Human space travel could pose more severe health risks

Human space travel could pose more severe health risks
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Oct 23, 2024

Human space travellers may face more severe health hazards than previously recognized, according to a new report from The Guy Foundation, an independent UK research organization. The report highlights concerns that extended space travel could exacerbate conditions like accelerated aging, insulin resistance, early diabetes, and reproductive issues. These effects could become increasingly difficult to reverse as humans travel farther from Earth, raising doubts about the feasibility of deep space exploration.

Titled "The health hazards of space travel: novel insights from quantum biology," the report was compiled by leading scientists in physics, quantum biology, and space research. It points to quantum-level disruptions in cellular energy and information processing during space travel as potential causes for metabolic damage, which could result in more serious health consequences. The report urges that these issues be thoroughly studied and addressed before humans embark on long-distance space missions.

Professor Geoffrey Guy, Chairman of The Guy Foundation, stated, "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 recognized. Nor have they been adequately addressed. Just surviving in space is not the same as living in optimal health and thriving."

George Freeman MP, former UK Minister of State for Life Science and Space, emphasized the significance of this research, noting, "This report provides a pressing reminder of the effects of space travel on human health and has important implications for organizations such as NASA and SpaceX. At the same time, it highlights the opportunities for, and the value of, space health research."

The report outlines various concerns regarding the effects of reduced and zero gravity in low-Earth orbit, which hinder the body's ability to maintain cell health and generate energy. Additionally, increased radiation exposure in space harms human DNA and reduces its ability to repair itself. Beyond low-Earth orbit, the lack of a magnetic field and changes in the light spectrum could further disrupt cellular equilibrium, negatively impacting metabolism, circadian rhythms, and gut bacteria.

All these effects, the report explains, are driven by quantum-level processes, yet current research is limited due to insufficient data. There is a particular shortage of long-term health data on astronauts and larger groups of humans or animals, making it challenging to predict how space travel will affect less healthy or older individuals, especially during extended missions.

The report calls for additional experiments to better understand space-induced health issues and explore potential remedies. These experiments should assess biological markers of aging in astronauts and examine the impacts of ionizing radiation, magnetic fields, and microgravity at both the cellular and sub-cellular levels.

The report concludes by suggesting that the best way for humans to thrive in space might be to recreate Earth's environment as closely as possible, or at least identify the most crucial factors contributing to space-induced health problems and accept the limitations.

The full report and a short presentation on its findings are available here