Humans venturing into space may face more serious health hazards than previously thought, according to a new report from The Guy Foundation, an independent UK research body. Conditions such as accelerated ageing, the development of insulin resistance, early diabetes and reproductive issues are likely to get worse the further we travel from Earth, says the report. These effects may be difficult or impossible to reverse and, if confirmed by research, will call into question the viability of human exploration in deep space.
The report, “The health hazards of space travel: novel insights from quantum biology”, has been prepared by a group of internationally recognised scientists drawn from disciplines including physics, quantum biology and space research. Studies of quantum effects in human biology at the atomic and subatomic levels suggest that disruption of the energy and information processing in our cells while journeying into space may damage our metabolism. This in turn could lead to more worrying health consequences. The report calls for these effects to be investigated and explained as a matter of urgency before longer distance journeys into space are undertaken.
“Up to now, the space community’s focus has been on the physical and engineering challenges inherent in space travel. These longer-term health issues do not seem to have been recognised. Nor have they been adequately addressed. ” said Professor Geoffrey Guy, Chairman of The Guy Foundation. “Just surviving in space is not the same as living in optimal health and thriving.”
George Freeman MP, former UK Minister of State for both Life Science and Space, commented,
“This report provides a pressing reminder of the effects of space travel on human health and has important implications for organisations such as NASA and SpaceX . At the same time, it highlights the opportunities for, and the value of, space health research.”
The report reviews existing research on how reduced and zero gravity in low-Earth orbit remove the stimulation which allows the body to keep cells healthy and generate energy. At the same time, increased radiation levels damage human DNA and reduce its capacity to repair and maintain itself. Even more significantly, the report highlights how cells may become further stressed beyond low-Earth orbit when the lack of a magnetic field and changes in the light spectrum disrupt their built-in equilibrium. This could compromise the metabolism of human and plant cells and disrupt both the circadian rhythms and the vital bacteria in the gut which underpin the working of our biological functions.
All these effects involve quantum-level processes, says the report. But research into them is currently hampered by a lack of relevant data. Although there is some openly available information on returning astronauts, there is much less on their long-term health outcomes.
In addition, there is not enough long-term data available on larger numbers of humans, or even small animals, to ensure the safety of increasing numbers of space travellers. The report notes that most astronauts have been young, healthy and fit. What happens to less fit or older individuals is not well understood, especially for longer-term missions.
Further experiments are urgently needed to improve our understanding of the underlying causes of space-induced ill health, and potential approaches to mitigate it, adds the report. These should include biological measures of astronauts’ ageing, as well the impacts at cellular and sub-cellular levels of ionising radiation, hyper and hypo-magnetic fields, microgravitational fields, and non-ionising radiation (light).
The report suggests that the only way humans may be able to live in optimal health in space will be by reproducing Earth’s environment exactly or, as a compromise, working out which factors are most important in causing these illnesses and accepting their limitations. It concludes by inviting interested scientists and organisations to work towards a better understanding of the topic and apply it to improving health for humans in space and on Earth.