5 ms·
Space is cool, but I didn't see any gravity related controls nor any other space specific controls. Consider that the relationship between stress (HPA axis, et
by xkcd-sucks 8y ago
Space is cool, but I didn't see any gravity related controls nor any other space specific controls.
Consider that the relationship between stress (HPA axis, etc.) and viral activation is pretty well known. Models of chronic rodent stress include constant loud noise, uncomfortable environmental scale (open spaces versus "comfortable" places with places to hide/nest), weird lighting and temperature, "violent" (freaking them out, not hurting them) handling, etc. These rodent models seem pretty similar to "put humans in a cramped little box, shake them around and mess with their sleep and eating schedules".
There's nothing novel and space specific here except for "going to space is stressful" and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.
- potiuper 8y agoFTAA - "Larger quantities and increased frequencies for these viruses were found during spaceflight as compared to before or after flight samples and their matched healthy controls." Further details such as graphs, p values, and references are also provided.
- nabla9 8y agoI would humbly suggest submarine crews as control group. Canned air, tight space, weird sleep cycles, noise and artificial light. Submarine crews are even more isolated because they can't contact families while underway.
- 101001001001 8y agoIt’s not a good comparison. Submarine crews are larger, have more history and culture to fall back on, and submarine diving is routine compared to space flight. And also you’re only ever one ascent away from home. The environmental factors might be similar but the net stress levels don’t seem to be.
- w-ll 8y agoOr even saturation divers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturation_diving https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturation_diving
- taneq 8y agoAlso airline crews? They get to do their high-pressure job in lower-than-normal air pressure, they get shaken around in a tin can and their sleep schedules are shot to hell.
- steve1977 8y agoBut they can at least leave their cabins every couple of hours for a a couple of hours or days.
- freeflight 8y agoI'd imagine this whole "being strapped to a ton of explosives and using them to fly" moment is a tad bit more extreme and stressful than a submarine dive. After that, they both have similar constant stress factors, but imho the launch alone is probably way more than what anybody on a submarine would go through.
- zeckalpha 8y agoNuclear submarines?
- craftyguy 8y agoI suspect that far more rockets have undergone rapid, unplanned disassembly than nuclear submarines. And when they do, the death rate is very high.
- bojo 8y agoThe crew quarters are literally between the missile launch tubes, which sure they aren’t exploding under you, but still.
- SubiculumCode 8y agoI mean you are right, but in the articles I read, their hypothesis is exactly about stress.