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Space Life Sciences

Space Life Sciences

Astronaut Carl E. Walz performs CPR on a chest model while aboard the ISS.
Courtesy of NASA.

Effects of microgravity on body systems, countermeasures to promote astronaut health in space

  • Diagnosing Injuries in Space

    Diagnosing Injuries in SpacePodcast Plus

    Scott A. Dulchavsky, MD, PhD, has developed a technique to train space flight crews to conduct medical-quality ultrasound imaging in space (podcast with lessons and more).

  • Gauging Effects of Fatigue and Stress

    Gauging Effects of Fatigue and StressPodcast Plus

    David F. Dinges, PhD, is developing a test that will help astronauts to gauge fatigue and stress during long missions in space (podcast with lessons and more).

  • Gravity and Buoyancy

    Gravity and BuoyancyLesson

    Students compare the behavior of a water-filled plastic bag, both inside and outside of a container of water, to begin to understand environments with gravity and those with reduced gravity.

  • Hazards of Lunar Dust

    Hazards of Lunar DustPodcast Plus

    G. Kim Prisk, PhD, DSc, talks about the health hazards of lunar dust (podcast with lessons and more).

  • Heart: Challenge of Microgravity

    Heart: Challenge of MicrogravityLesson

    Students use water balloons to simulate the effects of gravity and microgravity on fluid distribution in the body.

  • Muscles and Bones in Space

    Muscles and Bones in SpaceLesson

    Students learn how human muscles and bones change during space missions, and devise preventative solutions to help limit those changes.

  • Muscles and Bones: Center of Gravity

    Muscles and Bones: Center of GravityLesson

    Students learn about center of gravity and how the body adjusts to the force of gravity to remain balanced.

  • Remote Sensors for Medical Feedback

    Remote Sensors for Medical FeedbackPodcast Plus

    Babs R. Soller, PhD, is developing non-invasive techniques to measure blood and tissue chemistry, and help monitor the health of astronauts in space (podcast with lessons and more).

  • Sleep Quality

    Sleep QualityPodcast Plus

    To improve the quality of astronauts' sleep, neuroscientist George C. Brainard, PhD, is researching the effects of space flight on circadian rhythms (podcast with lessons and more).

    Grades: K-2

  • Sleeping in Space

    Sleeping in SpaceLesson

    Students read about how astronauts sleep in space, relate this information to times they have had difficulty sleeping, and write about unusual places in which they have slept.

  • Staying Fit in Space

    Staying Fit in SpacePodcast Plus

    Benjamin D. Levine, MD, researches exercise programs to learn how astronauts can maintain fitness while living and working in microgravity (podcast with lessons and more).

Related Content

  • Experiments in Space

    Experiments in Space Resources

    Join in real space research conducted on the International Space Station with investigations that enable students to compare organisms (ants, butterflies, plants, spiders) in their classrooms to similar plants or animals grown in space.

  • Symposium for Space Life Science

    Symposium for Space Life Science Presentations

    BioEd Online is proud to offer this online series, sponsored by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, featuring presentations by eminent leaders in the field of space life science.

  • The Barany Chair

    The Barany Chair Presentation

    Astronauts on space missions must cope with, and adjust for the impact of microgravity on their senses. Gregory Vogt, EdD, demonstrates how to use the Barany Chair, a tool that illustrates some of these sensory challenges.