March: cosmic radiation complicate future mission – Gridam

The cosmic radiation would be harmful to the brains of astronauts, which would prevent any mission to Mars.

We know from long as there are numerous barriers to a Mars mission, such as the construction of a vessel capable of carrying out such a long journey with astronauts. Today, US researchers have discovered another complicating factor in the conquest of the red planet: cosmic rays from supernovae involve radiation that could significantly damage the brain astronauts

Charles Limoli,. University of California at Irvine, lead author of the study says that radiation would lead to a decline in work capacity, memory deficits, fainting and difficulty concentrating during flights in space. All this could therefore affect the core activities of a mission to Mars.

But in addition to present risks during the mission, these cosmic radiation could impair the cognitive abilities of astronauts irreversibly. In reaching this conclusion, the scientists conducted tests on mice exposed to radiation of high energy particles. These radiations caused an inflammation in the brains of rodents that disrupted the transmission of nerve signals.

After scanners, it was revealed that the brain of the communications network was affected by reductions in neuron structure. Impairments of synapses that connect neurons, combined with other structural changes interfered with the ability of nerve cells to efficiently transmit electrochemical signals, the researchers explain. These phenomena have led to lower performance at different evaluation of the learning ability tests and memorize.

According to Dr. Limoli, such cognitive deficits are not manifest for several months in the astronaut, but the duration of a mission to Mars would be sufficient for such symptoms appear. However, he explains that this is not the case for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), which stays of six months, as they are not exposed to such a high intensity, with the Earth’s magnetosphere.

For missions on Mars, the researchers subjected the idea of ​​enhanced protection zones against cosmic radiation in parts of the spacecraft.