EXPLAINED: WHY ASTRONAUTS AGE SLOWER IN SPACE
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3 April 2024
Led by scientific prowess and human quest and endeavour, space is already emerging as the next great frontier
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But space travel offers new challenges that require astronauts to prepare for months, sometimes years
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Scientists have also noticed that on an epigenetic level, astronauts age more slowly during long-term simulated space travel
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The phenomenon is a result of time dilation, which is a consequence of Einstein's theory of relativity
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According to this theory, time is relative, and it can be influenced by factors such as gravity and velocity
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In space, people experience stressors like microgravity, cosmic radiation and social isolation, which can all impact aging
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Also, due to weaker gravitational force and high velocities in space, time appears to pass at a slightly slower rate for astronauts
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This effect is known as Gravitational time dilation, which has been confirmed with highly precise atomic clocks
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The effect is also observed on fast-moving aeroplanes and in strong gravitational fields
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ESA said that after spending six months on the ISS, astronauts have aged about 0.005 seconds less than the rest of us
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