00:04Experts have long documented the effects of living in microgravity on the human body.
00:08Finding it causes drastic changes to bones, blood, and more.
00:12Now scientists are looking to see just what effect being in orbit around Earth
00:16might have on a human's biological age.
00:19Astronauts suffer from muscle atrophy, a problem with their joint, with their bone,
00:24and also with the immune system.
00:27When we noticed this, we found that this is actually, at some point,
00:31similar to a different age-related disease.
00:34And this leads us to ask the question,
00:37if the space might provide us with an exerlating aging model.
00:42This is Dr. Gata Alsaleh, lead researcher on the project.
00:46They have now sent what they call organoid samples, or human cell analogs,
00:50up to the International Space Station, where they will now age and be observed.
00:54They will then be compared to a control set of organoid cells here on Earth.
00:57To define whether or not space ages cells at a faster rate,
01:01the researchers say their ultimate goal is to better understand the aging process in general,
01:05and to possibly discover ways to slow it down.
01:08Not just for astronauts, but for all of us perpetual terrestrial dwellers as well.
01:12So I really focus to help people on Earth, but at the same time,
01:16would definitely help the astronaut not to age faster,
01:21and maybe to treat all this disorder that they have during their mission.
01:26If you want a family member to help individuals,
01:27should be friends, in the audience right now,
01:27Bye-bye.
01:27Bye.
