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Related Concept Videos

Weightlessness01:01

Weightlessness

When an object is dropped, it accelerates toward the center of the Earth. If the net external force on the object is its weight, it is said to be in free fall; that is, the only force acting on the object is gravity. Galileo was instrumental in showing that, in the absence of air resistance, all objects fall with the same acceleration g. However, when objects on the Earth fall downward, they are never truly in free fall, because there is always some upward resistance force from the air acting...
Variation in Acceleration due to Gravity near the Earth's Surface01:20

Variation in Acceleration due to Gravity near the Earth's Surface

An object's apparent weight is its weight measured by a spring balance at its location. It is different from its true weight, the force with which the Earth pulls it, because of the Earth's rotation. Mathematically, an object's apparent weight equals its true weight minus the centripetal force that keeps it in a circular motion along with the Earth's surface every 24 hours.
The difference between the true and apparent weights is proportional to the square of the Earth's angular speed. Since the...
Principle of Equivalence01:18

Principle of Equivalence

According to Albert Einstein (1897-1955), free-falling and feeling weightless are intrinsically linked. If a person were in free-fall under gravity, for example, diving towards the Earth from an airplane, they would feel completely weightless. Similarly, a person descending in a lift may feel partially weightless. Broadly speaking, it is assumed that an object in a uniform gravitational field and an object undergoing constant acceleration in the absence of gravity are under the same...
Acceleration due to Gravity on Other Planets01:24

Acceleration due to Gravity on Other Planets

The gravitational acceleration of an object near the Earth's surface is called the acceleration due to gravity. It can be measured by conducting simple experiments on Earth. However, such an experiment is impossible to conduct on the surface of other planets.
Astronomical observations are thus used to measure the acceleration due to gravity on other planets. This can be determined by observing the effect of a planet's gravity on objects close to it. The crucial factor that helps in this...
Acceleration due to Gravity on Earth01:21

Acceleration due to Gravity on Earth

According to Newton's law of gravitation, the gravitational force on a body is proportional to its mass. According to Newton's second law of motion, the acceleration produced by an external force is inversely proportional to the force. Hence, the acceleration of an object under an external force of gravitation is independent of its mass.
The acceleration of an object close to the Earth, because of the Earth's gravitational pull, is called the acceleration due to gravity. It is always directed...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Reduced-gravity Environment Hardware Demonstrations of a Prototype Miniaturized Flow Cytometer and Companion Microfluidic Mixing Technology
13:59

Reduced-gravity Environment Hardware Demonstrations of a Prototype Miniaturized Flow Cytometer and Companion Microfluidic Mixing Technology

Published on: November 13, 2014

Effects of microgravity on human physiology.

Ben Cools1, Michaela B Smith2, Pierre Boutouyrie3

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Nuclear Medical Applications Institute, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Mol, Belgium.

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|May 20, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Spaceflight causes significant physiological changes in astronauts, including muscle and bone loss. Research is ongoing to develop countermeasures for long-term astronaut health and Earth-based benefits.

Keywords:
Bone lossCardiovascular remodellingEndocrine disruptionImmune dysregulationIntegumentary changesMicrogravityMuscle atrophy

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Culturing Lymphocytes in Simulated Microgravity Using a Rotary Cell Culture System
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Culturing Lymphocytes in Simulated Microgravity Using a Rotary Cell Culture System

Published on: August 25, 2022

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform
11:08

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform

Published on: January 13, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Reduced-gravity Environment Hardware Demonstrations of a Prototype Miniaturized Flow Cytometer and Companion Microfluidic Mixing Technology
13:59

Reduced-gravity Environment Hardware Demonstrations of a Prototype Miniaturized Flow Cytometer and Companion Microfluidic Mixing Technology

Published on: November 13, 2014

Culturing Lymphocytes in Simulated Microgravity Using a Rotary Cell Culture System
09:28

Culturing Lymphocytes in Simulated Microgravity Using a Rotary Cell Culture System

Published on: August 25, 2022

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform
11:08

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform

Published on: January 13, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Space Medicine
  • Human Physiology
  • Microgravity Research

Background:

  • Spaceflight presents unique challenges including altered gravity, radiation, and stress.
  • These factors induce widespread physiological adaptations in astronauts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on microgravity's effects on human physiology.
  • To explore underlying mechanisms and identify research gaps.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of in-flight spaceflight studies.
  • Analysis of ground-based simulations of microgravity effects.
  • Focus on physiological mechanisms and adaptations.

Main Results:

  • Microgravity causes skeletal muscle atrophy, bone loss, immune dysregulation, and cardiovascular remodelling.
  • Disruptions observed in skin, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, and reproductive systems.
  • Some countermeasures show promise, but many adaptations persist post-flight.

Conclusions:

  • Extended space missions pose risks to astronaut health due to persistent physiological changes.
  • Further research is crucial for developing effective countermeasures.
  • Findings may inform health outcomes on Earth.