Spaceworms To Help Study Astronaut Muscle Loss 73
Hugh Pickens writes "The Telegraph reports that 4,000 microscopic worms were onboard Space Shuttle Atlantis when it launched today. Their mission: to help experts in human physiology understand more about what triggers the body to build and lose muscle. The worms are bound for the Japanese Experiment Module 'Kibo' on the International Space Station, where they will experience the same weightless conditions which can cause dramatic muscle loss, one of the major health concerns for astronauts. 'If we can identify what causes the body to react in certain ways in space we establish new pathways for research back on earth,' says Dr. Nathaniel Szewczyk."
re: muscle loss (Score:5, Insightful)
Hyper-competitive former fighter jocks + confined space + roids. Whatcouldpossiblygowrong?
Duh (Score:2, Insightful)
It seems likely to me that the worms will be subjected to various treatments ("test groups") to see if there is a way to reduce this muscle atrophy.
You seem confident that you know what the "fix" is, but without experimentation your suggestion is merely a hypothesis.