Space Life Sciences

Astronaut Carl E. Walz performs CPR on a chest model while aboard the ISS.
Courtesy of NASA.
Effects of microgravity on body systems, countermeasures to promote astronaut health in space
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Diagnosing Injuries in Space
Podcast Plus
Scott A. Dulchavsky, MD, PhD, has developed a technique to train space flight crews to conduct medical-quality ultrasound imaging in space (podcast with lessons and more).
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Gauging Effects of Fatigue and Stress
Podcast Plus
David F. Dinges, PhD, is developing a test that will help astronauts to gauge fatigue and stress during long missions in space (podcast with lessons and more).
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Gravity and Buoyancy
Lesson
Students compare the behavior of a water-filled plastic bag, both inside and outside of a container of water, to begin to understand environments with gravity and those with reduced gravity.
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Hazards of Lunar Dust
Podcast Plus
G. Kim Prisk, PhD, DSc, talks about the health hazards of lunar dust (podcast with lessons and more).
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Heart: Challenge of Microgravity
Lesson
Students use water balloons to simulate the effects of gravity and microgravity on fluid distribution in the body.
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Muscles and Bones in Space
Lesson
Students learn how human muscles and bones change during space missions, and devise preventative solutions to help limit those changes.
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Muscles and Bones: Center of Gravity
Lesson
Students learn about center of gravity and how the body adjusts to the force of gravity to remain balanced.
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Remote Sensors for Medical Feedback
Podcast Plus
Babs R. Soller, PhD, is developing non-invasive techniques to measure blood and tissue chemistry, and help monitor the health of astronauts in space (podcast with lessons and more).
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Sleep Quality
Podcast Plus
To improve the quality of astronauts' sleep, neuroscientist George C. Brainard, PhD, is researching the effects of space flight on circadian rhythms (podcast with lessons and more).
Grades: K-2 -
Sleeping in Space
Lesson
Students read about how astronauts sleep in space, relate this information to times they have had difficulty sleeping, and write about unusual places in which they have slept.
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Staying Fit in Space
Podcast Plus
Benjamin D. Levine, MD, researches exercise programs to learn how astronauts can maintain fitness while living and working in microgravity (podcast with lessons and more).