SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences – serie

This volume of the series Space Life Sciences provides insights into the latest findings of gravity research and the effect of gravity on biological systems, specifically on a cellular and molecular level. It starts by explaining the underlying physics of gravity and presenting some novel ideas on the basic principles of gravity perception. It then goes on to discuss how, in response to gravity perception, secondary messengers such as calcium and hydrogen peroxide, might control responses further downstream, like gene and protein expression and modulation. Further, it describes the consequences for animal and plant cells as well as for metabolism.Written by experts in the field, this book is a valuable resource for students and researchers in biochemistry, medicine and biomedicine, wanting to gain a solid understanding of membrane biology, secondary messenger function and gene and protein expression, specifically in the context of gravity.

This volume of the series Springer Briefs in Space Life Sciences explains the physics and biology of radiation in space, defines various forms of cosmic radiation and their dosimetry, and presents a range of exposure scenarios. It also discusses the effects of radiation on human health and describes the molecular mechanisms of heavy charged particles’ deleterious effects in the body. Lastly, it discusses countermeasures and addresses the vital question: Are we ready for launch? Written for researchers in the space life sciences and space biomedicine, and for master’s students in biology, physics, and medicine, the book will also benefit all non-experts endeavouring to understand and enter space.

This volume on astrobiology of the Springer Briefs in Life Sciences book series addresses the three fundamental questions on origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe: how does life begin and evolve? Is there life beyond Earth and, if so, how can we detect it? What is the future of life on Earth and in the universe? The book provides insights into astrobiological experiments that are being performed on the International Space Station, ISS, and discusses their findings.This extremely exciting volume on astrobiology is intended for scientists of various research fields and for laypersons interested in space research and in the fundamental issues of the universe and life.

This last volume of the SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences series is setup in 5 main parts.The 1st part shortly summarizes the history of life science research in space from the late 40s until today with focus on Europe and Germany, followed by a part on describing flight opportunities including the Space Shuttle/Spacelab system and the International Space Station ISS; in the 3rd part it focuses on extraordinary success stories of this constantly challenging research program and highlights some important key findings in space life science research. The book introduces in the 4th part innovative developments in non-invasive biomedical diagnostics and training methods for astronauts that emerge from this program and are of benefit for people on Earth especially in the aging society. Last but not least in its 5th part it closes with an outlook on the future of space life sciences in the upcoming era of space exploration. The book is intended for students and research scientists in the life sciences and biomedicine as well as for interested lay persons, who wish to get an overview of space life science research: its´ early days, current status and future directions.

The book provides fundamental new insights in the structure and function of the healthy  NeuroMuscular system. Recent findings suggest that the musculoskeletal system that supports movement control on Earth is controlled by unique principles of structural, biochemical and molecular characteristics. Mechanical loading by working against normal gravity helps to support principal structures in bone, muscle and associated subcellular scaffold components. Disuse or immobilization of the body in bed rest on Earth or in microgravity in Space result in considerable loss of bone, muscle and force with downregulation of neuromuscular activity resulting in impaired performance control. The goal is to develop exercise prescriptions to maintain postural control in normal life, aging and rehabilitation on Earth as well as for an adequate human performance management in Space.

This book provides an overview of microgravity-induced changes in human metabolism, muscle, bone and the cardio-vascular system, and discusses in detail the nutrient uptake required during spaceflight to counteract these adaptive mechanisms and ensure an improved physical constitution upon returning to Earth. It addresses the needs of professors, researchers and students working in the field of human physiology and nutrition.

This volume of the Series SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences summarizes the newest finding in the field of mental health and physiological exercise in Space. Currently two major challenges are impacting human health in the western societies, one being a move towards a sedentary society, the second one being longevity. Both have a considerable impact on physical as well as mental health. Space life science research helps to understand the underlying degenerative physiological and neuro-psychological processes as living in space, living in microgravity can be regarded as a time lapse of the sedentary and aging human being. Translational research of the past years has shown that exercise can be regarded as a key factor to counteract physical and mental deconditioning in space, guaranteeing a holistic approach to health and a benefit to the socio-demographic changes of our society.The book is written for scientists in biomedicine, more specific in aging research, sports physiology and neurosciences.

This book comprehensively describes the physiological changes and consequences that occur in humans during spaceflight. It specifically presents the adaptations of the cardiovascular and the respiratory system. Specific changes occurring after 10, 20 or more days in space are depicted. Furthermore, the book explains various effective countermeasures that are required upon return of the astronauts to Earth. The book is a must-have for all biomedical and clinical researchers in the field of cardiovascular biology and respiration, and a fascinating reading for all interested laymen, who wish to understand a bit more about spaceflight research and technology.

This book gives insight into the mechanism of the immune system and the influence of the environment on earth. Further, the book explains the changes that occur in our immune system in the absence of gravity and their fundamental consequences.Several limiting factors for human health and performance in microgravity have been clearly identified as an unacceptable risk for long-term and interplanetary flights. Serious concerns arose whether spaceflight-associated immune system dysfunction ultimately precludes the expansion of human presence beyond Earth's orbit. The immune system has undergone many evolutionary steps to cope with a new and changing environment, but `space` has not been evolutionary experienced before. Through endocrine orchestration of cell functions, cell to cell communications and intracellular mechanisms the human body and his immune system have an enormous capacity to adapt and react to altered environmental conditions. Thus, the special sensitivity to altered gravity renders the immune system an ideal biological model system to understand if and how gravity on Earth is required for the normal function of cells and cellular networks. It is one of the most fundamental challenges to find out, if our organism and our cellular machinery are able to live and to adequately perform without the gravity field of Earth.  The book is written for immunologists and researchers in human physiology under normal and stressfull conditions.

This monograph describes the findings of spaceflight research related to spatial orientation, sensorimotor coordination and mental function. Exposed to the microgravity conditions of spaceflight, the human experiences a variety of physiological and psychological problems, which are presented here.  Recent findings of sensory motor research in space are depicted and their benefits for life on earth discussed. The examination of the vestibulo-oculomotor system for example has led to the development of innovative devices for the measurement of three-dimensional eye and head movements. These devices are currently employed in Earthbound applications such as eye laser surgery.The book is written for students and researchers in neurosciences, biomedical engineering, for neurologists and psychologists as well as for persons wanting to know more about biomedical research in space and its application on earth.

This book summarizes the early successes, drawbacks and accomplishments in cell biology and cell biotechnology achieved by the latest projects performed on the International Space Station ISS. It also depicts outcomes of experiments in tissue engineering,  cancer research and drug design and reveals the chances that research in Space offers for medical application on Earth.This SpringerBriefs volume provides an overview on the latest international activities in Space and gives an outlook on the potential of biotechnological research in Space in future.This volume is written for  students and researchers in Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Pharmacology and may specifically be of interest to scientists with focus on protein sciences, crystallization, tissue engineering, drug design and cancer research.

This volume of the series SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences describes findings from space and accompanying ground research related to spatial orientation, posture and locomotion, cognition and psychomotor function.The results are not only of importance to health and performance of astronauts during their space mission, but also impact people on Earth, especially in the ageing societies of the Western countries.The space environment produces mismatches between sensory inputs from canal and otolith afferents which are difficult to study in humans, and are therefore studied in the fish model. Brain and vestibular organ of fish are analyzed under altered gravitational conditions; particularly weightlessness and structural failures as well as malfunctions in different inner ear components are investigated and discussed. The book is aiming at students, engineers and scientists in space and aging research, as well as psychology, neurosciences and sensorymotor research.

This book provides an overview of microgravity-induced changes in human metabolism, muscle, bone and the cardio-vascular system, and discusses in detail the nutrient uptake required during spaceflight to counteract these adaptive mechanisms and ensure an improved physical constitution upon returning to Earth. It addresses the needs of professors, researchers and students working in the field of human physiology and nutrition.