Study of sensory organs in microgravity conditions: methods and results in 2026
As humanity expands its activities in space, medical research into how our bodies cope with microgravity conditions has become the subject of numerous studies, including the effects of spaceflight on muscle mass and radiation exposure. Astronauts on future missions to the Moon or Mars will face increased risks to their vision and eye structure due to longer exposure to microgravity. The CIPHER study, consisting of 14 human studies, is examining the physical and psychological health of astronauts in space and applying these findings to supporting the health of crews on long-duration missions away from Earth.
Microgravity, plants, worms, and butterflies: How space agriculture is taking off
Cutting-edge research in botany and biology is conducted aboard the International Space Station to support future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Technologies for creating a fully-fledged habitat in microgravity conditions and on other planets: mycelium, 3D, carbon fiber
The Mycotecture project team at NASA’s Ames Research Center is developing technologies that will enable the “growing” of habitats on the Moon, Mars, and beyond using fungi and the subterranean filaments that make up their main component, known as mycelium. Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, have successfully tested the next-generation SpaceCAL microgravity 3D printer. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have unveiled ecovoxels—modular, reconfigurable building blocks that can be used for both construction on Earth and for creating living and working spaces in space. As part of the European Space Agency’s First! initiative, CompPair, in collaboration with Com&Sens and CSEM, has developed a new self-controlling and self-healing carbon fiber composite material.
Treatment and prevention of diseases during long-term flights in microgravity conditions
Deep space exploration requires a paradigm shift in astronaut medical support toward Earth-independent medical operations. Currently, astronauts rely on real-time communications with ground-based medical facilities. However, as the distance from Earth increases, communication delays and disruptions increase. Crews engaged in deep space exploration will need to autonomously detect, diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. One potential solution is to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of crews participating in long-duration exploration missions with a digital clinical decision support system (CDSS).
The process of astronauts adapting to Earth’s gravity after a long stay in space
When astronauts return from extended stays in space, they are often removed from their capsules and placed on stretchers. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded in March 2025, were no exception. The effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body are an area of active research. The current record for the longest continuous stay in space belongs to Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 days—just over 14 months—aboard the now-defunct Mir space station in 1994 and 1995.
Recent research in the field of water-calcium metabolism in spaceflight conditions
Exposure to altered gravity during spaceflight can cause physiological changes. One such change is the inability to completely empty the bladder or urinary retention. Exposure to microgravity causes bone atrophy/loss, which increases blood calcium levels and increases the risk of kidney stones. The results of this new study may shed light on age-related bone loss, which affects millions of people on Earth.