Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep astronauts safe on long-duration space missions? Or how scientists are searching for signs of alien technology in distant galaxies? This episode of Astronomy Daily has all the answers and more!
We kick things off with a groundbreaking study from NASA’s Artemis I mission, where scientists used innovative methods to measure radiation exposure in space. By employing mannequins named Helga and Zohar, along with advanced sensors, researchers were able to gather crucial data on radiation levels during a 25-day uncrewed journey around the moon. This information is vital for understanding and mitigating the risks associated with long-duration space travel, including cancer risk and radiation sickness. The study also revealed that strategic shielding placement and careful spacecraft positioning could significantly reduce radiation exposure.
Next, we delve into the fascinating world of heart health in space. Scientists sent human bioengineered heart tissue samples to the International Space Station to study the effects of low gravity on cardiac function. The results were striking: heart tissues exposed to microgravity showed significant weakening and disruptions in their normal rhythmic beating patterns. This research is crucial for understanding the health risks astronauts face during extended missions and offers potential applications for heart research here on Earth.
But the episode doesn’t stop there. We also explore a groundbreaking SETI study that takes the search for extraterrestrial intelligence to new heights. Using the powerful Murchison Widefield Array in Western Australia, researchers observed 2,800 galaxies in a single session, targeting low radio frequencies that could reveal technosignatures. While no definitive evidence of alien technology was found, this innovative approach opens up exciting new possibilities for future SETI efforts.
We then shift our focus to our own galactic neighborhood with insights from the Satellites Around Galactic Analogs (SAGA) survey. This extensive study of 101 satellite systems similar to the Milky Way provides fascinating new insights into galactic evolution and structure. One intriguing finding is the varying number of satellite galaxies in these systems, which ranges from zero to 13. Our Milky Way, with its four known satellite galaxies, falls somewhere in the middle, but the presence of the Large Magellanic Cloud makes it somewhat of an outlier.
Finally, we unravel the mystery of Mars’s missing atmosphere. New research suggests that the red planet’s atmosphere may not be lost to space but rather absorbed by minerals in Martian clays over billions of years. This groundbreaking theory offers a potential explanation for Mars’s transformation from a potentially life-supporting world to the cold, barren planet we see today.
Don’t miss out on these exciting discoveries and more. Tune in to this week’s episode of Astronomy Daily and join us on a thrilling journey through the cosmos. And remember, keep looking up!