Space Travel Weakens Heart Tissue, New Study Reveals

Research shows that microgravity significantly impairs heart muscle function, raising concerns for long-duration missions.

A study by Johns Hopkins University found that heart tissues weakened and aged after 30 days on the International Space Station (ISS).
Heart muscle samples in space showed reduced strength, irregular beats, and signs of inflammation and oxidative damage.
The experiment used bioengineered heart tissues created from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, monitored in real-time from Earth.
The findings highlight the need for measures to protect cardiovascular health during extended space missions, such as trips to Mars.
Researchers are continuing to test drugs and improve the heart-on-a-chip system to mitigate these effects and study space radiation impacts.