Engineered human heart tissue sent to the International Space Station for a month showed weakened contractions, irregular beating patterns, and genetic changes resembling aging. Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights the detrimental effects of space flight on the heart. Engineers used a ‘heart-on-a-chip’ system to monitor the tissue samples in real-time, revealing significant changes in contraction strength and beating patterns. Astronauts on the ISS, like Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, may be experiencing cardiovascular stress due to microgravity. Future research will explore sending more tissues to space to further study the effects and test potential counteractive drugs.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03105-x