Sex in Space is Tough, says NASA
Sexual reproduction is likely to be impossible in space due to cosmic radiation bombarding the human body, according to Nasa scientists.
(By Andy Bloxham, UK Telegraph) - Researchers at the agency's Ames Research Centre in California found that without effective shielding on spacecraft, powerful proton particles would probably sterilise any female embryo conceived in deep space
They also concluded that male fertility was likely to be negatively affected, with the particles damaging the sperm count.
Given that travel to distant planets is likely to take decades, centuries or longer, this could make any mission to colonise other environments a non-starter.
The scientists noted that space shield technology is currently not sufficiently advanced to offer enough protection from this type of radiation.
Dr Tore Straume, a radiation biophysicist at the centre, said: "The present shielding capabilities would probably preclude having a pregnancy transited to Mars."
(By Andy Bloxham, UK Telegraph) - Researchers at the agency's Ames Research Centre in California found that without effective shielding on spacecraft, powerful proton particles would probably sterilise any female embryo conceived in deep space
They also concluded that male fertility was likely to be negatively affected, with the particles damaging the sperm count.
Given that travel to distant planets is likely to take decades, centuries or longer, this could make any mission to colonise other environments a non-starter.
The scientists noted that space shield technology is currently not sufficiently advanced to offer enough protection from this type of radiation.
Dr Tore Straume, a radiation biophysicist at the centre, said: "The present shielding capabilities would probably preclude having a pregnancy transited to Mars."
posted by BP News Bureau | 9:12 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home