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Imaging the Moon’s interior with fiber-optics

Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology, scientists deployed fibre-optic cables across the lunar surface to detect seismic waves generated by moonquakes, meteorites, and landings. The cables can record signals at a higher spatial resolution than traditional seismic networks.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalEarth and Space Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 24, 2026

Muscle tissue from a 3D printer – produced in zero gravity

Researchers at ETH Zurich have successfully produced muscle tissue using a new biofabrication system called G-FLight in microgravity. The process enables rapid production of viable muscle constructs with similar cell viability and muscle fibers as those printed under gravity.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2025

Space tourists' experience might be affected by how their parasympathetic nervous system functions, per study of novice passengers during and after zero-gravity parabolic flights

A study on novice passengers during and after zero-gravity parabolic flights reveals that their parasympathetic nervous system function plays a crucial role in shaping their space travel experience. The research highlights the need for assistance to be provided to space tourists to mitigate potential effects.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateApr 23, 2025

Sliding down

Researchers discover that disordered solids lose stability at low-frequency vibrations near zero, leading to a 'loose state' where particles slide in clusters. The theory applies to materials with negligible thermal fluctuations, including those found in space.

Buck researchers explore how the immune system goes awry during space travel and the implications for human aging on earth

Scientists studied how microgravity impacts human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and identified potential compounds to counter its effects, including the antioxidant quercetin. The findings have implications for immune aging on Earth and provide a resource for developing countermeasures.

SourceBuck Institute for Research on Aging·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2024

Flow research on the outskirts of space

A European research team conducted experiments in weightlessness to isolate the classic diffusion phenomenon, closing the gap with experimental validation. The study used a sounding rocket to create a state of almost complete weightlessness, allowing researchers to run their experiments automatically.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·Journalnpj Microgravity·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 4, 2024

CSI in space: Analyzing bloodstain patterns in microgravity

Researchers at Staffordshire University and the University of Hull studied bloodstain patterns in microgravity, revealing unique challenges for forensic investigators. The study found that amplified surface tension and cohesion cause blood droplets to stick to surfaces, leading to slower spread rates and altered shapes.

SourceStaffordshire University·JournalForensic Science International Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 8, 2024

Graphene goes to space!

The Graphene Flagship partners with the European Space Agency and the University of Cambridge to launch a rocket into space, testing the printing of graphene patterns on silicon substrates in zero gravity. The mission aims to validate graphene's self-assembly properties and pave the way for its use in long-term space exploration.

Where to grab space debris

MIT researchers developed an algorithm to gauge space debris rotation using visual information, achieving high accuracy in most measures. The algorithm's probabilistic approach and Gaussian distribution modeling enable efficient collection of space trash, including thousands of broken satellites.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Field Robotics·DateSep 10, 2014