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Trip To Mars Could Damage Astronauts' Brains
Hugh Pickens writes writes "Alex Knapp reports that research by a team at the Rochester Medical Center suggests that exposure to the radiation of outer space could accelerate the onset of Alzheimer's disease in astronauts. 'Galactic cosmic radiation poses a significant threat to future astronauts... Exposure to ... equivalent to a mission to Mars could produce cognitive problems and speed up changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease' says M. Kerry O'Banio. Researchers exposed mice with known timeframes for developing Alzheimer's to the type of low-level radiation that astronauts would be exposed to over time on a long space journey. The mice were then put through tests that measured their memory and cognitive ability and the mice exposed to radiation showed significant cognitive impairment. It's not going to be an easy problem to solve, either. The radiation the researchers used in their testing is composed of highly charged iron particles, which are relatively common in space. 'Because iron particles pack a bigger wallop it is extremely difficult from an engineering perspective to effectively shield against them,' says O'Banion. 'One would have to essentially wrap a spacecraft in a six-foot block of lead or concrete.'"
A trip to mars is probably "one way" so who's worried about Alzheimer's...?
No sig today...
The sudden stop on impact will cause the most damage. It's not the fall, but the sudden stop that kills you.
tin foil hats... duh...
Once you leave the atmosphere of this blue planet, *everything* will kill you.
This is why I believe Australia is not native to our world.
I don't understand why they would have to wrap the whole ship in a 6-foot thick lead shield. That's incredibly inefficient. Just make 6-foot thick lead helmets instead. It's a lot cheaper and their brains will still be protected from the killer brain rays.
"Tell me doctor, with all of your defenses, are there any provisions for an attack by killer bees?"
Me: "Here's a pen dad, sign the picture for them" ...
Dad: "Why do they want my signature?"
Me: "You were an astronaut when you were younger, you went to the moon"
Dad: "What?"
Me: "Yes, you went to the moon."
Dad: "We've been to the moon? That is amazing!!!"
Me: "Yes Dad, and *you* have been to the moon"
Dad: "*I've* been to the moon?!?"
Me: "Absolutely, see that picture you are signing? That is you"
Dad: "OK. Why am I signing this?"
Me: "Your were an astronaut when you were younger, you went to the moon"
"Oh, you hate your job? There's a support group for that, it's called everyone, they meet at the bar."
A trip to mars is probably "one way" so who's worried about Alzheimer's...?
And the best part is once there you wont even remember why you'd want to leave anyway!
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
But we ain't leaving.
I'll send you a postcard.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
OP: We should build a spaceship. :thunk:
AC: You're wrong, you don't have a spaceship.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
Martian soil doesn't have humus,
Well, what am I going to dip my pita bread in, then? Fuck Mars!
One day I feel I'm ahead of the wheel / the next it's rolling over me / I can get back on / I can get back on
We evolved over billions of years to be exactly fit to live in a particular zone of the Earth's surface, and the odds of finding another suitable planet are as likely as Captain Kirk finding beautiful alien women who speak English.
Once a week? Not bad.