Does the Heart Age Faster in Space?
PULSE researchers explain heart aging in space to young audiences in a new Frontiers for Young Minds publication
We know space travel is tough on the human body—but did you know it can actually make the heart age faster? A new article co-authored by researchers from the PULSE project dives into this issue, exploring how space radiation, microgravity, and stress can take a toll on the cardiovascular system.
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds, a journal that makes science accessible to younger audiences, the article was written by Emil Rehnberg, Bjorn Baselet, Lorenzo Moroni, Sarah Baatout, and Kevin Tabury—with the help of two young reviewers, Clara (11) and Elanor (14). The result? A clear and engaging look at why astronauts face a higher risk of heart disease after space missions and how we can work to prevent it.
One of the exciting solutions? Mini-hearts. These tiny lab-grown heart models help researchers study how space conditions impact heart cells, without relying on animal models. This connects directly to PULSE, where our team is developing new bioprinting technologies using acoustic and magnetic forces in microgravity to create even more advanced cardiac models.
By improving how we study the heart in space, we’re not just helping astronauts—we’re also paving the way for better treatments for heart disease here on Earth.