The Hidden Health Risks of Traveling to Mars: What Space Radiation Does to the Body

Scientists studying the effects of simulated deep-space travel have uncovered concerning long-term health risks.

Experiments combining cosmic radiation exposure with simulated weightlessness in rats revealed progressive heart scarring, impaired immune recovery, and lasting genetic mutations linked to cardiovascular disease and leukemia.

What might these findings mean for future missions to Mars and beyond, where astronauts face radiation levels far beyond Earth’s protection?

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