The researchers of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen discussed the present status of the experiments and their final settings at the International Space Station (ISS) in an online and live connection with the HUNOR team supporting the mission of Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu at what is called Payload Support Center.
“Radish and wheat seeds treated with our researchers' method have started to grow into plants which are already 2 to 3 centimeters tall. The germination of pepper is naturally slower, and its experimental settings were finalized yesterday without any problems. All in all, apart from being very excited, our entire research team is also very satisfied,” said Szilvia Veres, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management at the University of Debrecen and lead researcher of the VITAPRIC program, following Tuesday's meeting.
Professor Emeritus Miklós Fári, the professional coordinator of the research projects, added that the most intriguing question of scientific studies is how to create life in the shortest possible time with the most complex and minimal use of water.
“Tibor Kapu has taken thousands of radish, wheat and pepper seeds with him to the International Space Station, half of which previously underwent a selenium-rich “life-supporting” treatment. These plants are grown using only 500 milliliters – 0.5 ml/per plant – of water. This amount is sufficient to produce radish sprouts that can be consumed in 7 or 8 days as well as the raw material for wheat germ juice made from 2-to-3-week-old wheat sprouts,” said Miklós Fári.
The second research experiment conducted by the University of Debrecen on cerebral blood flow at the International Space Station also seems to be a success.
Professor László Csiba from the Department of Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine, who is the initiator of the idea, shared the following information with us. Continuous measurement of cerebral blood flow in space can only be carried out using a special robotic trans-cranial ultrasound, which penetrates the skull bone and can measure the flow increase or decrease in the visual cortex, motor cortex and areas of the brain involved in spatial orientation. This is done using a ‘halo-type’ ultrasound device that can be attached to the head.
“These tests are necessary because, in a microgravity environment, the suction effect of gravity is dramatically reduced, so some of the blood “shot” into the brain by the heart stays in the brain. A mild degree of brain swelling or edema can develop, with symptoms like sleepiness, headaches, and disorders in thinking and vision. Fortunately, this so-called “space fog” normally decreases over time. The ultrasound measurements on the head will show how quickly and efficiently the circulation of the visual cortex, motor cortex and associative cortex is regulated, and if the astronaut is now suitable for completing tasks requiring good vision, precise thinking and fine movements,” said László Csiba.
Research is also being conducted about the ability of the brain's blood vessels to dilate during breath holding, since the carbon dioxide that builds up during such an exercise dilates the blood vessels. This test provides information on the adaptability of the brain's blood vessels. In another study, the ability of the visual cortex to dilate and increase flow is measured by observing if an intense visual stimulus, such as a rapid alternation of a chessboard pattern displayed on a computer screen, triggers a sufficiently intense response in the visual cortex.
László Csiba highlighted that a team made up of Eszter Balogh, Tamás Árokszállási, Ádám Schlégl and Zsolt Garami played a major part in the training of the astronauts at Earth conditions training grounds.
Research specialist Eszter Balogh underlined that the third phase of the research would be completed during the weeks following the astronauts’ return. Their original scientific objective was also to document the process, the changes and the speed of normalization of cerebral blood circulation after space travel.
For further information, go to:
https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax4#blog
https://www.nasa.gov/
Press Centre - ÉE
Photography: www.axiomspace.com
