Space flights irreversibly damage kidneys

Space travel, while impressive, carries significant health risks for humans. A recent study reveals that microgravity and cosmic radiation alter the structure and function of the kidneys, potentially causing permanent damage. These findings raise concerns about long-term missions, particularly to Mars.


According to researchers from University College London (UCL), space flights impair the kidneys, with galactic radiation causing lasting damage. This study, published in Nature Communications, is the largest analysis to date concerning kidney health in space.

Since the 1970s, it has been known that space stays lead to health problems such as bone mass loss and kidney stones. However, the specific effects on the kidneys during extended missions beyond Earth's magnetic field had been little studied until now.

This research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, St Peters Trust, and Kidney Research UK, involved biomolecular and physiological analyses of data from space missions and simulations on mice. The results show that the kidneys, particularly the renal tubules, undergo significant structural changes after less than a month in microgravity. Galactic radiation, on the other hand, causes even more severe damage.

The implications for missions to Mars are troubling. The kidneys of mice exposed to galactic radiation during simulated periods of 2.5 years showed permanent damage. This suggests that astronauts might require intensive care, such as dialysis, seriously compromising long-duration missions.

Despite these challenges, the researchers emphasize that identifying the problems is a crucial step toward developing solutions. Understanding renal biology could lead to protective measures for space travel and medical applications on Earth, notably for patients undergoing radiotherapy.