Space is humanity’s last frontier, as the classic science fiction series Star Trek says. After all, much of the universe has yet to be explored by scientists and astronauts, and most applicable scientific concepts are used only on Earth.
Therefore, among other space agencies, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), They are conducting experiments in the space microgravity environment.
One of the types of information What has not yet been discovered in the cosmic environment is forensic science; This isn’t surprising since space isn’t a place where many crimes or bloody accidents occur.
Humanity’s presence in space is relatively limited, but this will change in the near future, and scientists want to understand how it might be possible to solve possible forensic cases in an environment as harsh as the cosmos.
A team of researchers from Staffordshire University and the University of Hull in the UK He studies the behavior of blood in microgravity environments. The aim is to try to understand how the viscous fluid circulating in the veins of humans and animals would behave in a place where gravity is different.
“Examining bloodstain patterns can provide valuable reconstruction information about a crime or accident. But little is known about how liquid blood behaves in a changing gravitational environment.” [como no âmbito espacial]. This is an area of study that, although new, has implications for forensic investigations in space,” said study leader and bloodstain expert Zack Kowalske.
CSI in space: solving crimes in interplanetary regions?
To try to understand how blood would behave in space, the team carried out experiments in a Boeing 727 parabolic flight aircraft modified by Zero Gravity Corporation to replicate a ‘zero gravity’ environment. The study was published in the scientific journal Forensic Science International: Reports.
It is important to emphasize that the scientists did not use real blood during the experiment; They actually produced a substance similar to human viscous fluid from a mixture of glycerin (40%) and red food coloring (60%). To simulate how blood gushes out after a cut, the team used a hydraulic syringe to spray liquid onto pieces of paper during the journey on the Boieng 727.
The study was not conducted specifically to understand crimes in space, as forensic science is not limited to crimes. As a result, astronauts may experience accidents on the spacecraft or the International Space Station (ISS) and Researchers want to understand how our blood would behave if it was ‘exported’ into an environment that does not follow the same gravity as Earth.
“Forensic science is much more than just trying to solve crimes; it also has a role in accident reconstruction or fault analysis. With this concept, consider how various forensic disciplines could be used in a critical accident that might occur on a space station or space shuttle,” adds Zack.
The experiment was carried out in reduced gravity between 0.00 and 0.05 g, and in this way they were able to investigate the impact angle of the fake blood; The distance between the blood and the paper was only 20 centimeters. The article explains that the lack of gravitational influence strengthens the surface tension and adhesion of liquid droplets.
New frontiers of forensic science and justice
In simpler words, The result of the research shows that blood in space tends to stick to surfaces until a greater force acts and causes the droplets to separate. In other words, the spreading speed of the liquid jet is slower and does not reflect the scenario that would occur on Earth if blood spread to the accident scene.
In addition to gravity, air resistance on our planet also affects the angle of blood gushing from the human body.. Initially, scientists believed that microgravity would make mathematical calculations more accurate, but they realized that the increasing influence of surface tension in the absence of gravity caused larger changes in these calculations.
Ultimately, the study found that gravitational effects are decisive in understanding the angle of blood jets in space. So they discovered this Microgravity changes the behavior of blood drops and the stains they form in the environment, resulting in smaller shapes and sizes than they would be on Earth.
“We find ourselves in a new era of forensic science; just as research in the mid-19th century questioned what bloodstains meant in terms of causality, we are once again at the beginning of new questions about how new environments affect forensic science. [ciência] Astroforensics is a new subdiscipline that is still in its infancy. As we expand into a space-faring species, expanding the understanding of all forensic science in non-terrestrial environments is critical. Research is needed, research that covers all disciplines,” Kowalske concluded.
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Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
