Scientists warn: Going to space accelerates aging

New findings regarding the effects of space travel on the human body have revealed that the aging process accelerates. Research conducted by the Sanford Stem Cell Institute at the University of California San Diego has determined that human blood cells sent into space begin to lose their ability to produce healthy new cells.

Scientists have found that DNA damage increases in cells and telomeres shorten, increasing signs of molecular erosion. This has been shown to accelerate the aging process.

“These findings are critically important because they show that space stressors such as microgravity and cosmic galactic radiation can accelerate the molecular aging of blood stem cells,” said Dr. Catriona Jamieson, Director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute.

It was reported that research will continue to understand the long-term effects of space travel on human health.