00:00What if the future of human space travel depended on tiny worms the size of a grain of rice?
00:05Right now, UK scientists have sent microscopic worms to the International Space Station
00:10to solve one of space travel's biggest problems.
00:14How do astronauts survive long missions to the moon and beyond without their bodies breaking down?
00:19In space, humans lose muscle and bone strength.
00:23Radiation can damage DNA.
00:25Even eyesight can change.
00:26So scientists chose a surprising test subject called C. elegans.
00:30These tiny worms share many genetic similarities with humans.
00:35The worms are living inside a special petri pod aboard the ISS.
00:38It has 12 mini-chambers, where scientists can track how microgravity and radiation affect living organisms in real time.
00:46The goal is simple but huge.
00:48If researchers can understand how these worms survive space,
00:52they could develop ways to protect future astronauts on missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
00:58Tiny worms today.
00:59Healthier humans in deep space tomorrow.
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