'Backward and upward and tilted': Spaceflight causes astronauts' brains to shift inside their skulls

Space.comTuesday, January 13, 2026 at 4:00:00 PM
NeutralScience
'Backward and upward and tilted': Spaceflight causes astronauts' brains to shift inside their skulls
  • Recent research indicates that spaceflight causes astronauts' brains to shift within their skulls, potentially altering their cognitive functions and overall mental state during missions. This phenomenon highlights the profound effects of microgravity on human physiology.
  • Understanding how spaceflight impacts brain structure and function is crucial for ensuring the health and performance of astronauts on long-duration missions, particularly as humanity prepares for more ambitious endeavors such as Mars exploration.
  • The challenges faced by astronauts extend beyond brain shifts; issues like motion sickness during re-entry and the need for improved protection against cosmic rays are critical considerations. Innovations in spacesuit technology and addressing the unique needs of menstruating astronauts further underscore the complexities of human adaptation to space environments.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

Was this article worth reading? Share it

Recommended apps based on your readingExplore all apps
Continue Readings
Massive supernova explosion may have created a binary black hole
PositiveScience
A recent study suggests that a massive supernova explosion may have led to the formation of a binary black hole, providing new insights into the evolutionary history of massive stars. This finding highlights the complex processes involved in stellar evolution and the eventual creation of black holes.
NASA X-ray instrument finds black holes act like 'cosmic seesaws' shaping the universe
PositiveScience
NASA's X-ray instrument has discovered that black holes behave like 'cosmic seesaws,' influencing the dynamics of their accretion flows in a manner described as an energetic tug-of-war. This finding sheds light on the complex interactions occurring within black holes and their surroundings.
How Mars' ancient lakes grew shields of ice to stay warm as the Red Planet froze
NeutralScience
Recent findings suggest that ancient lakes on Mars developed ice shields to maintain warmth, potentially explaining how liquid water persisted on the planet despite a colder climate. This discovery sheds light on Mars' hydrological history and its capacity to support water in various forms.
Satellite sees snowy Greenland peaks from space | Space photo of the day for Jan. 14, 2026
NeutralScience
A recent satellite image captured snowy peaks in Greenland, highlighting the region's significant influence on local climate patterns. This observation underscores the ongoing changes in the Arctic environment as climate dynamics evolve.
Viruses may be more powerful in the International Space Station's microgravity environment
NeutralScience
Research indicates that viruses may exhibit enhanced capabilities in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS), suggesting that microgravity influences viral evolution in ways that remain largely unexplored.
We may be witnessing the messy death of a star in real time
NeutralScience
Astronomers are observing the red giant star R Leonis as it exhibits an increasingly rapid dimming and brightening pattern, signaling the potential end of its life cycle. This phenomenon, described as the star's 'heartbeat,' has been monitored for over two centuries, and recent changes suggest a messy demise may be imminent.
Mystery shockwave around dead star stuns astronomers: 'We found something never seen before and entirely unexpected.'
PositiveScience
Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery involving a mysterious shockwave surrounding a dead star, which has produced a spectacular nebula. This unexpected phenomenon challenges previous assumptions about discless systems in space, leading to a rare moment of astonishment within the scientific community.
Satellite sees 40-year-old iceberg melt, turn blue | Space photo of the day for January 12, 2025
NeutralScience
Satellite imagery has revealed that Iceberg A23-A, which has existed since the Chernobyl disaster and the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, is now melting and turning blue, indicating significant environmental changes.

Ready to build your own newsroom?

Subscribe to unlock a personalised feed, podcasts, newsletters, and notifications tailored to the topics you actually care about