Space travel affects the health of astronauts, and in some cases, can even cause eye damage. For example, according to NASA data, more than half of the astronauts who spent more than six months on the International Space Station ended up with vision problems of varying severity.
A group of scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center in the US has developed a solution that could help astronauts deal with some of the vision problems that arise from long periods of time spent in space: a technologically advanced sleeping bag.
In the statement of experts indicate that Your solution may help relieve spaceflight-associated neurogenic eye syndrome (SANS), a condition that leads to progressive flattening of the eyeballs, swelling of the optic nerves, and double vision.
Researchers explain that when we sleep, fluid builds up in the head. On Earth, gravity helps pull them into the body when we get up. However, the same does not happen in space, where the accumulation of fluid puts pressure on the eyeballs.
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According to Benjamin Levine, an investigator at UT Southwestern Medical Center, the effects of longer space travel, such as a two-year mission to Mars, remain unknown. “It would be disastrous if the astronauts had to deal with these kinds of difficulties that could jeopardize their vision and the mission itself,” says the researcher.
But how can the developed solution help astronauts? The sleeping bag is placed around the waist and wrapped around the lower body. A vacuum is then created that allows fluid to be drawn toward the feet, preventing them from accumulating in the head.
The technology is being tested by researchers and the results look promising, although there are a wide range of questions that need to be answered before NASA takes it to the International Space Station, including the length of time astronauts must spend each day. Sleeping bags to avoid future problems.
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