2019s Biological and Physical Sciences Division<\/strong><\/a> pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by\u00a0using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPowered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\nGet The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 33rd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission for NASA, scheduled to liftoff from the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in late August, is heading to the International Space Station with an important investigation for the future of bone health. The experiment will test how microgravity affects bone-forming and bone-degrading cells and explore potential ways [\u2026] Continue reading
The experiment will grow mesenchymal stem cells alongside other bone cells in special containers designed for space research. Cells will be cultured for 19 days aboard the space station, with crew members periodically collecting samples for analysis back on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How this benefits space exploration<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe research could lead to targeted treatments that protect astronauts from bone loss during long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. As crews venture farther from Earth, bone health becomes increasingly critical since medical evacuation or emergency return to Earth won\u2019t be possible during Mars missions.<\/p>\n
How this benefits humanity<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe findings could provide new insights into age-related bone loss that affects millions of people on Earth. Understanding how the IL-6 protein affects bone health may lead to new treatments for osteoporosis and other bone conditions that come with aging.<\/p>\n
Related Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B (MABL-B)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-A (MABL-A)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About BPS<\/strong><\/h3>\nNASA\u2019s Biological and Physical Sciences Division<\/strong><\/a> pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by\u00a0using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPowered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\nGet The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 33rd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission for NASA, scheduled to liftoff from the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in late August, is heading to the International Space Station with an important investigation for the future of bone health. The experiment will test how microgravity affects bone-forming and bone-degrading cells and explore potential ways [\u2026] Continue reading
The findings could provide new insights into age-related bone loss that affects millions of people on Earth. Understanding how the IL-6 protein affects bone health may lead to new treatments for osteoporosis and other bone conditions that come with aging.<\/p>\n
Related Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-B (MABL-B)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-A (MABL-A)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About BPS<\/strong><\/h3>\nNASA\u2019s Biological and Physical Sciences Division<\/strong><\/a> pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by\u00a0using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPowered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\nGet The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 33rd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission for NASA, scheduled to liftoff from the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in late August, is heading to the International Space Station with an important investigation for the future of bone health. The experiment will test how microgravity affects bone-forming and bone-degrading cells and explore potential ways [\u2026] Continue reading
- \n
- Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-A (MABL-A)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About BPS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
NASA\u2019s Biological and Physical Sciences Division<\/strong><\/a> pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by\u00a0using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n
Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The 33rd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission for NASA, scheduled to liftoff from the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in late August, is heading to the International Space Station with an important investigation for the future of bone health. The experiment will test how microgravity affects bone-forming and bone-degrading cells and explore potential ways [\u2026] Continue reading
- Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n