Accelerated Aging in Space: Human Stem Cells Affected by Microgravity and Cosmic Radiation

Metaverse Planet

September 9, 2025

As scientists work to understand how the human body reacts to space travel, recent research has revealed significant physiological and psychological changes in astronauts. A new study led by the University of California San Diego has found that human stem cells show signs of accelerated aging after spending about a month in space.

The study focused on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which are crucial for forming blood and immune cells. The cells were kept in specially designed nanobioreactors aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 32 to 45 days and were monitored throughout the process. For comparison, another group of cells was observed under the same conditions on Earth.

The cells sent to space showed several changes, including a decrease in their self-renewal capabilities, increased susceptibility to DNA damage, and inflammation in their mitochondria. However, researchers noted that this damage was not permanent, and the changes at least partially reversed when the cells were removed from the space environment.

Catriona Jamieson, director of the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute, stated, “Space is the ultimate stress test for the human body. These findings are highly important because they show that space stressors like microgravity and cosmic radiation can accelerate the molecular aging of blood stem cells. Understanding these changes not only helps us determine how to protect astronauts during long-duration missions but also aids in modeling human aging and diseases like cancer on Earth.”

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