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Space sleeping bag to solve astronauts' squashed eyeball disorder
Scientists have developed a hi-tech sleeping bag that could prevent the vision problems that some astronauts experience while living in space.
In zero-gravity, fluids float into the head and squash the eyeball over time. It's regarded as one of the riskiest medical problems affecting astronauts, with some experts concerned it could compromise missions to Mars. The sleeping bag sucks fluid out of the head and towards the feet, countering the pressure build-up.
[...] The sleeping bag, developed with outdoor equipment manufacturer REI, fits around the person's waist, enclosing their lower body within a solid frame.
A suction device, that works on the same principle as a vacuum cleaner, creates a pressure difference that draws fluid down towards the feet. This prevents it from building up in the brain and applying damaging pressure to the eyeball.
Several questions need to be answered before the sleeping bag technology is used routinely, including the optimal amount of time astronauts should spend in the sleeping bag each day.
Journal Reference:
Christopher M. Hearon, Katrin A. Dias, Gautam Babu, et al. Nightly Lower Body Negative Pressure and Choroid Engorgement in Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome, JAMA Ophthalmology (DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.5200)
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 10 2021, @05:48PM (1 child)
The goal is to get more people into space. As long as there's no artificial gravity, nobody but professional astronauts and a handful of extreme enthusiasts will go, because microgravity sucks.
You can't sleep normally.
You can't eat normal food.
You can't take a shower normally.
You can't pee normally.
You have to follow a fighter jock exercise regimen.
You get heart disease despite the aforementioned exercise regimen.
It seems fun, and I'm sure it would be fun for an hour or two, but 24/7, no way.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 11 2021, @12:16PM
That's what I said?
I'm confused because your reply seems formatted as a disagreement, but we have made the same points.