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Are we trapped on Earth: space and accelerated ageing
Alistair Nunn1,2, Jimmy Bell3, Geoffrey Guy4
1Research Centre for Optimal Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK. a.nunn@westminster.ac.uk.
NPJ Microgravity
|December 22, 2025
Summary
Space travel may speed up aging by exposing humans to extreme conditions. Future spacecraft may need to replicate Earth's environment to ensure astronaut health and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Astrobiology
- Biophysics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Space exploration poses unique physiological challenges.
- Human aging processes may be exacerbated by non-Earth environments.
- The
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the hypothesis that space travel accelerates aging.
- To investigate the role of environmental factors in aging.
- To consider solutions for mitigating aging effects during space missions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing theories on aging and space travel.
- Analysis of the impact of extraterrestrial conditions on biological systems.
- Theoretical exploration of quantum biology and thermodynamics in relation to life's origins.
Main Results:
- Space travel conditions deviate significantly from Earth's evolutionary "Goldilocks zone".
- Exposure to these conditions may trigger accelerated aging.
- Life might be fundamentally adapted to Earth's specific environment.
Conclusions:
- Developing spacecraft that precisely mimic Earth's conditions is crucial for astronaut health.
- Origins of life theories, quantum biology, and thermodynamics offer potential insights into human adaptability in space.
- Further research is needed to understand if humans are biologically "trapped on Earth".
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