A piece of off-the-shelf lab equipment the size of a cellphone is set to revolutionize how we conduct biological research in low Earth orbit.
Sandeep K S
3 minutes ago
1 min read
Cellphone-sized technology is revolutionizing space biology by enabling real-time analysis of astronaut health. Unlike traditional, microwave-sized devices that require months for data access post-Earth return, the CERISS Microplate Reader allows for instant, in-situ data collection aboard the ISS. This innovation aids in tackling astronaut bone loss by measuring interleukin-6 levels, offering scalable solutions for long-duration space missions.
A piece of off-the-shelf lab equipment the size of a cellphone is set to revolutionize how we conduct biological research in low Earth orbit. Space science requires patience. Historically, running biological tests on the International Space Station meant freezing samples, loading them into a return capsule, waiting for splashdown, and transporting them to a lab on Earth. The process takes months.
For decades, space weather forecasts only gave us hours to prepare for catastrophic solar flares. A new AI tool is changing that to weeks. Space weather is a silent but potent threat. When the sun unleashes a solar flare or a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), the resulting blast of radiation and charged particles can cripple GPS, fry power grids, and threaten astronaut safety.
How a decades-long mission to measure the delicate equilibrium between the Sun's incoming energy and Earth's outgoing heat revolutionized our understanding of climate.Attempts to understand Earth's radiation budget started around 1880, but the space age transformed everything. On Jan. 31, 1958, Explorer 1 became the first US satellite, carrying a cosmic ray detector to measure radiation. It was the first step in a long journey.
