Weightlessness affects health of cosmonauts at molecular level

(Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology) It is widely known that space conditions influence metabolism, thermoregulation, heart biorhythms, muscle tone and other physiological aspects. However, the molecular mechanisms which drive the physiological changes caused by space flights remain unknown.Scientists analyzed the effect of space conditions on the protein composition in blood samples of 18 Russian cosmonauts. The results indicated many significant changes in the human body caused by spac