The researchers studied the impact of a particular form of radiation called high-mass, high-charged

(Phys.org)—As if space travel was not already filled with enough dangers, a new study out today in the journal PLOS ONE shows that cosmic radiation – which would bombard astronauts on deep space missions to places like Mars – could accelerate the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
discounted hotels in orlando "Galactic cosmic radiation poses a significant threat discounted hotels in orlando to future astronauts," said M. Kerry O'Banion, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the University of Rochester discounted hotels in orlando Medical Center (URMC) Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy and the senior author of the study. discounted hotels in orlando "The possibility that radiation exposure in space may give rise to health problems such as cancer has long been recognized. However, this study shows for the first time that exposure to radiation levels equivalent to a mission to Mars could produce discounted hotels in orlando cognitive problems and speed up changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease."
While space is full of radiation, the earth's magnetic discounted hotels in orlando field generally protects the planet and people in low earth orbit from these particles. However, once astronauts leave orbit, they are exposed to constant shower of various discounted hotels in orlando radioactive discounted hotels in orlando particles. With appropriate warning, astronauts can be shielded from dangerous discounted hotels in orlando radiation discounted hotels in orlando associated with solar flares. But there are also other forms of cosmic radiation that, for all intents and purposes, cannot be effectively blocked.
Because this radiation exists in low levels, the longer an astronaut is in deep space, the greater the exposure. This is a concern for NASA as the agency is planning manned missions to a distant asteroid in 2021 and to Mars in 2035. The round trip to the red planet, in particular, could take as long as three years.
For over 25 years, NASA has been funding research to determine the potential health risks of space travel in an effort to both develop countermeasures and determine discounted hotels in orlando whether or not the risks warranted sending men and women on extended missions in deep space.
Since that time, several studies have demonstrated the potential cancer, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal discounted hotels in orlando impact of galactic cosmic radiation . The study out today for the first time examines the potential impact of space radiation on neurodegeneration, in particular, the biological processes in the brain that contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease. O'Banion – whose research focuses on how radiation affects the central nervous system – and his team have been working with NASA for over eight years.
The researchers studied the impact of a particular form of radiation called high-mass, high-charged (HZE) particles. These particles – which are propelled through space at very high speeds by the force of exploding stars – come in many different forms. discounted hotels in orlando For this study the researcher chose iron particles. Unlikely hydrogen protons, which are produced by solar flares , the mass of HZE particles like iron, combined with their speed, enable them to penetrate solid objects such as the wall and protective shielding of a spacecraft.
"Because iron particles pack a bigger wallop it is extremely difficult from an engineering perspective to effectively shield against them," said O'Banion. "One would have to essentially wrap a spacecraft in a six-foot discounted hotels in orlando block of lead or concrete."
discounted hotels in orlando A portion of the research discounted hotels in orlando was conducted at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island. NASA located its research operation at Brookhaven to take advantage of the Lab's particle accelerators which – by colliding matter together at very high speeds – can reproduce the radioactive particles found in space.
discounted hotels in orlando The researchers specifically wanted to examine whether discounted hotels in orlando or not radiation exposure had the potential to accelerate the biological and cognitive indicators of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in individuals who may be predisposed to developing the disease. To accomplish this they chose study the impact on animal models of Alzheimer's disease. These particular models have been extensively studied and scientists understand the precise timeframe discounted hotels in orlando in which the disease discounted hotels in orlando progresses over time.
At Brookhaven, the animals were exposed to various doses of radiation, including levels comparable to what astronauts would be experience during a mission to Mars. Back in Rochester, a team of researchers – including URMC graduate student Jonathan Cherry, who was first author on the paper – evaluated the cognitive and biological discounted hotels in orlando impact of the exposure. The mice underwent a series of experiments during which they had to recall objects or specific locations. The researchers observed that mice exposed to radiation were far more likely to fail these tasks – suggesting neurological impairment – earlier discounted hotels in orlando than these symptoms would typically appear.
The brains of the mice also showed signs of vascular discounted hotels in orlando alterations and a greater than normal accumulation of beta amyloid, the protein "plaque" that accumulates in the brain and is one of the hallmarks discounted hotels in orlando of the disease.
"These findings clearly suggest that exposure to radiation in space has the potential to accelerate the development of Alzheimer's discounted hotels in orlando disease," said O'Banion. "This is yet another factor that NASA, which is clearly concerned about the health risks to its astronauts, will need to take into account as it plans future missions."
Yeah, well... Rats? predisposed? What level of radiation...as in some protection vs none? Higher than a protected lab rat, or higher than a rat living in New York. what about rats that don't normally get Alzheimer? What duration does the change start becoming significant? Never as much fact as drama.
Man in space will not be the first competitive use of extraterrestrial resources. A lunar base using virtual presence end points (robots and equipment) for workers here on Earth will be the most competitive off planet "colonization". Military cross development for virtual presence end point combat systems would also help support discounted hotels in orlando the funding burdens. Once a base becomes a net producer of resources it can build human habitats underground for permanent habitation.
Man in space will not be the first competitive use of extraterrestrial resources. A lunar base using virtual presence end points (robots and equipment) for workers here on Earth will be the most competitive off planet "colonization". Military cross development for virtual presence end point combat systems discounted hotels in orlando would also help support the funding burdens. Once a base becomes a net producer of resources it can build human habitats underground for permanent habitation. This will likely discounted hotels in orlando be the only mechanism for permanent colonies, discounted hotels in orlando but this article is only talking about the length of a round trip. To the moon its not bad, but to Mars the times are constrained by available delta-V and the physics of orbital mechanics.
@Screeching Demon That's what I was thinking too, any charged particle would either lose a significant amount of its momentum in a head-to-head collision with the spacecraft, or will have its trajectory modified to be deflected entirely from contact with the spacecraft. The entire spacecraft also wouldn't need to be enveloped in an external magnetic field, you could simply have sections of the spacecraft protected where astronauts spend most of their time. Besides using permanent magnets to generate a constant magnetic field, the spacecraft could also strengthen its field by forcing high currents to flow through a conductive body, generating a magnetic field perpendicular to current flow. This would only really be useful when a solar flare is expected since producing a magnetic field this way would be far too power hungry and would generate too much unwanted heat in the conductor and its environment to be used consistently.
Perhaps if you provide us with your power consumption estimates, we can diagnose your lack of difficulty in comprehending why using strong magnetic fields is a problem. "I don't see why it wouldn't be feasible to use a spacecraft which either has its own strong discounted hotels in orlando magnetic field" - Screeching
Space is cold so use that cold with a refrigeration unit to cool a superconducting solenoid built into the skin of the craft. The solenoid would mimic the Earth's magnetic field. That takes care of 99.9% of the charged particles. High energy gamma rays can be shielded by a thin but dense shield that converts the energy of the gamma ray into a charged particle shower that is deflected by the magnetic shield. Problem solved.
discounted hotels in orlando A combination of magnetic shielding and storing water in a double wall should ameliorate most of the radiation danger. The water is needed anyway and can be recycled. @dogbert You posted the same thing i did while I was busy typing.
dagman, These are not even new ideas. discounted hotels in orlando As to the extended time at low or zero gravity, spin the ship or have a spinning living area. I've never understood why the space station has no spin. Science fiction has been solving these problems for years.
I've never understood why the space station has no spin. Its not big enough? discounted hotels in orlando I always though that to get spin artificial gravity, you'd need something a lot larger otherwise they would experience sickness.
Because it was too expensive to build one that spins. "I've never understood why the space station has no spin." - Dogbert The U.S. couldn't even afford to build the ISS on it's own, so they had to bring in other countries and put the I before the SS. Capisce?
High energy gamma rays can be shielded by a thin but dense "shield..." - Dagman How small do you intend to make the living area? The size of a coffin? Car? Bus? Aircraft discounted hotels in orlando carrier? The design you describe will work. But it will double the mass of the spacecraft. On the other hand, a robotic craft, needs shielding only for it's brain, and potentially discounted hotels in orlando for it's cargo.
Bob Kob, Its not big enough? I always though that to get spin artificial gravity, you'd need something a lot larger otherwise they would experience sickness. Yes, the space station is not large enough. That is, it does not have sufficient radius for artificial gravity. That does not expla