As NASA prepares for the first manned spaceflight to Mars, questions have surfaced concerning the potential for increased risks associated with exposure to the spectrum of highly energetic nuclei that comprise galactic cosmic rays. Animal models have revealed an unexpected sensitivity of mature neurons in the brain to charged particles found in space. Astronaut autonomy during long-term space travel is particularly critical as is the need to properly manage planned and unanticipated events, activities that could be compromised by accumulating particle traversals through the brain.
Using mice subjected to space-relevant fluences of charged particles, we show significant cortical- and hippocampal-based performance decrements 6 weeks after acute exposure. Animals manifesting cognitive decrements exhibited marked and persistent radiation-induced reductions in dendritic complexity and spine density along medial prefrontal cortical neurons known to mediate neurotransmission specifically interrogated by our behavioral tasks.
This was stated a little more readably at ScienceDaily:
What happens to an astronaut's brain during a mission to Mars? Nothing good. It's besieged by destructive particles that can forever impair cognition, according to a radiation oncology study. Exposure to highly energetic charged particles -- much like those found in the galactic cosmic rays that bombard astronauts during extended spaceflights -- cause significant damage to the central nervous system, resulting in cognitive impairments.
[Related]: Space Radiation On the Long Trip To Mars Could Make Astronauts Dumber
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 04 2015, @01:05PM
Either that, or we develop the Star Trek transporter. Then we can just beam the people to Mars and back. :-)
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday May 04 2015, @07:29PM
Call me old fashioned, but ain't nobody deconstructing me atomically and reconstructing me remotely. You could also run into problems, if you didn't successfully de-atomize the first you and sucessfully re-atomized the new you at the remote location. I'm think of the same issues in the movie "The Prestige".
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 04 2015, @11:23PM
if you didn't [...] [successfully] re-atomized the new you at the remote location
Another problem - biological contamination:
"The Fly" 1958 [wikipedia.org] 1986 [wikipedia.org]
-- gewg_