Title: Somewhere I Have Never Travelled Author: Museaway Artist: Dmsilvisart Rating: Mature Pairings:

Two are Better Than One: The NASA Twins Study

What exactly happens to the human body during spaceflight? The Twins Study,  a 340-day investigation conducted by NASA’s Human Research Program , sought to find answers. Scientists had an opportunity to see how conditions on the International Space Station translated to changes in gene expression by comparing identical twin astronauts: Scott Kelly who spent close to a year in space and Mark Kelly who remained on Earth.

The Process

From high above the skies, for almost a year, astronaut Scott Kelly periodically collected his own blood specimens for researchers on the ground during his One-Year Mission aboard the Space Station. These biological specimens made their way down to Earth onboard two separate SpaceX Dragon vehicles. A little bit of Scott returned to Earth each time and was studied by scientists across the United States.

Totaling 183 samples from Scott and his brother, Mark, these vials helped scientists understand the changes Scott’s body underwent while spending a prolonged stay in low Earth orbit.  

The Twins

Because identical twins share the same genetic makeup, they are very similar on a molecular level. Twin studies provide a way for scientists to explore how our health is impacted by the environment around us.

What We Learned: Gene Expression

A significant finding is the variability in gene expression, which reflects how a body reacts to its environment and will help inform how gene expression is related to health risks associated with spaceflight. While in space, researchers observed changes in the expression of Scott’s genes, with the majority returning to normal after six months on Earth. However, a small percentage of genes related to the immune system and DNA repair did not return to baseline after his return to Earth. Further, the results identified key genes to target for use in monitoring the health of future astronauts and potentially developing personalized countermeasures.

What We Learned: Immunome

Another key finding is that Scott’s immune system responded appropriately in space. For example, the flu vaccine administered in space worked exactly as it does on Earth. A fully functioning immune system during long-duration space missions is critical to protecting astronaut health from opportunistic microbes in the spacecraft environment.

What We Learned: Proteomics

Studying protein pathways in Scott enabled researchers to look at fluid regulation and fluid shifts within his body. Shifts in fluid may contribute to vision problems in astronauts. Scientists found a specific protein associated with fluid regulation was elevated in Scott, compared with his brother Mark on Earth.

What We Learned: Telomeres

The telomeres in Scott’s white blood cells, which are biomarkers of aging at the end of chromosomes, were unexpectedly longer in space then shorter after his return to Earth with average telomere length returning to normal six months later. In contrast, his brother’s telomeres remained stable throughout the entire period. Because telomeres are important for cellular genomic stability, additional studies on telomere dynamics are planned for future one-year missions to see whether results are repeatable for long-duration missions.

What We Learned: Cognition

Scott Kelly participated in a series of cognitive performance evaluations (such as mental alertness, spatial orientation, and recognition of emotions) administered through a battery of tests and surveys. Researchers found that during spaceflight, Scott’s cognitive function remained normal for the first half of his stay onboard the space station compared to the second half of his spaceflight and to his brother, Mark, on the ground. However, upon landing, Scott’s speed and accuracy decreased. Re-exposure to Earth’s gravity and the dynamic experience of landing may have affected the results.  

What We Learned: Biochemical

In studying various measurements on Scott, researchers found that his body mass decreased during flight, likely due to controlled nutrition and extensive exercise. While on his mission, Scott consumed about 30% less calories than researchers anticipated. An increase in his folate serum (vitamin B-9), likely due to an increase of the vitamin in his pre-packaged meals, was also noted by researchers. This is bolstered by the telomeres study, which suggests that proper nutrition and exercise help astronauts maintain health while in space.

What We Learned: Metabolomics

Within five months of being aboard the space station, researchers found an increase in the thickness of Scott’s arterial wall, which may have been caused by inflammation and oxidative stress during spaceflight. Whether this change is reversible is yet to be determined. They hope these results will help them understand the stresses that the human cardiovascular system undergoes during spaceflight. 

In addition, the results from the Microbiome, Epigenomics, and Integrative Omics studies suggest a human body is capable of adapting to and recovering from the spaceflight environment on a molecular level.

Why Does This Matter?

The data from the Twins Study Investigation will be explored for years to come as researchers report some interesting, surprising, and assuring data on how the human body is able to adapt to the extreme environment of spaceflight. This study gave us the first integrated molecular view into genetic changes, and demonstrated the plasticity and robustness of a human body!

We will use the valuable data to ensure the safety and health of the men and women who go on to missions to the Moon and on to Mars.

Learn more with this video about these fascinating discoveries!  

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Brie Larson is the biggest Lesbian!Carol warrior

she will fight until carol gets a girlfriend mark my words

That’s a deep… dock.

by Penzilla

Tumblr: @pennypenzilla

Marvel Female Character 10 Year Posters

Remember that glow up???? 

So… yall better wait for this one…I know it was very hard to take that picture but it’ll be worth to wait and see a better one. Well, I hope can be still living until then.

Jack: Today’s question is, how do you deal with a crush?

Sam, Cas, Gabe, Dean: *facepalm* not again

Jack: yes again. So dads, what do you do when you have a crush?

Sam, takes the lead to do a little teaching of good values and crap: well, Jack, what I try to do is understand my feelings before I talk to them, and when I do approach them, I am always respectful and mindful of their wishes and I tell them how I feel and compliment them -

Dean, snickering: yeah, right

Sam: Shut up Dean.

Dean: why you gotta lie to the kid, Sammy? We all know that when you have a crush, you get as far away from the person as you can, otherwise they’d start liking you back and then you two’d end up banging and ta-da, they’re dead

Sam: …I hate you

Dean: *shrugs*

Jack, nodding and absorbing: what about you, Dean?

Dean, promptly: Well what you gotta do is judge if they’re in your league or not

Jack: if they are?

Dean: you put on the charm. Remember the blue-steel I showed you once?

Jack: the face I caught you practising in the mirror and you begged me to forget, but I never did?

Dean: yeah that’s the one

Jack: and what if they aren’t in my league?

Dean: you wait for the crush to go away

Jack, nodding: how long does that take?

Dean: depends on a lot of factors. Could be a week, or could be -

Sam, interrupting with a smirk: 10 years, inclusive of time spent in other realms such as purgatory

Jack: that LONG?

Sam, smirking wider as Dean goes red: oh yeah Jack, 10 years and running

Jack, nodding and accepting: I see. What about you, Castiel?

Cas: I…*thinks about raising Dean from hell, rebelling, fighting his garrison, falling from grace, disobeying Naomi, disobeying direct orders from Heaven, choosing him over an entire army, annoying a cosmic being enough to be brought back, healing every little bruise on his perfect face* I believe in grand gestures, Jack

Dean: *narrowing his eyes*

Sam, feeling pity for his brother: No Cas, you don’t. You’re a deathbed-confession guy

Cas: oh yes. That.

Jack, nodding: cool.

Cas, wistfully: but that didn’t work either so I don’t know if anything ever will.

Jack: why don’t you try doing something he likes with him?

Cas, touchy about the topic: You mean, like, cowboy around with him with a hat? Dress up as a medical practitioner to satisfy his kinks?

Dean, growing suspicious: that’s weirdly specific Cas

Cas: I can’t eVEN

~

BONUS

Jack: what about you, uncle Gabe? What do you do when you have a crush?

Gabriel, thinking about all the weird shit he’s done to Sam, ranging from killing his brother 104 times in a day to picking his side over the rest of his family’s, from giving him genital herpes to making him suffer in Nutcracker, and so on and so forth: heh

Jack: what?

Gabriel: …archangels don’t get crushes hehe

Jack, nodding: okay thanks

*in another corner of the room*

Dean and Cas, at the same time: its okay Sam - NO - DON’T try to strangle yourself it’s fine he’s just dodging the question - nO SAM don’t try to strangle him either - sAM you’re scaring us now please start b r e a t h i n g

Our Amazing Solar System

Harry Potter Illustration Series - Created by Dan Elijah Fajardo

These designs are available for sale as shirts, cases, and more at his TeePublic Shop.

Tony Stark: Friday give me a status report. How is my new Avenger getting along with the team?

Friday: Jessica Jones has proceeded to tell Captain America or as she refers to him Captain Popsicle to eat her ass four times, had sex with Thor, drank half of your liquor cabinet, proceeded to threaten Mr.Barton that she would report him to the IRS if he didn't give her the last piece of pizza,was tazed by Miss Romanoff twice and is currently playing Mario Kart with Mister Hulk

Tony Stark(tearing up): She is perfect