Trip To Mars Could Damage Astronauts' Brains 505
Hugh Pickens writes writes "Alex Knapp reports that research by a team at the Rochester Medical Center suggests that exposure to the radiation of outer space could accelerate the onset of Alzheimer's disease in astronauts. 'Galactic cosmic radiation poses a significant threat to future astronauts... Exposure to ... equivalent to a mission to Mars could produce cognitive problems and speed up changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease' says M. Kerry O'Banio. Researchers exposed mice with known timeframes for developing Alzheimer's to the type of low-level radiation that astronauts would be exposed to over time on a long space journey. The mice were then put through tests that measured their memory and cognitive ability and the mice exposed to radiation showed significant cognitive impairment. It's not going to be an easy problem to solve, either. The radiation the researchers used in their testing is composed of highly charged iron particles, which are relatively common in space. 'Because iron particles pack a bigger wallop it is extremely difficult from an engineering perspective to effectively shield against them,' says O'Banion. 'One would have to essentially wrap a spacecraft in a six-foot block of lead or concrete.'"
No problem (Score:5, Funny)
A trip to mars is probably "one way" so who's worried about Alzheimer's...?
Sudden stop (Score:3, Funny)
duh (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Another reason we're stuck on this blue planet (Score:5, Funny)
Once you leave the atmosphere of this blue planet, *everything* will kill you.
This is why I believe Australia is not native to our world.
Re:Sudden stop (Score:5, Funny)
Yes it did, Bruce. You just won't know it until you talk to that annoying six year old for two hours.
Not really a problem (Score:5, Funny)
I don't understand why they would have to wrap the whole ship in a 6-foot thick lead shield. That's incredibly inefficient. Just make 6-foot thick lead helmets instead. It's a lot cheaper and their brains will still be protected from the killer brain rays.
Had this conversation a million times... (Score:5, Funny)
Me: "Here's a pen dad, sign the picture for them" ...
Dad: "Why do they want my signature?"
Me: "You were an astronaut when you were younger, you went to the moon"
Dad: "What?"
Me: "Yes, you went to the moon."
Dad: "We've been to the moon? That is amazing!!!"
Me: "Yes Dad, and *you* have been to the moon"
Dad: "*I've* been to the moon?!?"
Me: "Absolutely, see that picture you are signing? That is you"
Dad: "OK. Why am I signing this?"
Me: "Your were an astronaut when you were younger, you went to the moon"
The best part (Score:4, Funny)
A trip to mars is probably "one way" so who's worried about Alzheimer's...?
And the best part is once there you wont even remember why you'd want to leave anyway!
Re:Another reason we're stuck on this blue planet (Score:5, Funny)
But we ain't leaving.
I'll send you a postcard.
Re:The Trap, Yourself (Score:5, Funny)
OP: We should build a spaceship. :thunk:
AC: You're wrong, you don't have a spaceship.
Re:The Trap, Yourself (Score:5, Funny)
Martian soil doesn't have humus,
Well, what am I going to dip my pita bread in, then? Fuck Mars!
Re:Another reason we're stuck on this blue planet (Score:4, Funny)
We evolved over billions of years to be exactly fit to live in a particular zone of the Earth's surface, and the odds of finding another suitable planet are as likely as Captain Kirk finding beautiful alien women who speak English.
Once a week? Not bad.