Neurological research in space: Miniature human brain models arrive at the International Space Station

Miniature human brain models grown in the laboratory reached the International Space Station (ISS) as part of SpaceX's 35th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-35) mission.

NASA's SpaceX CRS-35 mission launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday. The Dragon capsule carrying the materials docked with the orbiting space station on October 15 at 18:00 Turkish time. The capsule contained approximately 2,860 kilograms of materials, including three-dimensional miniature human brain models called miBrains, which contain nervous tissue.

THE EFFECT OF THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT ON BRAIN CELLS WILL BE EXAMINED

miBrains models, which will be kept on the space station for several weeks, will be used to study the effects of microgravity and radiation on the human brain. NASA reported that as part of the experiment, small human brain models grown in the laboratory were sent into orbit for five weeks.

Researchers aim to determine the changes in brain cells caused by short-term space flight by comparing samples kept in space with their counterparts kept under the same conditions on Earth. Scientists will investigate the changes that microgravity and radiation can cause at the cellular and genetic level. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of processes associated with human aging and neurological diseases.

It is evaluated that the research may also help develop methods to protect the brain health of astronauts during long-term space missions to the Moon, Mars and further destinations in the future. Various physical effects such as muscle loss, decrease in bone density, vision changes and differences in the distribution of body fluids have been observed before in long-term space missions.

PLANT DISEASES WILL ALSO BE RESEARCHED IN SPACE

As part of the SpaceX CRS-35 mission, an experiment will also be conducted to examine whether microgravity affects the development of plant diseases. Plants grown in space are important for long-term manned missions because they not only provide nutrients to astronauts, but also absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Researchers hope that the studies to be carried out on the space station will contribute to the development of plant species that are more resistant to diseases.