Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Radiation Aging - The Deadly Years In Space
NASA recently released an article on the effects of radiation during far journeys in space. This problem does not really arise for astronauts in close orbit around the Earth, due to the protection offered by Earth's strong magnetic field.
Cosmic rays can damage an astronaut's telomeres - tiny molecular strands that cap the ends of DNA. Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides. Eventually, the telomeres are too short, and the cell cannot successfully divide - a state called "replicative senescence." The loss of telomeres is thus associated with aging; they also appear to be a natural defence against out-of-control cell growth, as occurs in cancer.
(Telomeres cap the ends of human chomosomes)
One theory of aging holds that the lack of new, whole cells causes the usual signs of aging; wrinkled skin, weakened immune system and so forth. If, as is planned, manned ships are sent to Mars, this problem will need to be solved.
(Dr. McCoy - a really old country doctor)
It turns out that science fiction writers have been thinking about this problem. In the The Deadly Years, an episode that aired on 08-Dec-1967, the Enterprise is sent to investigate a problem on the experimental colony Gamma Hydra 4. Mysteriously, virtually all of the colonists have died prematurely - of highly accelerated aging. The only real anomaly that Spock can find is that the planet recently passed through the tail of a unique comet, which showers the planet with low energy radiation. Not surprisingly, Spock and McCoy find an antidote before the end of the episode - adrenalin.
Few of Dr. McCoy's "medical miracles" have been adopted by NASA (go figure!). However, Richard Wilkins, director of NASA's Center for Applied Radiation Research at Prairie View A & M University in Texas has conducted a study into liquid shield approaches. As he puts it
"In most [mission] scenarios, you need liquid hydrogen for fuel and you need water. And these are all considered materials that are particularly good for cosmic ray shielding."
Using fuel or water as shielding from radiation was originally suggested by science fiction writer John W. Campbell in 1936 (read more about NASA's New Radiation Shielding First Proposed By John W. Campbell).
Read what NASA says about radiation and aging; Trek fans will enjoy a blast from the past in Eric's excruciatingly detailed plot summary for The Deadly Years. Thanks to Winchell Chung for the tip and the sf reference.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 3/23/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 4 )
Related News Stories - (" Medical ")
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
Heart Patches Grown In The Lab Repair Hearts
I'm hoping that this procedure becomes a normal part of medical practice!
Pixel Watch 'Loss of Pulse Detection' And Philip K. Dick
'He carried on his person a triggering mechanism sensitive to his heartbeat.' - Philip K. Dick, 1965.
ErythroMer Artificial Blood
'My chemists are all working on the preparation of the artificial blood.' - Dr. David H. Keller, M.D.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.'
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
'Figments of his mind in one sense, of course, for he had shaped them...'
China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
'So the parent drone carries a spotter that it launches...'
Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
'...nurse drones that would cruise around dumping large amounts of power into randomly selected pods.'
Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
'It's done with a flip of the third joint of the tentacle on the down beat.'
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
'...for months Grantline bores had dug into the cliff.'
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
'I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously.
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
'It’s smart enough to go wrong in very complicated ways, but not smart enough to help us find out what’s wrong.'
Heat Waver - The First Ever Combo Solar Collector And Wind Turbine
'...like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Tesla 'Fleet Response Agents' Bolster FSD Autonomy
'You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life... in his hands.'
Mori3 Autonomous Shapeshifting Robot
'My homeland is being threatened by the Replicators. Thus far all attempts to stop them have failed.'
Tesla Seeks 'Tesla Robotaxi' And 'Robobus' Trademarks Ignoring Prior Art
'A robobus had just rolled up to the curb.'
Scary Grid Safety Robots
'The ultimate horror for our paranoid culture...'
Does AI Provide A Way Forward For Talk Therapy
'And there in the next room by the sofa sat a familiar suitcase, that of his psychiatrist Dr. Smile.'
