Podcast Summary
Space travel and healthcare: Dr. Ronke Ola Bisi's work in tissue engineering and organ generation for space travel could revolutionize healthcare on Earth, making procedures like suspended animation a reality for those in need.
Dr. Ronke Ola Bisi, a mechanical and aeronautical engineer, is pushing the boundaries of biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine with her work in tissue engineering and organ generation. She's a previous guest on StarTalk and was involved in the 100-Year Starship project, which aimed to transform our world by making space travel a reality. The project's goal was to find ways to help the human body adapt to long-term space travel, including research into suspended animation and sustainable power sources. While we may not have reached the stars yet, the technology developed through projects like this has the potential to revolutionize healthcare on Earth, making procedures like suspended animation a reality for those in need.
Biology in Space Travel: The future of space travel may involve growing and regenerating organs and materials within spacecraft for medical needs and reducing resource dependence, with potential implications for Earth's environmental issues
The future of space travel may involve not only advanced engineering and physics, but also biology and tissue engineering. Instead of relying on mechanical organs or external solutions for medical needs, the goal could be to grow and regenerate organs and materials within the spacecraft itself. This not only reduces the need for external resources but also addresses the unique challenges of healing in microgravity environments. Additionally, this approach could have implications for addressing environmental issues on Earth, such as reducing the amount of clothing waste. Overall, the intersection of biology and space travel could lead to significant advancements and innovations.
Healthcare advancements in space travel: Genetic and tissue engineering hold the potential to create functional organs, eliminate the need for donors, and heal injuries at an accelerated rate without scarring, but face challenges such as immune responses and data fabrication scandals
The future of healthcare, particularly in the context of long-term space travel, lies in the advancements of genetic and tissue engineering. These fields hold the potential to create functional organs, eliminate the need for donors, and even heal injuries at an accelerated rate without scarring. However, it's important to remember that these technologies are not without their challenges. Gene therapy, for instance, has faced tragic incidents due to immune responses and data fabrication scandals. Yet, the promise of improving human health and even surpassing our biological limitations remains a compelling drive for researchers. So, while we may not be able to regrow organs or heal injuries instantaneously like Wolverine or Deadpool, the progress in these fields offers hope for a future where we can build better, stronger, and healthier versions of ourselves.
Healing abilities in space: Though Wolverine and Deadpool's healing abilities are not based on human biology, Deadpool's faster healing process is more authentic. Ongoing research focuses on helping humans adapt to 1G and microgravity environments without harm, with challenges like Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) still to be understood.
While both Wolverine and Deadpool exhibit extraordinary healing abilities, neither character's physiology is authentically based on human biology. Wolverine's rapid healing and lack of scarring are not biomechanically sound, and Deadpool's embryonic-like regeneration is not something naturally observed in humans. However, if we were to rate their healing abilities based on speed, Deadpool would be more authentic due to the faster healing process. Additionally, there is ongoing research in the field of bioengineering to help humans function in both 1G and microgravity environments without harm. One challenge in this area is Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS), which affects astronauts' vision and is still not fully understood. The cause of SANS is not definitively known, but it is not solely due to being in space or microgravity. Instead, it may be related to changes in fluid shifts in the body.
Space travel health challenges: Researchers explore bioengineering melanin for radiation protection and developing lower body negative pressure suits to prevent blood pooling in the head, while self therapy and preventative measures help maintain bone density during space travel.
Space travel presents unique challenges for the human body, including changes in gravity, exposure to radiation, and bone density loss. Researchers are exploring various solutions to mitigate these issues, such as bioengineering melanin for radiation protection and developing lower body negative pressure suits to prevent blood from pooling in the head. Additionally, self therapy and preventative measures may be used to help astronauts maintain bone density during extended space travel. It's important to note that while some solutions, like radiation shields and pressure suits, may be expensive, they are necessary for ensuring the safety and well-being of astronauts during space exploration.
Bone health in space: Maintaining bone health in space is crucial due to decreased osteoblast activity and increased osteoclast degradation, potentially leading to health issues like kidney stones. Research into natural materials like seashells and their proteins could provide solutions for stimulating bone growth.
For long-term space travel, maintaining bone health is crucial due to the lack of gravity causing osteoclasts to degrade bones while osteoblasts are less active. This leads to calcium being released into the bloodstream, potentially causing health issues like kidney stones. Currently, methods to stimulate osteoblasts in space are limited, and some solutions like bisphosphonates have risks. However, research is being done using natural materials like seashells and their proteins to encourage bone growth. Eventually, merging biology with synthetic materials to replace or revitalize cells could be a solution for extended space travel, but more research is needed. The Maya's use of seashells as implants thousands of years ago provides evidence of the potential for these materials to integrate with living tissue.
Organism preservation and revival: Scientists are researching various methods to preserve and potentially revive organisms, which could lead to advancements in medicine and understanding the aging process, but raises ethical questions and assumptions.
Scientists are exploring various methods to preserve and even potentially revive organisms, from freezing them to using immortalized cells. This includes research on hibernation-like states, warp drives, and even embryo preservation. These discoveries could lead to advancements in medicine, such as minimizing the need for heart-lung bypass machines during surgery. Additionally, scientists are studying immortalized cells, which have been modified to replicate indefinitely, to better understand the aging process and potentially create new life forms. However, it's important to note that these discoveries raise ethical questions and assumptions, such as the implications of preserving human bodies for extended periods of time. The field of cryonics, which aims to freeze and revive humans, also brings up philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness and identity. As research in this area continues to evolve, it's crucial to consider both the potential benefits and the ethical implications.