Why do astronauts grow up in space, as Pablo Alvarez told David Broncano in Revuelta?

On this Monday’s program Insurrection We learned a lot of interesting things about space travel thanks for the interview David Broncano made with an astronaut Pablo Alvarez. The Leonese told him many details, from the fact that there are astronauts who specialize in cleaning toilets, until they have to use sunscreen look from the windows of the International Space Station. But without a doubt, one of the data that most caught the attention of Broncano and the rest of the program was the fact that astronauts grow up in space.

In fact, this is something that has been known for a long time. As Pablo Alvarez explained, space travelers can grow several centimeters during their stay outside the Earth, but this is a reversible growth. A few months after returning to our planet, everything returns to normal.

Why is this happening? The research aimed at analyzing it is not too old. Since long-distance travel began, it has been observed that astronauts grow in space, but until 2013, this issue was not taken into account for analysis. on the spot what’s going on in his columns. This is what we know, besides what Pablo Alvarez commented in Insurrection.

Reasons why astronauts grow up in space

It is enough to take measurements before and after travel to know that astronauts grow in space. In particular, it is assumed that they grow 3% due to microgravity. As stated in an article on this topic published in Scientific Americanan astronaut 1.80 meters tall can grow up to 5 centimeters. Pablo Alvarez explained that his size is 1.88, so in his case it would be almost 6 centimeters. He explained to David Broncano that you can even grow 7 centimeters.

All this has been known for a long time. The reason, logically, is microgravity. The most common hypothesis before data could be obtained was that the vertebrae, lacking the force that pushes down, you can relax and expandso that the spine is stretched.

This may seem purely anecdotal, but it often causes back pain in astronauts, which also requires rehabilitation upon return to Earth. For this reason, in 2013, a group of NASA scientists decided to send ultrasound machine and train a group of astronauts to use it. Thus, the changes in the spine that allow astronauts to grow in space could be seen in situ.

Injuries may also occur

This group of NASA scientists has published several studies on this topic. The first data on specific changes in the spine were published in 2018. In that study, data on the height of 7 astronauts was released. They underwent ultrasounds before and after their time in space, but this time it was also possible during it, since the astronauts themselves had received the necessary training in their use. Pablo Alvarez already said this yesterday in Insurrection. They are often taught ideas about tasks that have nothing to do with your job. This includes minor interventions such as tooth extraction and, in this case, diagnostic tests such as an ultrasound scan of the spine.

Thanks to tests carried out before, during and after space flight, it was clear that spinal abnormalitiesHow drying of the spinal disc or formation of osteophytes. The latter are projections that appear on the bone and can be very painful. They are also called spurs.

This is due to the fact that astronauts actually grow up in space. Growing up isn’t particularly painful, but all these spinal abnormalities are.

Other information Pablo Alvarez told David Broncano in Insurrection

We learned a lot from David Broncano’s interview with Pablo Alvarez that space travel. First of all, an explanation of what happened interdisciplinary This is the job of astronauts. Additionally, he mentioned the many risks they take and why they undergo such rigorous training while they are still on Earth.

Pablo Alvarez has spent the last month in the cold in the Aran Valley or life V pool bottom. This was the necessary explanation in one of David Broncano’s classic questions Insurrection. We can already imagine which one it is.

The point is that it was very interesting to see how, again, Insurrection brought the most advanced achievements of science to prime timewithout losing his classic sense of humor. During an interview, only a few strokes may be applied, but together with them they awaken our interest in learning more. Now, for example, we know why astronauts grow up in space.