[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":939},["ShallowReactive",2],{"category-space-medicine":3},{"category":4,"posts":42,"featured":937,"ebooks":938},{"id":5,"count":6,"description":7,"link":8,"name":9,"slug":10,"taxonomy":11,"parent":12,"meta":13,"acf":14,"z_taxonomy_image_url":17,"yoast_meta":18,"taxonomy_image":17,"_links":21},801,7,"Articles about medical technologies and healthcare provided on board of space flights.","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fcategory\u002Fspace-medicine\u002F","Space Medicine","space-medicine","category",0,[],{"listing_order":15,"child_category_ids":16},"23",false,"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F03\u002Fmars-1-1.png",{"yoast_wpseo_title":19,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":20},"Space Medicine - The Medical Futurist","Find the latest space medicine articles from The Medical Futurist!",{"self":22,"collection":28,"about":31,"wp:post_type":34,"curies":37},[23],{"href":24,"targetHints":25},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories\u002F801",{"allow":26},[27],"GET",[29],{"href":30},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories",[32],{"href":33},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftaxonomies\u002Fcategory",[35],{"href":36},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts?categories=801",[38],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",true,[43,252,399,514,631,732,841],{"id":44,"date":45,"date_gmt":46,"guid":47,"modified":49,"modified_gmt":50,"slug":51,"status":52,"type":53,"link":54,"title":55,"content":57,"excerpt":59,"author":61,"featured_media":62,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":66,"categories":67,"tags":71,"project_category":87,"contact_email_category":90,"yst_prominent_words":91,"class_list":111,"better_featured_image":139,"acf":183,"yoast_meta":200,"_links":203},22092,"2025-06-17T10:11:18","2025-06-17T08:11:18",{"rendered":48},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F","2025-06-17T10:11:19","2025-06-17T08:11:19","are-you-going-to-wake-up-from-cryosleep","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fare-you-going-to-wake-up-from-cryosleep",{"rendered":56},"Are You Going To Wake Up From Cryosleep?",{"rendered":58,"protected":16},"\n\u003Cp>More than 500 people let their bodies have cooled down to -200 Celsius and preserved in liquid nitrogen in the hope that someday in the future, science will be able to cheat death and make them wake up from their Sleeping Beauty state. As of today, no one knows whether they will ever have the chance for a second life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Relax, David, open your eyes!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s the last line from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt0259711\u002F?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vanilla Sky\u003C\u002Fa>, the movie remake about a wealthy playboy in cryosleep waking up after 150 years from his lucid dream (starring Tom Cruise as David). The audience doesn’t know what happens next, and whether he can survive the procedure, not to speak about living in a society where every one of his friends and relatives is dead, and people live a completely different way of life than he was used to. \u003Cstrong>Concerns about the feasibility of cryonics as well as its “afterlife” are as old as the birth of the idea that people could fall asleep for a long time and wake up as if nothing happened\u003C\u002Fstrong> – isn’t Sleeping Beauty about cryonics, really?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, the idea of preserving bodies in some liquid cooled down to below zero temperatures appears in many sci-fi movies indicating the concept has interested the audience already for a while. Do you remember \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=E-AmHZ17gWM\" target=\"_blank\">Han Solo being hibernated in The Empire Strikes Back\u003C\u002Fa>? And \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=WCtkibZqSpk\" target=\"_blank\">Ellen Ripley and the crew waking up\u003C\u002Fa> in a cryotube used for interstellar travel in the Alien series? Recently, cryonics and cryosleep are getting more and more attention as billionaires from Silicon Valley start to look at it as a real possibility to avoid death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, its principle is backed by news about \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.uni-stuttgart.de\u002Fen\u002Funiversity\u002Fnews\u002Fall\u002FSleeping-Beauty-in-an-ice-cube-How-tardigrades-survive-freezing-temperatures\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">a revived tardigrade\u003C\u002Fa> (tiny, water-dwelling organism) that had been frozen for more than three decades; and news about how scientists are trying to de-extinct the woolly mammoth. Back in 2013, Russian scientists \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.history.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcan-scientists-clone-a-woolly-mammoth-should-they\" target=\"_blank\">discovered\u003C\u002Fa> a well-preserved woolly mammoth carcass trapped in the permafrost of northern Siberia for some 42,000 years. They named the specimen Buttercup (of course). Now, George Church and his team are trying to extract DNA from the ancient mammoth specimen and use gene editing to combine it with that of the Asian elephant. Such news could give ideas to some people: what if I let my body preserve in ice, too, and will be recreated somehow in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The brief history of cryonics\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s precisely the basic idea of cryonics. The word itself is also \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fscience.howstuffworks.com\u002Flife\u002Fgenetic\u002Fcryonics4.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">derived from the Greek term for “cold”\u003C\u002Fa>, and \u003Cstrong>it means the low-temperature preservation of a human corpse, with the hope that one day it can be restored to life and full health. Bodies are cooled down to -200 Celsius and placed in a container of liquid nitrogen\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Michigan professor, Robert Ettinger proposed \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2008\u002Ffeb\u002F14\u002Fresearch.cryonics\" target=\"_blank\">cryonics\u003C\u002Fa> in 1964 in a book called The Prospect of Immortality, which argued that death could, in fact, be a reversible process. The first person to be cryopreserved was Dr. James Bedford in 1967. He died of kidney cancer, but his will was to be put into a cryo-chamber, in hopes that one day in the future, doctors would be able to bring him back. Ettinger, who died in 2011, went on to found the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.cryonics.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Cryonics Institute\u003C\u002Fa> in Michigan where he, his mother and his first and second wives all now reside in metal flasks kept at −196 °C.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep.jpg\" alt=\"cryosleep, stasis chambers, cryonics\" class=\"wp-image-56027\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep.jpg 1792w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-1536x878.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1792px) 100vw, 1792px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although the concept has never become mainstream, around six companies were established in the 1970s to use the technology. However, the majority could not cover the fixed costs of preserving the bodies, thus they went bankrupt, and the number of people choosing to sign up is steadily increasing year on year. \u003Cstrong>There are now \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2016\u002Fnov\u002F18\u002Fthe-cryonics-dilemma-will-deep-frozen-bodies-be-fit-for-new-life\">nearly 300 cryogenically frozen individuals in the US, another 50 in Russia\u003C\u002Fa>, and a few thousand prospective candidates signed up. There are even more than 30 pets at \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alcor.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Alcor’s\u003C\u002Fa> chambers, the largest cryonics organization in the world in Arizona, that has been around since 1972.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One tiny problem though. We’re not sure if we can wake them up – no matter how convincingly cryogenics companies are stating it otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Traveling in cryosleep\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> to Mars?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s the same trouble with cryosleep, the most popular means of travel for sci-fi movies and literature where protagonists go to other planets by light years. However, \u003Cstrong>if we could make it work, it would really be a game-changer — from saving terminally ill patients to solving one of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nasa.gov\u002Fcenters-and-facilities\u002Fglenn\u002Fbrr-its-cold-in-here-nasas-cryo-efforts-beyond-the-atmosphere\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">main problems of interstellar travels\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And there are many attempts to make it a reality. An Atlanta-based startup, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.spaceworks.aero\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Space Works Enterprises\u003C\u002Fa> was working with NASA to develop a stasis chamber (but the project \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.spaceworks.aero\u002Ftag\u002Fhuman-stasis\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">seems to be dumped\u003C\u002Fa>). According to the original idea, the module lowers the body temperature to 32 Celsius and creates mild hypothermia. And with multiple sessions, a room like that could be a massive advancement in space travel. But it’s not suspended animation, it’s rather \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nasa.gov\u002Fgeneral\u002Ftorpor-inducing-transfer-habitat-for-human-stasis-to-mars-2\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">deep sleep called torpor\u003C\u002Fa> significantly reducing metabolic rates for humans over extended periods. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, The Medical Futurist is not sure whether a form of deep sleep will be enough if we want to travel light years. We suspect we’ll need to come up with something better and for that, we’ll need more research into cryogenics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Wake me up when cryosleep ends\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The trouble with cryogenics and cryosleep is pure physics: our cells are filled with water. And when you freeze water, it expands and forms crystals, which irreversibly damage the body. \u003C\u002Fstrong>The Cryonics Institute is trying to fix that problem by \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dailymail.co.uk\u002Fsciencetech\u002Farticle-5270257\u002FCryogenics-corpses-brought-10-years.html\" target=\"_blank\">draining the blood and replacing it with an antifreeze fluid to stop harmful ice crystals from forming\u003C\u002Fa> in the body. At Alcor, they use a process called vitrification. They substitute the water in the cells with an antifreeze agent. So when the tissues are cooled to cryogenic temperatures, instead of crystallizing into ice, the chemicals clump together and become solid, molecularly similar to glass. And this new glass form prevents the cells from bursting and, theoretically, holds them in stasis forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, \u003Cstrong>recent advances in medicine have not proven yet that such complex systems as the human circulatory system or the brain can be “stored” with the help of anti-freeze material without causing damage\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Clive Coen, a professor of neuroscience at King’s College London says that on the one hand, the massively dense brain tissues cannot be handled by anti-freeze, and on the other, by the time the cryonics team arrives at the bedside of a patient who just passed away, some neurons are already irreversibly dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2.jpg\" alt=\"cryosleep, stasis chambers, cryonics\" class=\"wp-image-56029\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2.jpg 1792w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F05\u002Fcryosleep-2-1536x878.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1792px) 100vw, 1792px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No matter what, some people are still hopeful. For example, Anders Sandberg, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fhi.ox.ac.uk\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">of Oxford University’s Future of Humanity Institute\u003C\u002Fa> (a research hub sadly closed down in April 2024), \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fscience\u002F2016\u002Fnov\u002F18\u002Fthe-cryonics-dilemma-will-deep-frozen-bodies-be-fit-for-new-life\">told The Guardian\u003C\u002Fa> that he would pay for his head to be frozen in the hope that the brain’s contents might be “downloaded” into a robotic agent in the future. He gives the freezing, thawing and reanimation process “maybe a 5% chance” of working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Want to be fit and well? Jump into a cryochamber!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It’s understandable why people are not standing in huge lines in front of cryonics companies to be preserved upon death. At the same time, the idea of cryotherapies and the use of “freezing cold temperatures” for better health have become more and more popular in the last couple of years – especially since celebrities and sportsmen, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.health.harvard.edu\u002Fblog\u002Fcan-cryotherapy-stop-your-pain-cold-or-is-just-a-lot-of-hot-air-2018041813612\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Aniston, and LeBron James\u003C\u002Fa> embraced the technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Of course, the concept itself is nothing new – only the technology. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fprogrammes\u002Farticles\u002FXTsflSzkDtQDDygCr9FbRG\u002Fare-ice-baths-and-cold-water-really-that-good-for-us\" target=\"_blank\">Using cold water or hydrotherapy is an ancient practice\u003C\u002Fa>. Hippocrates recommended bathing in spring water to ‘allay lassitude’, and the ancient Egyptians turned it into an art form with essential oils and flowers. \u003Cstrong>If you ever placed a pack of ice on an injured muscle, you already used it and know the benefits. Here, the difference is that cryotherapy usually doesn’t use water or ice, only extremely low temperatures. In the case of \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.webmd.com\u002Fpain-management\u002Fwhat-is-whole-body-cryotherapy\" target=\"_blank\">whole-body cryotherapy\u003C\u002Fa>, patients sit or step into a cryotherapy booth for 3-5 minutes. The method is used to relieve muscle pain, sprains and swelling after soft tissue damage or surgery. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It has to be noted, though, that in spite of its popularity, there’s no convincing evidence about its proven long-term advantages yet. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.health.harvard.edu\u002Fblog\u002Fcan-cryotherapy-stop-your-pain-cold-or-is-just-a-lot-of-hot-air-2018041813612\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">escalating claims of benefit and rising demand led the\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fda.gov\u002FForConsumers\u002FConsumerUpdates\u002Fucm508739.htm\">FDA to warn consumers\u003C\u002Fa> recently that, “If you decide to try whole-body cryotherapy, know that the FDA has not cleared or approved any of these devices for medical treatment of any specific medical conditions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, cryotherapy, cryosleep, and cryogenics are here to stay. Perhaps the popularity of cryotherapy will fade as “the next big thing” comes, maybe we will never know whether cryopreservation works, but cryosleep will definitely develop further – as the most promising technology for interstellar travels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":60,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>Cryosleep and cryonics are getting more and more attention. Here’s everything you need to know about cryosleep & cryogenic sleep chambers\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,22137,"closed","","standard",{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[68,69,70,5],511,506,515,[72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86],302,924,383,387,412,994,1088,1089,1090,577,198,635,246,742,289,[88,89],950,951,[],[92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106,107,108,109,110],1771,1749,1773,1751,1775,1753,1779,1755,1883,1757,1759,1761,1583,1763,1721,1765,1723,1769,1747,[112,53,113,114,115,116,117,118,119,120,121,122,123,124,125,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135,136,137,138],"post-22092","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bioethics","category-cyborgization","category-science-fiction","category-space-medicine","tag-mars","tag-longevity","tag-science-fiction","tag-scifi","tag-space","tag-life","tag-cryosleep","tag-cryotherapy","tag-cryogenics","tag-space-travel","tag-death","tag-cryonics","tag-future","tag-nasa","tag-innovation","project_category-medical-professionals","project_category-patients",{"id":62,"alt_text":140,"caption":64,"description":140,"media_type":141,"media_details":142,"post":44,"source_url":182},"TMF, Cryosleep","image",{"width":143,"height":144,"file":145,"sizes":146,"image_meta":179},870,489,"2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation.png",{"medium":147,"large":153,"thumbnail":158,"medium_large":162,"large_old_512x288":163,"thumbnail_old_150x150":168,"medium_old_370x208":170,"medium_large_old_768x432":173,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":176},{"file":148,"width":149,"height":150,"mime-type":151,"source_url":152},"043_hibernation-370x208.png",370,208,"image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-370x208.png",{"file":154,"width":155,"height":156,"mime-type":151,"source_url":157},"043_hibernation-768x432.png",768,432,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-768x432.png",{"file":159,"width":160,"height":160,"mime-type":151,"source_url":161},"043_hibernation-150x150.png",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-150x150.png",{"file":154,"width":155,"height":156,"mime-type":151,"source_url":157},{"file":164,"width":165,"height":166,"mime-type":151,"source_url":167},"043_hibernation-512x288.png",512,288,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation-512x288.png",{"file":159,"width":169,"height":169,"mime-type":151,"source_url":161},"150",{"file":148,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":151,"source_url":152},"370","208",{"file":154,"width":174,"height":175,"mime-type":151,"source_url":157},"768","432",{"file":164,"width":177,"height":178,"mime-type":151,"source_url":167},"512","288",{"aperture":180,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":180,"copyright":64,"focal_length":180,"iso":180,"shutter_speed":180,"title":64,"orientation":180,"keywords":181},"0",[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F043_hibernation.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":184,"cta_type":188,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":189,"key_takeaways":193},[185,186,187],11902,24598,55791,"subscribe",[190,191,192],24764,37033,31417,[194,196,198],{"title":195},"\u003Cp>If we could make it work, it would really be a game-changer — from saving terminally ill patients, to solving one of the main problems of interstellar travels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":197},"\u003Cp>Recent advances in medicine have not proven yet that such complex systems as the human circulatory system or the brain can be “stored”, even with the help of anti-freeze material without causing damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":199},"\u003Cp>Nevertheless, more than 500 individuals and a few dozen pets had themselves cryonically preserved, and another four thousands are on the waiting lists for cryonic preservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":201,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":202,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":54},"Cryosleep - An Overview of Cryonics, Cryosleep and Cryotherapy","Cryosleep and cryonics are getting more and more attention. Here's everything you need to know about cryosleep & cryogenic sleep chambers",{"self":204,"collection":209,"about":212,"author":215,"replies":218,"version-history":221,"predecessor-version":225,"wp:featuredmedia":229,"wp:attachment":232,"wp:term":235,"curies":250},[205],{"href":206,"targetHints":207},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22092",{"allow":208},[27],[210],{"href":211},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[213],{"href":214},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[216],{"embeddable":41,"href":217},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[219],{"embeddable":41,"href":220},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=22092",[222],{"count":223,"href":224},31,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22092\u002Frevisions",[226],{"id":227,"href":228},56131,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22092\u002Frevisions\u002F56131",[230],{"embeddable":41,"href":231},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F22137",[233],{"href":234},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=22092",[236,238,241,244,247],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":237},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=22092",{"taxonomy":239,"embeddable":41,"href":240},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=22092",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":243},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=22092",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":246},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=22092",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":249},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=22092",[251],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":253,"date":254,"date_gmt":255,"guid":256,"modified":258,"modified_gmt":259,"slug":260,"status":52,"type":53,"link":261,"title":262,"content":264,"excerpt":266,"author":61,"featured_media":268,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":269,"categories":270,"tags":272,"project_category":286,"contact_email_category":287,"yst_prominent_words":288,"class_list":293,"better_featured_image":309,"acf":347,"yoast_meta":355,"_links":358},24223,"2019-06-29T09:54:52","2019-06-29T07:54:52",{"rendered":257},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=24223&_wpnonce=f8b73c7f88&status=auto-draft&type=post","2023-03-02T09:54:20","2023-03-02T08:54:20","chernobyl-and-radiation-protection","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fchernobyl-and-radiation-protection",{"rendered":263},"From Chernobyl To Mars: The Future Of Radiation Protection",{"rendered":265,"protected":16},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2019. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the minutes after block 4 of the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl exploded, no one knew that they are experiencing a disaster that had never happened anywhere before on planet Earth. The public health, environmental, and even the socio-political consequences were disastrous and we can still experience its negative impacts. That’s why we posed the question of what public health authorities, as well as individuals, can do to mitigate the consequences of radiation exposure, and what digital technologies are available for radiation detection. In this respect, after our investigations, it even turned out that it would be beneficial to get to Mars as soon as possible. Are you asking why? We can only tell you to read on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Chernobyl brought nuclear energy issues back on the\ntable\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The\nHBO miniseries \u003Cem>Chernobyl\u003C\u002Fem> was a marvelous\npiece of television, but shocking for too many reasons: the political and\nsociological environment that greatly added to the catastrophe, the individual\nreactions to what happened and why, and the disastrous medical heritage that\nmany still have been coping with for more than 30 years already. Moreover, the\nChernobyl disaster still lingers over our head as we make decisions about\npublic health issues and nuclear energy use – and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2019\u002F06\u002F04\u002Fhealth\u002Fclimate-change-existential-threat-report-intl\u002Findex.html\">on the brink of climate catastrophe\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>,\nthese questions are more topical now than ever\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Based in Eastern Europe and having some personal experience in the Eastern block in the Cold War, one of The Medical Futurist team’s favorite scenes in \u003Cem>Chernobyl\u003C\u002Fem> was when the team trying to conduct cleaning activities on the roof of the nuclear power plant tries the brand new unmanned robot sent from West Germany. The high-tech device operated only for a couple of seconds. It turned out later that the communist leadership didn’t want to inform the adversarial West German government about the actual radiation values as they wanted to cover up the extent of the catastrophe, so the robot was calibrated for much lower numbers and didn’t stand a chance on the roof near the reactor that exploded. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nothing shows better the attitude that sacrifices people for the interest of the state than bringing a robot to the scene about which the Soviet leadership knows exactly that it won’t work and it won’t help the cleanup operations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-HBO-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"radiation protection\" class=\"wp-image-24224\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-HBO-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-HBO-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-HBO-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-HBO.jpg 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.themoscowtimes.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The\ndisastrous consequences for the health of people, animals, and the environment\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In another great scene, Valery Legasov, the lead scientist tells Boris Shcherbina, the Soviet apparatchik sent to Chernobyl to manage the aftermath of the disaster, why he has to decide for the evacuation of at least the nearby town, Pripyat. Legasov says that they both will likely be dead within the next five years – as a reaction, a visibly shaken Shcherbina answers a phone call. In another great tribute to the workings of the communist state, Legasov tells Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union what they would need to do as part of the cleanup operations and for how long will it take until the effects of the disaster wear off. He explained \u003Cstrong>how an area of 2,600 square kilometers has to be evacuated, how all livestock and every wild animal living in that zone have to be killed, how forests have to be torn down and the upper part of the soil around Chernobyl has to be removed. They estimated the need for 750,000 people and three years for the entire operation. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The suspense of the scene was palpable: what if Gorbachev says no and doesn’t allow such complex and long-lasting activities to be done for the protection of people’s health. In the end, he agreed to carry out the works, but it’s actually a fact that after the Chernobyl disaster on 26 April 1986, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.history.com\u002Fnews\u002Fchernobyl-disaster-timeline\">Soviet officials refused to cancel the May Day festivities in Kyiv\u003C\u002Fa>, just 140 km from the location of the catastrophe, even as radiation continued to be released unabated. As Shcherbina remarked at some point in the series, in Frankfurt, people don’t let their kids play outside – while the audience sees the students of Pripyat casually chatting on the streets. \u003Cstrong>So the question naturally arises, how dangerous was it to play outside. What have been the medical consequences in the short and long term that should have been considered? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAbandoned-Kindergarden-512x342.jpg\" alt=\"radiation protection\" class=\"wp-image-24225\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAbandoned-Kindergarden-512x342.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAbandoned-Kindergarden-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAbandoned-Kindergarden-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAbandoned-Kindergarden.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Abandoned kindergarten in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Ukraine, ghost town Pripyat. Source: www.emerging-europe.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The medical heritage of Chernobyl\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to the UNICEF, the explosion and ensuing fire spewed radiation over a territory the size of Germany and forced the abandonment of 400 communities in this formerly fertile agricultural region. But let’s slow down there a bit. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-47227767\">Two people in the plant were killed by the explosion, and, as air fuelled a fire that was burning for 10 days\u003C\u002Fa>, a cloud of radioactive smoke and dust was carried on the wind around Europe. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The first emergency workers rushed in as lethal smoke\nbillowed out. Of 134 who were diagnosed with acute radiation sickness (ARS), 28\ndied within months. At least 19 have died since. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.health.com\u002Fmind-body\u002Fradiation-poisoning-chernobyl\">The first symptoms of ARS\u003C\u002Fa> include nausea, vomiting, headache, and diarrhea,\nwhich can occur within minutes to days after exposure. In more extreme cases,\npeople can experience permanent hair loss, damaged oil- and sweat-producing\nglands, skin discoloration, scarring, and ulceration, or tissue death. In the\nfinal stages, bone-marrow decay, causing infections and internal bleeding, may\nlead to death coupled with unbearable pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>In\nthe months following the explosion, hundreds of thousands of people were\nrelocated, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.who.int\u002Fionizing_radiation\u002Fchernobyl\u002Fbackgrounder\u002Fen\u002F\">nearly 600,000 so-called ‘liquidators’\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>,\nmany working with no protection, sacrificed their health to contain and seal\nthe fiery reactor, as well as clean the contaminated area\u003C\u002Fstrong>. According to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.epa.gov\u002Fradiation\u002Fradiation-health-effects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EPA\u003C\u002Fa>, exposure to radiation in moderate doses (like the\nnearby town of Pripyat would have had) can raise a person’s risk of getting\ncancer – in particular, thyroid cancer. Additionally, children and fetuses are\nat increased risk of radiation-related health problems. Exposure at moderate\nlevels can cause cells to divide rapidly, which can result in developmental and\nbirth defects in these sensitive groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.who.int\u002Fionizing_radiation\u002Fchernobyl\u002Fen\u002F\">Chernobyl health records\u003C\u002Fa>, people living in the radioactive traces fell ill from cancers, respiratory illness, anemia, auto-immune disorders, birth defects, and fertility problems two to three times more frequently in the years after the accident than before. In a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fcommentisfree\u002F2019\u002Fapr\u002F04\u002Fchernobyl-nuclear-power-climate-change-health-radioactivity\">highly contaminated Belarusian town of Veprin, just six of 70 children in 1990 were characterized as “healthy”\u003C\u002Fa>. The rest had one chronic disease or another. On average, the Veprin children had 8,498 Bq\u002Fkg of radioactive cesium (20 Bq\u002Fkg is considered safe) in their bodies. \u003Cstrong>However, 30 years after the disaster, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-47227767\">the estimates of cancer cases related to Chernobyl remain highly contentious\u003C\u002Fa>. Some experts believe that it’s still unclear how iodine defection and cancer cases relate to Chernobyl, but it’s beyond doubt that the consequences last for decades and affect large communities. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-archived-image-Vladimir-Repik-Reuters-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"radiation detection\" class=\"wp-image-24226\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-archived-image-Vladimir-Repik-Reuters-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-archived-image-Vladimir-Repik-Reuters-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-archived-image-Vladimir-Repik-Reuters.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An employee (back) of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant undergoes medical inspection at a medical center in the building of a young pioneers’ camp after the explosion of the fourth reactor in May 1986. Source:  REUTERS\u002FVladimir Repik \u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, not only the physical but also the mental\nhealth of people was greatly burdened by Chernobyl. In its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-47227767\">seminal 2006 report on the long-term consequences of\nthe accident\u003C\u002Fa>, the World\nHealth Organization did conclude that many people’s mental health has been\ndamaged – by fear of radiation and severe disruption to their lives. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The responsibility of governments and the options for\naverage people\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The negligence of the Soviet leadership was striking in every aspect of public health possible. First responders were sent to the area of the explosion without any protection. There were no iodine pills in huge doses in Chernobyl to mitigate the potential effects of thyroid cancer from the release of radioactive iodine-131. The evacuation of the town started way too late – only after 36 hours, and people had no idea what is happening to them. The effects of radiation were not communicated clearly – and the fact that radiation exposure rather follows weather patterns and not concentric circles around the nuclear power plant was never communicated or not understood fully even today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Thus, \u003Cstrong>the question arises: more than 30 years after the disaster, are we better prepared for the public health consequences of a potential nuclear disaster? How could digital health help or what could space programs say about future options for radiation protection? As we said before, these issues are more topical than ever\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Currently, some \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fcommentisfree\u002F2019\u002Fapr\u002F04\u002Fchernobyl-nuclear-power-climate-change-health-radioactivity\">policymakers are advocating a massive expansion of nuclear power as a way to combat climate change\u003C\u002Fa>. On the other hand, Yuval Noah Harari, historian, and writer of the book \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ynharari.com\u002Fbook\u002F21-lessons\u002F\">21 Lessons for the 21st Century\u003C\u002Fa>, said in one of his lectures that nuclear power, climate change, and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are the three existential threats to humanity that we must solve if we want to survive. Thus, before we enter a new nuclear age, we should see how prepared we actually are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FRadiation-Protection-512x340.jpg\" alt=\"radiation protection\" class=\"wp-image-24227\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.applus.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Fear and panic in Fukushima\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>As the example of the Fukushima nuclear disaster shows, we cannot be sure that humanity entirely learned its lesson on how to handle nuclear emergencies. \u003C\u002Fstrong>When a tsunami flooded the Fukushima Daiichi power station in Japan in March 2011, and put its reactors into meltdown, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fenvironment\u002F2018\u002Fjun\u002F03\u002Fwas-fallout-from-fukushima-exaggerated\">some 150,000 people were evacuated in the days after the accident\u003C\u002Fa>. However, people were panicking: the government gave out no information about radiation levels and people had no idea if they were going to die. Even doctors were in the dark for 10 days. It emerged only later that radiation received by the public was rather low. By then, the scare and the psycho-social effects were so high that there are many people who would not return to Fukushima even if it were declared to be safe. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.who.int\u002Fionizing_radiation\u002Fa_e\u002Ffukushima\u002Ffaqs-fukushima\u002Fen\u002F\">WHO says\u003C\u002Fa> that the evacuation measures resulted in a sharp increase in mortality among elderly people who were put in temporary housings, along with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases, such as \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.hindawi.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjdr\u002F2015\u002F627390\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">diabetes\u003C\u002Fa> and mental health problems. The lack of access to healthcare further contributed to the deterioration of health. While there were no acute radiation injuries or death among the workers of the power plant, it is still early to evaluate the cancer risks connected to the disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FFukushima-512x362.jpg\" alt=\"radiation protection\" class=\"wp-image-24228\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FFukushima-512x362.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FFukushima-768x544.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FFukushima-1536x1087.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FFukushima.jpg 1828w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this picture taken on July 27, 2018 and made available on July 30, 2018, a staff member of the Tokyo Electric Power Company is measuring radiation levels between reactor unit 2 and unit 3 (Rear) at the tsunami-crippled Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture. Source:  Kimimasa MAYAMA \u002F POOL \u002F AFP \u002F Getty Images\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>How could digital technologies help in radiation\ndetection or protection?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While it is visible that authorities have a difficult and complex task to carry out when it comes to nuclear emergencies, so far, their performance has not been the most convincing in the area of protecting people. However, \u003Cstrong>in the age of digital societies and information technologies, individuals can take action on their own, too, right? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>First\nand foremost, it would make sense to gather the appropriate amount of\ninformation about \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.world-nuclear.org\u002Finformation-library\u002Fsafety-and-security\u002Fradiation-and-health\u002Fradiation-and-life.aspx\">radiation exposure and radiation in general\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>,\nand then monitor radioactivity on a regular basis.\u003C\u002Fstrong> For that, we have to know that we live on a\nradioactive planet: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-47227767\">natural radioactivity is all around us coming from the\nrays of the Sun, the food we eat, the Earth we walk on\u003C\u002Fa>. Dosimeters, plastic phone-sized gadgets that could\ntell whether the experienced amount of radiation is appropriate or not, could\nprove to be useful. The readings are in units called microsieverts (mSv), and\nwe are exposed to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fnews\u002Fdatablog\u002F2011\u002Fmar\u002F15\u002Fradiation-exposure-levels-guide\">2.00 mSv natural radiation on a yearly basis\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, \u003Cstrong>with\nthe advancement of digital technologies, dosimeters not only exist as bulky\ndevices, but as built-in smartphone apps or wearables, and we expect the trend\nto continue in the future.\u003C\u002Fstrong> For example, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fthe-physics-arxiv-blog\u002Fyour-smartphone-can-measure-your-radiation-exposure-ce9b464d68aa\">researchers in the U.S have developed an app\u003C\u002Fa> that turns an ordinary smartphone into a radiation\ndetector by using the built-in camera to detect gamma rays. Such an app could be\nindispensable for first responders of nuclear emergency services, for travelers\nwho want to measure their radiation dose as they fly, or for people who live in\nregions that have naturally high levels of background radiation such as those\nproduced by granite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When looking at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthepreppingguide.com\u002Fradiation-detectors\u002F\">the market of handheld dosimeters, or Geiger Counters\u003C\u002Fa>, one of the most widely used civilian-available\nradiation detector near the Fukushima Daiichi plant was RADEX RD1503, as it is\nreliable and has an easy-to-use interface. Another one to consider is the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGQ-GMC-300E-Plus-Radiation-dosimeter-monitoring\u002Fdp\u002FB00IN8TJYY\u002Fref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00IN8TJYY&pd_rd_r=4TFBS67228DMQRWA4VA0&pd_rd_w=kuST9&pd_rd_wg=68VEF&psc=1&refRID=4TFBS67228DMQRWA4VA0&linkCode=sl1&tag=preppingus-20&linkId=518c749238cffb999eace96db43687eb\">GQ GMC-300E-Plus Digital\nGeiger Counter\u003C\u002Fa> or the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB000796XSC\u002Fref=as_li_ss_tl?psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=preppingus-20&linkId=d13c8f2c37497012d58518f17d5b28a0\">GCA-07W Professional Geiger\nCounter\u003C\u002Fa>. Smart dosimeters\nalso appeared: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mirion.com\u002F\">Mirion Technologies\u003C\u002Fa>, a company based in\nCalifornia launched Dosime, a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medgadget.com\u002F2017\u002F04\u002Fdosime-smart-radiation-detector-personal-home-use.html\">user-friendly, smart\nelectronic personal dosimeter\u003C\u002Fa> that is able to calculate and determine the amount\nof ionizing radiation a person is exposed to on a daily basis. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And if you are also curious about the levels of radiation on other places due to your travels, for example, you can check out the interactive \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.uradmonitor.com\u002F\">uRADmonitor\u003C\u002Fa>. The map shows global radiation data in real time stemming from IoT devices equipped with sensors for monitoring cities, offices, and homes in more than 40 countries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FuRADmonitor-512x233.jpg\" alt=\"radiation protection\" class=\"wp-image-24229\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FuRADmonitor-512x233.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FuRADmonitor-768x349.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FuRADmonitor-1536x698.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FuRADmonitor.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.twitter.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What\ncould the future bring?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While it seems to be obvious that both public health authorities and individuals should be well-equipped when it comes to radiation emergencies, there are trends which show that we are going in that direction. Especially, when we look at the developments in astronautics. As we already mentioned, radiation also comes from the rays of the Sun, and when moving towards space, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-47227767\">with less and less shielding from the Earth’s atmosphere, the dosage becomes higher\u003C\u002Fa> – that’s why radiation levels are higher on a plane at 10,000 meters. Thus, \u003Cstrong>radiation protection is one of the most significant medical concerns of astronautics, especially as some are considering a future manned mission to Mars. That’s the reason why NASA has been carefully studying the effects of radiation in space on astronauts for decades already\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The ISS crew constantly monitors radiation exposure, including tracking of the short-term and lifetime radiation doses for each astronaut to assess the risk for radiation-related diseases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nasa.gov\u002Ffeature\u002Fgoddard\u002Freal-martians-how-to-protect-astronauts-from-space-radiation-on-mars\">The organization also says\u003C\u002Fa> that, for example, radiation shielding will be a crucial technology for a voyage to Mars\u003C\u002Fstrong>. From better shielding to advanced biomedical countermeasures, NASA is currently studying how to protect astronauts and electronics from radiation – efforts that will have to be incorporated into every aspect of Mars mission planning, from spacecraft and habitat design to spacewalk protocols. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When The Medical Futurist interviewed \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fastronaut-abby-and-the-first-mars-mission\">aspiring astronaut Abigail Harrison alias Astronaut Abby\u003C\u002Fa>, she also mentioned that regarding a Mars mission, one of the biggest medical issues will be radiation, but she also mentioned how it could be beneficial to our health back on Earth. “\u003Cem>Being in space, you get exposed to great amounts and unpredictable types of radiation that needs to be studied carefully. Trying to keep astronauts as safe as possible, to repair some of the damage that’s been done, and to create better shielding mechanisms will be important. That will have a huge impact on Earth as improved treatment of radiation as well\u003C\u002Fem>.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24039\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.businessinsider.in\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>What Abby is saying basically means that a successful voyage to Mars would not only be an incredible step to all of humanity, but it would also bring us closer to more effective radiation protection here on Earth. We hope that with every passing day, we’ll get closer to Mars and further away from the ghost of Chernobyl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":267,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>In the minutes after block 4 of the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl exploded, no one knew that they are experiencing a disaster that never happened anywhere before on planet Earth. The public health, environmental, and even the socio-political consequences were disastrous and we can still experience the negative impacts. That’s why we posed the question of what public health authorities, as well as individuals, can do to mitigate the consequences of radiation exposure, and what digital technologies are available for radiation detection. In this respect, after our investigations, it even turned out that it would be beneficial to get to Mars as soon as possible. Are you asking why? We can only tell you to read on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",24230,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[271,5],521,[72,273,274,275,276,277,278,279,84,280,281,282,283,284,86,285],1394,425,1395,1396,584,739,1389,1390,271,1391,275,1392,1393,[],[],[289,104,108,290,100,291,292],1571,1737,3181,5921,[294,53,113,114,115,116,117,295,121,122,296,297,298,299,300,301,302,134,303,304,305,306,307,136,308],"post-24223","category-future-medicine","tag-disaster","tag-technology-2","tag-power-plant","tag-public-health","tag-fiction","tag-astronautics","tag-chernobyl","tag-radiation","tag-health","tag-radiation-protection","tag-healthcare","tag-radiation-exposure","tag-nuclear",{"id":268,"alt_text":310,"caption":311,"description":64,"media_type":141,"media_details":312,"post":253,"source_url":346},"radiation protection","A worker measuring radiation after the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine, August 1986",{"width":313,"height":314,"file":315,"sizes":316,"image_meta":344},1600,1068,"2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl.jpg",{"medium":317,"large":321,"thumbnail":325,"medium_large":328,"1536x1536":329,"large_old_512x342":334,"thumbnail_old_150x150":338,"medium_old_370x208":339,"medium_large_old_768x513":340,"large_old_512x342_old_512x342":342},{"file":318,"width":149,"height":150,"mime-type":319,"source_url":320},"Chernobyl-370x208.jpg","image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-370x208.jpg",{"file":322,"width":155,"height":323,"mime-type":319,"source_url":324},"Chernobyl-768x513.jpg",513,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-768x513.jpg",{"file":326,"width":160,"height":160,"mime-type":319,"source_url":327},"Chernobyl-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-150x150.jpg",{"file":322,"width":155,"height":323,"mime-type":319,"source_url":324},{"file":330,"width":331,"height":332,"mime-type":319,"source_url":333},"Chernobyl-1536x1025.jpg",1536,1025,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-1536x1025.jpg",{"file":335,"width":165,"height":336,"mime-type":319,"source_url":337},"Chernobyl-512x342.jpg",342,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl-512x342.jpg",{"file":326,"width":169,"height":169,"mime-type":319,"source_url":327},{"file":318,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":319,"source_url":320},{"file":322,"width":174,"height":341,"mime-type":319,"source_url":324},"513",{"file":335,"width":177,"height":343,"mime-type":319,"source_url":337},"342",{"aperture":180,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":180,"copyright":64,"focal_length":180,"iso":180,"shutter_speed":180,"title":64,"orientation":180,"keywords":345},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FChernobyl.jpg",{"related_posts":348,"related_posts_footer":351,"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16},[349,185,350],24033,16433,[352,353,354],23724,21879,16309,{"yoast_wpseo_title":356,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":357,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":261},"From Chernobyl To Mars: The Future Of Radiation Protection - The Medical Futurist","What can we do to mitigate the consequences of radiation exposure after Chernobyl, and what digital technologies are available for radiation protection?",{"self":359,"collection":364,"about":366,"author":368,"replies":370,"version-history":373,"predecessor-version":376,"wp:featuredmedia":380,"wp:attachment":383,"wp:term":386,"curies":397},[360],{"href":361,"targetHints":362},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24223",{"allow":363},[27],[365],{"href":211},[367],{"href":214},[369],{"embeddable":41,"href":217},[371],{"embeddable":41,"href":372},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24223",[374],{"count":6,"href":375},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24223\u002Frevisions",[377],{"id":378,"href":379},49759,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24223\u002Frevisions\u002F49759",[381],{"embeddable":41,"href":382},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F24230",[384],{"href":385},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24223",[387,389,391,393,395],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":388},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=24223",{"taxonomy":239,"embeddable":41,"href":390},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=24223",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":392},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=24223",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":394},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=24223",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":396},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24223",[398],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":349,"date":400,"date_gmt":401,"guid":402,"modified":404,"modified_gmt":405,"slug":406,"status":52,"type":53,"link":407,"title":408,"content":410,"excerpt":412,"author":61,"featured_media":414,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":415,"categories":416,"tags":417,"project_category":424,"contact_email_category":425,"yst_prominent_words":426,"class_list":431,"better_featured_image":439,"acf":468,"yoast_meta":469,"_links":472},"2019-06-08T11:00:52","2019-06-08T09:00:52",{"rendered":403},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=24033&_wpnonce=3f423d958f&status=auto-draft&type=post","2023-03-01T11:48:07","2023-03-01T10:48:07","astronaut-abby-and-the-first-mars-mission","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fastronaut-abby-and-the-first-mars-mission",{"rendered":409},"With Rugby, Ballet, And Astrobiology On The Road To Mars",{"rendered":411,"protected":16},"\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2019. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#whymars\">Why would anyone want to go to Mars?\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#storybehind\">What is the story behind your dream?\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#astronaut\">What can you do more to become an astronaut?\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#skills\">What skills should astronauts have?\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#medicalchallenges\">The medical challenges in space\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#genome\">Genome sequencing and space medicine\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#tech\">Technologies to bring on board of a spaceship\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#firstonmars\">The first colonies on Mars\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#nightmarescenario\">A nightmare scenario about space travel\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"#brightvision\">A bright vision of the future\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When she was five years old, she looked at the starry night sky and decided right away to become an astronaut. After digesting dozens of science fiction books, she wanted to shoot for astro-navigator but settled to „just” go to Mars as a life goal some years later. She estimates that if she achieves being the best of the bests in astrobiology or planetary science, plays rugby, and dances ballet tenaciously, within 10-20 years, she will board a spaceship to the Red Planet. We had an enlightening conversation with an aspiring astronaut, Abigail Harrison alias Astronaut Abby about preparing for the first Mars mission, about nightmare scenarios, and why she is so fond of Stargate. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"whymars\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Abby, you have one of the\ncoolest Twitter bios ever: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FAstronautAbby\">\u003Cstrong>goal=1st to Mars\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong>.\nIt’s impossible to say something bigger than that in so few words. As a keynote\nspeaker, I have a narrative about why healthcare needs a trip to Mars and I\ndescribe what it would feel like to go through a medical condition on Mars. I\nuse this metaphor to show what exactly patients back on Earth today in\nhospitals go through, what feelings they have, and what challenges they have to\nface because those might be quite similar to what astronauts have to face\ntoday. And you can imagine how many people freak out by just showing them the\nperspective that they would feel isolated and alone in a faraway planet. Everyone\nthey love is back at home, everything is different. And the first question I usually\nget is why would anyone want to go to Mars if it’s like that?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I know that it is such an\nincredibly challenging goal and something that stretches the limits of what we\nare capable of as individuals but even more so collectively as humanity. And\nthat right there, \u003Cstrong>the very thing that\nmakes us look at it and shake our heads and say why would anyone want to go is\nthe reason that we want to do that. It’s because it forces us to step outside\nof our own boundaries. Going to Mars will cause us to really take huge steps as\na culture and as a society. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Every field will be impacted by it whether it’s the way we culturally view science, the way that we look at our dreams, or even just science itself. We always have this in space exploration but the more difficult the space exploration that we’re participating in, the greater the return is that we see from it in terms of science or technology that comes back and helps improve our lives here on Earth. So by placing ourselves in these hostile and absolutely not life-friendly circumstances, we challenge ourselves to solve these problems. And that comes back to improve everything on Earth, gets directly translated into all parts of our life, our technology, our medicine, everything really. And so for us, going to Mars has to be the next step that we push ourselves to do if we want to continue to see these types of returns and even greater ones from space exploration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"storybehind\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>I agree with you on this, and I believe that our job is to keep expanding the bubble of scientific knowledge and to use the scientific method to keep on discovering. In a recent interview, I was asked about the vision of\u003C\u002Fstrong> my own future, and I said that I wanted to see myself at the age of one hundred\u003Cstrong> being relatively healthy and boarding a spaceship to Mars. I’m not as brave as you, I don’t want to be the first one, I want to get there when it’s relatively safe, and it’s like a touristic trip. But when was the first time that the idea of going to Mars first came to you?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s a great anecdote and I hope you make it when you’re 100. I think it’s absolutely incredible that in 2019 we live in a time where space tourism to Mars is something that we can seriously consider. And just thinking about the fact that we’re growing up in a time where we can think about any such a realistic way about going to the Moon or to Mars blow my mind. It seems like it should be science fiction but it’s not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Abby-512x341.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24034\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Abby-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Abby-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Abby.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.wmfe.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>So I first decided that I wanted to be an astronaut when I was about five years old. It’s one of my earliest memories. One scene that I remember very clearly from my childhood is standing outside, in the middle of winter, when the air was super crisp and clear, looking up at the night sky. I had so much wonder and curiosity flowing through me, not really knowing anything about science. I was four or five years old but seeing these stars and thinking about how expansive that had to be, and how much was out there still to be learned and discovered, it was at that moment that I decided that I wanted to be part of that discovery and that I wanted to go to space.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That said, I still was a\nkid, and so I based my dreams on becoming an astronaut for the first couple of years\non a set of science fiction books. I used to tell people that I wanted to be an\nastro-navigator because that’s the term used a lot in science fiction books. Eventually,\nI was told that we don’t have astro-navigators yet because we don’t travel\nbetween stars but that I could settle for being an astronaut. So I reluctantly\nagreed on that. I just didn’t decide that I wanted to go to Mars until a couple\nof years later when I was probably around 9 years old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And just after having learned more about space exploration, the past of space discovery, and what we are currently doing with the International Space Station, everything that I heard, learned, and read pointed towards the next big step that we needed to take: going to Mars. This would really unlock the rest of our solar system, it would teach us how to be Earth-independent. It would be the first time on a mission that would be so far away from Earth that we wouldn’t be able to rely either on information or on actual physical help if something went wrong. So, you would learn how to get that far, to create these missions, but after humanity achieves that what really is the limit? We can go anywhere in our solar system once we figure out how to stay alive on Mars without assistance from Earth. And so when I learned about these things, about over 10 years ago, that’s when I started dreaming about Mars and I haven’t stopped ever since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"astronaut\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>And you do quite a lot of\nthings to achieve that. You pursue astrobiology, you became a pilot, you\nlaunched \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.themarsgeneration.org\u002F\">\u003Cstrong>The\nMars Generation\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong>. I’m pretty sure every major space\norganization knows your name by now. What more can you do to achieve the dream?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Oh, I’m hardly there. I\nhave a long way to go before I’m going to be eligible or a competitive\ncandidate to become an astronaut. I have done things in the past as you\nmentioned. I just recently got my pilot’s license. I’m graduating in a couple\nof weeks with my undergraduate degree. I also speak Russian and Mandarin to an\nextent, I scuba dive, which is important for astronauts, and I founded a\nnon-profit as you mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But when it comes down to it, one of the most important things for astronauts is really to have an extremely well-rounded education. And I’m just at the beginning of the path of what’s going to be a very long next couple of years. After I graduate in May, I’ll be taking a year off. Then I’ll hopefully be going into a graduate program to do a Ph.D. in astrobiology or planetary science. After you work yourself up in your field until you are the best of the bests, then you can truly apply to become an astronaut and believe that you deserve to get that really coveted spot. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are very few positions open. \u003Cstrong>It’s one of the most difficult to obtain jobs in the world just based on the number of people who apply versus how many positions are actually open at a time. So you have to be the best of the bests in your field.  In order to be competitive, you will also need to have additional experience to set you apart from all the other applicants. This could include a pilot’s license, scuba diving experience, language abilities, advanced education, research experience, and many other things.\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Cstrong>I’m really just starting down the path right now to hopefully become really qualified in the future.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FThe-Mars-Generation-512x290.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24035\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FThe-Mars-Generation-512x290.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FThe-Mars-Generation-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FThe-Mars-Generation.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Mars Generation. Source: www.syfy.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"skills\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Beyond these\nachievements, what are the skills you think are required for astronauts participating\nspecifically in Mars missions?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Looking at the future and astronauts going to Mars, they have to be able to work really well with groups. \u003Cstrong>The entire deep space mission will be a representation of humanity as a whole and it will require a lot of collaboration. That’s going to be thousands of people here on Earth working together to make it possible for just a handful of people to go out and to dip their toes into our cosmic ocean essentially.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Being a team player is\nalready a requirement for astronauts, but it’s going to be even more important\nwhen we start Mars missions because we’re looking at these long-term, isolated\nmissions where you’re leaving Earth behind, and with that everything that is\nfamiliar, and what makes us human. And you’re going for roughly three years out\ninto space with probably six to eight other people in a very small enclosure.\nSo you’re going to have to be able to work well together and have a very stable\nmental perspective on things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another important quality\nthat future astronauts will have to possess but doesn’t really get talked about\nas often is astronauts’ job as science communicators. They go to space, then\ncome back, and they have this responsibility to share those experiences with\nthe rest of us here on Earth. To make sure that the effort, expenditure and\ntime people have been investing on Earth to help astronauts achieve their goals\nin space really comes back to benefit the people through both technologies and\nthe inspiration they carry. So they are also educators and science\ncommunicators who have to make sure that their message really reaches the next\ngeneration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, you’re going\nto have to also be a jack of all trades for a Mars mission which connects to\nthe first point I mentioned. We’re sending a small group of people out for, roughly\nthree years and that means that everyone has to have more than one job out\nthere. So, everyone is going to have to be able to do basic medicine, to pilot\nthe spacecraft, to do mechanics and basically anything that you could imagine\nneeding to do or hiring someone to do during your life here on Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Now, imagine that you can’t hire anyone new to join your team if you have a need. It has to all happen with just six people. Thus, we’ll arrive at people who really do have expertise in their respective field of study and then also have a broad range of abilities in more mundane areas than we usually think about when we think about space exploration. You don’t want to go to Mars without your space planner. That’s for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FSpace-Camp-512x384.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24036\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FSpace-Camp-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FSpace-Camp-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FSpace-Camp.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Abigail Harrison and Kim Spummels give the thumbs up before a simulated shuttle mission during Space Camp, Huntsville, America. Source: www.eandt.theiet.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"medicalchallenges\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>When I saw \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.liebertpub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1089\u002Fspace.2018.29013.emu\">\u003Cstrong>Elon\nMusk’s publication in New Space\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong> about how he envisions\nthe colonization of Mars I was not just surprised, but I was shocked not to\nfind any medical challenges mentioned. So, \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.liebertpub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1089\u002Fspace.2017.0035\">\u003Cstrong>I\nwrote a publication for the journal\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong> focusing on the\nmedical challenges; how advanced digital technologies can help deal with those\nchallenges; and how those technologies can make astronauts the point of care because,\nin deep space missions, they won’t be able to rely purely on mission control\nback on Earth. How do you personally see these medical challenges?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Well, they’re not\ninsurmountable but they are definitely the biggest obstacle facing us right now\nin Mars missions. When you first start to talk to people about Mars missions\nwho are not part of the space industry, a common reaction is that they think\nthe most difficult part is launch, landing and, in general, transportation to\nMars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But when you think about it we’ve already done all of that. We have been sending rovers to Mars for years, even farther out into our solar system, and we’ve had success in those areas. \u003Cstrong>What makes the whole experiment really difficult are the human factors. We’re just such delicate creatures and space is really hazardous. So, when you pair that together, humans have a rough time in space and there is no way around that. I believe medical concerns and human factors are the areas where we have to learn the most in the upcoming years. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To be more specific, I\nthink that \u003Cstrong>regarding a Mars mission, one\nof the biggest medical issues will be radiation.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Being in space, you get\nexposed to great amounts and unpredictable types of radiation that needs to be\nstudied carefully. Trying to keep astronauts as safe as possible, to repair\nsome of the damage that’s been done, and to create better shielding mechanisms\nwill be important. That will have a huge impact on Earth as improved treatment\nof radiation as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Another significant issue is your mental health and well-being.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Just making sure that psychologically you’re taking care of these astronauts on this long-term mission as well as you can. We can’t yet predict what would happen to people being so removed from everyone else, to not be able to see any part of Earth for those three years, and also to have such a drastic distance between yourself and Earth that it takes 20 minutes to get a message to or from. This will take a huge toll on the mental state of astronauts and so just being able to really carefully monitor and work with that is a health concern that will be of importance in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And as it turned out with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fscience.sciencemag.org\u002Fcontent\u002F364\u002F6436\u002Feaau8650\">the release of the twin study that NASA just recently published\u003C\u002Fa>, there are all kinds of medical concerns, mysteries, and curiosities that have arisen from having someone in space just for a year. So in this twin study, we were able to compare these two twins – one who stayed on Earth and one who went to space for a year – and we learned that we don’t know a lot of what we’re looking at when we think about long-term space travel. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So when we start to think about if that’s what happened over one year, how can we project that out for three years? And that really brings us back to the point that it’s the biggest challenge we have and that over the next decade, it’s going to take a tremendous amount of work from a lot of people around the world to figure out what these challenges are and then to find solutions for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"274\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-Twin-Study-512x274.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24037\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-Twin-Study-512x274.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-Twin-Study-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-Twin-Study.jpg 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.sciencenews.org\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Do you specifically do\nanything, take any precautions right now to prepare for these medical challenges?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Since\nmy goal is to become an astronaut going into long-term space exploration, I do\ntry to just keep up a well-rounded health. I try to stay physically active, I\nplay a lot of sports, for example, I play rugby, dance ballet, I run marathons.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But\nthat said health is something that doesn’t happen overnight. It happens over\nlong periods of time. So, if you want to seriously consider going to space in\nthe future, one of the ways that you can help mitigate some of the issues is to\nmake sure that you’ve been healthy for decades, that you’ve had self-care:\nyou’ve been eating correctly and exercising enough to be the best possible\ncandidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"genome\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>In my case, for being able to live the fullest and healthiest life keeping in mind all my health risks, I got my genome sequenced. I also believe that all astronauts will have their genome sequenced before leaving on a deep space mission. Knowing about the risk at least might help in preparation for those. Have you got your genome sequenced?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No, not\nyet. Genome sequencing is an interesting field right now but I think I take\ncaution with the idea that we should be doing it as individuals and then making\nbig life changes because we just don’t understand as much as we would like to\nabout what these things mean or what the risk factors really look like. I also have\na concern about the general public having a lot of fear over things that they\nfound in their sequenced genome or something that’s actually not a problem but\nseems like it. People don’t quite understand that having a predisposition to\nsomething or that having a chance of something genetically doesn’t mean that\nit’s going to happen. That’s something that concerns me with genome sequencing.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, for jobs that are as incredibly intense as becoming an astronaut, \u003Cstrong>I think it is something that, like you said, in the future most astronauts if not all will have to have done before they go to space if not for research purposes alone.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Peggy-Whitson-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24038\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Peggy-Whitson-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Peggy-Whitson-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Peggy-Whitson-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FAstronaut-Peggy-Whitson.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.newsy.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Absolutely, it comes with anxiety\nbecause you will know about things you didn’t know before or you don’t even\nwant to know about. So, yes it will take a bit of time for us to get accustomed\nto genome sequencing. Concerning time estimations, when do you think could be\nthe first time when you would have a chance to go on a deep space mission to\nMars?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I think that \u003Cstrong>we’re really honestly looking at the mid to late 2030s. Given the issues around human factors, considering the extensive need to have a long-term commitment to deep space exploration from a governmental, political, and economic point of view, we need to have serious long-term commitments in order to make it happen\u003C\u002Fstrong>. It’s not a cheap airline flight where we’re gonna just pick up our bags and go tomorrow or five years from now. I really think that it will happen within our lifetime but not for a couple of decades at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"tech\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>And keeping that in mind, what\nkind of technologies would you love to see on board?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I think the idea of being able to produce\nartificial gravity is something that has a lot of interest. Maybe it’s not\nquite as on the horizon as going to Mars, so the first missions probably won’t\nhave that but I think that within our lifetime that’s something that bears\nconsideration. That would really get to the root cause of a lot of our problems\nwith deep space travel and would help us to make all of this a lot easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another technology\nthat has a lot of promise and that I’m\nreally excited about is artificial reality and virtual reality. I think we’ll\ndefinitely be using these in space travel in the future. These not only have great\npotential to help astronauts on these long space missions stay connected to\nhumanity, but also allow the maintenance of good mental health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"firstonmars\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>When do you expect the first\ncolonies to reach Mars, not just the first astronauts? When do you think that\nwill become a reality?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s something that we think about a\nlot: what comes next after the first settlers? Colonies. And \u003Cstrong>that one’s a little bit harder because\nwhile I do believe that we will have humans walking on the surface of Mars\nwithin the next couple of decades, I think that colonies are a little bit\nfarther out. I wouldn’t want to put a date on it but we’re probably looking at\nhalf a century from now\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Since first we need to achieve how to put people\nthere, and then we need to learn how to do so for longer periods sustainably\nand ethically. So to make sure that we’re not placing an extreme burden on the\npeople who are becoming colonists or fundamentally changing or altering Mars\nitself. I think those are both concerns we have to look at and say we shouldn’t\nbe colonizing until we can answer those two ethical concerns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And so we’ll have a better understanding of that once we’ve put humans on Mars for the first time. But I think it’s reasonable to look at that as something that could still happen within our lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24039\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FNASA-On-Mars-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.businessinsider.in\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>And as a science communicator, soon\nyou would start talking to people about what life can be on the Red Planet.\nWhat features and lifestyle elements do you think you will tell people about\nthat? What parts of life will be fundamentally different than life on Earth\nwhen we have the first colonies on Mars?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Okay, so \u003Cstrong>when we have the first colonies on Mars, the fundamental difference is the\ndifferent gravitational experience. Mars has roughly one-third of the gravity\nthat the Earth does\u003C\u002Fstrong>. And so you only feel one-third of that gravity on your\nbody, which can be great for people who have skeletal issues, but humans\nweren’t really designed for that. So we’re gonna have to work out how to live\nin that kind of situation. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, for day-to-day life on Mars, that could also give us the potential to do a lot of really interesting things. Can you imagine what it would be like to do track and field events on Mars? To do the high jump? You’d be able to jump so much higher. It’s incredible when you watch videos of astronauts on the Moon and you see the way that they bounce around. Think about having that as your everyday experience as you live on the surface of the Red Planet! It must be incredible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Sounds amazing! You know, Abby, I’m really doing everything I can to support this mission but what I generally come across from people as feedback is that they are either freaked out about this vision or they don’t want to go, and they don’t understand why it’s important. So I think it’s going to be some of the roles of science communicators to ease this burden on people, to help them understand why it’s important to keep on discovering and beyond. So how do you think we can help humanity prepare properly for becoming a multi-planetary species?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One of the things that we need to be\ndoing right now if we want to be an interplanetary species in the future is\nincreasing our education. We need to make sure that the generations that are\ngrowing up after us are scientifically literate. That people will have exposure\nto quality education and science at a much higher number than we currently\nhave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That doesn’t mean that everyone needs to\ngo out and become an astronaut or a scientist. But even people who aren’t going\nto be into STEM fields, science tech engineering, or math should still be\nliterate. They should still have this fundamental notion of STEM fields so that\nwhen they hear about things like the Mars missions, they will be able to\nunderstand them, process it without fear or concern, and just to have that\nunderstanding and knowledge of why they’re important. Each and every one of us\nas individuals can educate ourselves as much as we can in the STEM fields and\nthen reach out to those around us to see how we can do more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"nightmarescenario\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Absolutely. Concerning\neducation, ideas, and visions, can you please tell us either a science fiction\nmovie or a book that describes a nightmare scenario about this notion of\nbecoming a multi-planetary species?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are so many different nightmare situations. \u003Cstrong>So there’s the independent nightmare situation which we saw happen with \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt3659388\u002F\">\u003Cstrong>The Martian\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong>. In that movie, we saw an individual on Mars, who had gotten stranded there. So, we were looking at this idea of losing people in space exploration or in this continued space exploration. The dangers that our first pioneers will face in the near future\u003C\u002Fstrong>. And I think that’s a very real consideration to make, something that we have to look at and accept that the danger to individuals as explorers in space is real. We need to do our best, of course, to minimize it but being in space all alone, without help, is an extreme danger that might happen. And that’s why we have our initial pioneers in exploration so that we can make it safer for the masses in the future, so when we do finally get around to making colonies, we’ll be able to make them safe and sustainable for the majority. But that type of a situation with the Martian showed so clearly how things could go wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>On a bigger, “humanity” level, there is always, of course, the fear that we’re going to just destroy ourselves, destroy our planet, and everything that we touch\u003C\u002Fstrong>. So a science fiction book that I read and really enjoyed that I thought somewhat discussed that was called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.goodreads.com\u002Fbook\u002Fshow\u002F22816087-seveneves\">Seveneves\u003C\u002Fa>. It was published a couple of years ago and it goes into this idea what happens if humanity moves out into the solar system and then starts to fracture. Will humanity turn on itself? And once we lose our connection with Earth, will we form these factions that fight against one another and just bring about destruction? So, it was definitely looking further into the future and some of those bigger ethical concerns, not really something that we have to worry about right now. Nonetheless, an interesting idea is how do we stay human, how do we stay connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002FThe-Martian-512x256.jpg\" alt=\"Astronaut Abby\" class=\"wp-image-24040\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.universetoday.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ca id=\"brightvision\">\u003C\u002Fa>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Do you perhaps also have an example for a bright vision of the future?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For a positive scenario, I would position\nthe science fiction series called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt0111282\u002F?ref_=fn_al_tt_2\">Stargate\u003C\u002Fa>. This and Stargate Atlantis were two of my very favorite\nshows when I grew up. I position these as positive examples because they tell a\nstrong, exciting story in a similar way that things like Star Trek did of what\nit will mean for us to explore elsewhere in the universe. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Stargate\nholds a special place in my heart because it focuses so much not necessarily on\nthe technology that’s being explored but more on cultures, peoples, and life. This\nidea of being able to go out into the solar system and look for life that’s not\nfrom Earth. As someone who does that on a much smaller scale as a researcher in\nastrobiology and searching for extraterrestrial or alien life, I love that\nreally grand vision that’s portrayed by the Stargate Universe\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Having that ability to go out there and find life somewhere\nis incredibly exciting. Because I do believe that alien life exists. I think\nit’s probably going to be a single cellular or microscopic when we first find\nit but still, it’s out there. And it’s exciting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>It\ntruly is! So, let’s meet on Mars in 2085. I plan to board a spaceship at the\nage of 100 and we could meet there on the way on the Red Planet.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Perfect I’ll put twenty eighty-five on my calendar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":413,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>When she was five years old, she looked at the starry night sky and decided right away to become an astronaut. After digesting dozens of science fiction books, she wanted to shoot for astro-navigator but settled to „just” go to Mars as a life goal some years later. She estimates that if she achieves being the best of the bests in astrobiology or planetary science, plays rugby, and dances ballet tenaciously, within 10-20 years, she will board a spaceship to the Red Planet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",24041,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[5],[418,419,74,76,274,420,84,81,281,278,283,85,86,421,72,422,423],382,1351,447,787,313,1280,[],[],[104,427,428,429,430],2045,2285,3423,3427,[432,53,113,114,115,116,117,121,433,434,124,126,297,435,134,131,304,301,306,135,136,436,122,437,438],"post-24033","tag-science","tag-astronaut","tag-vision","tag-astronomy","tag-medicine","tag-aerospace",{"id":414,"alt_text":440,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":141,"media_details":441,"post":349,"source_url":467},"Astronaut Abby",{"width":442,"height":443,"file":444,"sizes":445,"image_meta":466},1920,1080,"2019\u002F06\u002F0528_great_thinkers_006.png",{"medium":446,"large":449,"thumbnail":452,"medium_large":455,"1536x1536":456,"2048x2048":461},{"file":447,"width":171,"height":172,"mime-type":151,"source_url":448},"0528_great_thinkers_006-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002F0528_great_thinkers_006-370x208.png",{"file":450,"width":174,"height":175,"mime-type":151,"source_url":451},"0528_great_thinkers_006-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002F0528_great_thinkers_006-768x432.png",{"file":453,"width":169,"height":169,"mime-type":151,"source_url":454},"0528_great_thinkers_006-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002F0528_great_thinkers_006-150x150.png",{"file":450,"width":174,"height":175,"mime-type":151,"source_url":451},{"file":457,"width":458,"height":459,"mime-type":151,"source_url":460},"0528_great_thinkers_006-1536x864.png","1536","864","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002F0528_great_thinkers_006-1536x864.png",{"file":462,"width":463,"height":464,"mime-type":151,"source_url":465},"0528_great_thinkers_006-2048x1152.png","2048","1152","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002F0528_great_thinkers_006-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":180,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":180,"copyright":64,"focal_length":180,"iso":180,"shutter_speed":180,"title":64,"orientation":180},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F06\u002F0528_great_thinkers_006-scaled.png",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16},{"yoast_wpseo_title":470,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":471,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":407},"With Rugby, Ballet, And Astrobiology On The Road To Mars - The Medical Futurist","The Medical Futurist had an enlightening conversation with Abigail Harrison alias Astronaut Abby about preparing for the first Mars mission.",{"self":473,"collection":478,"about":480,"author":482,"replies":484,"version-history":487,"predecessor-version":491,"wp:featuredmedia":495,"wp:attachment":498,"wp:term":501,"curies":512},[474],{"href":475,"targetHints":476},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24033",{"allow":477},[27],[479],{"href":211},[481],{"href":214},[483],{"embeddable":41,"href":217},[485],{"embeddable":41,"href":486},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24033",[488],{"count":489,"href":490},21,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24033\u002Frevisions",[492],{"id":493,"href":494},49681,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24033\u002Frevisions\u002F49681",[496],{"embeddable":41,"href":497},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F24041",[499],{"href":500},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24033",[502,504,506,508,510],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":503},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=24033",{"taxonomy":239,"embeddable":41,"href":505},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=24033",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":507},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=24033",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":509},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=24033",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":511},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24033",[513],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":350,"date":515,"date_gmt":516,"guid":517,"modified":519,"modified_gmt":520,"slug":521,"status":52,"type":53,"link":522,"title":523,"content":525,"excerpt":527,"author":61,"featured_media":529,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":41,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":530,"categories":531,"tags":533,"project_category":540,"contact_email_category":541,"yst_prominent_words":542,"class_list":548,"better_featured_image":557,"acf":586,"yoast_meta":587,"_links":589},"2017-10-11T07:13:27","2017-10-11T05:13:27",{"rendered":518},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=16433","2022-05-17T14:10:17","2022-05-17T12:10:17","simply-wont-go-mars-without-digital-health","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fsimply-wont-go-mars-without-digital-health",{"rendered":524},"We Simply Won’t Go To Mars Without Digital Health",{"rendered":526,"protected":16},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2017. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“It’s 2017, we should have a lunar base by now,” noted Elon Musk when he revealed his grandiose plans about going to Mars in at least five years. “What the hell is going on?”, he asked clearly not being satisfied with the current state of astronautics. However, I say, we should not only concentrate on the development of space technologies but devote more focus to advancing technologies to keep people well and alive on the Red Planet. Digital health opens amazing horizons there. That’s what I detailed in my paper in New Space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>We’ll colonize Mars\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are plans for human missions to Mars by the United States, China, and Russia by the 2030s, the 2040–2060, and the 2040–2045 timeframes, respectively. Private companies such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.space.com\u002F34210-elon-musk-unveils-spacex-mars-colony-ship.html\">SpaceX also plan to bring people\u003C\u002Fa> to Mars and eventually colonize it. Elon Musk \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.iflscience.com\u002Fspace\u002Felon-musk-just-revealed-exciting-new-details-about-his-plans-to-colonize-mars\u002F\">repeatedly said he wants to build a spaceship able to bring humans to the Red Planet (the latest is called the Big F*king Rocket\u003C\u002Fa>), and launch the first two vehicles by 2022. These would be cargo missions to the surface of Mars, to find water for future missions. Two years later, he already wants to launch four rockets, two with crews.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to Musk’s incredible vision, the BFR will transport one hundred people at a time to the surface of Mars. The huge rocket would have 40 cabins inside its payload area, enough to take one hundred people per flight to Mars. Passengers would be protected from incoming radiation in a solar storm shelter, while restaurants, zero-gravity games, and other entertainment areas would ensure they enjoy the five-month-long journey. Imagine that you ask the waiter in the restaurant addressed to the end of the universe to bring some more milk for your coffee and when exactly landing on the Mars Colony is scheduled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F29937258946_8345b8ae6e_o.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16448\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F29937258946_8345b8ae6e_o.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F29937258946_8345b8ae6e_o-768x328.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F29937258946_8345b8ae6e_o-512x218.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F29937258946_8345b8ae6e_o-458x195.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As one of the biggest fans of the idea to colonize Mars, I was more than surprised that Elon Musk concentrated on the space technological and financial side of getting to the Red Planet in his article entitled \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fonline.liebertpub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1089\u002Fspace.2017.29009.emu\">Making Humans a Multi-Planetary Species\u003C\u002Fa>, but he did not mention the medical challenges of space travel at all. Not one word about how we bring healthy people to Mars and keep them healthy there or on their way back to Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It seems like space agencies want to solve engineering challenges but take health for granted. I decided to explain why they shouldn’t in the same journal Elon Musk chose to publish in. Here is my paper “\u003Cem>Digital Health Technologies to Support Human Missions to Mars”\u003C\u002Fem> (\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002F2ytpqja\">you can download it for free from here\u003C\u002Fa>) that describes why digital health is inevitable for a Mars mission and proposes exactly which technologies will be needed to create a base like the one below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"670\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16438\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg-768x591.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg-512x394.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg-325x250.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Traveling to Mars will have serious health consequences\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The human factor means a bigger burden than the technological one. It is well documented that spaceflights pose health risks, as well as lead to short- and long-term health consequences for astronauts. Short-term effects on health include space orientation syndrome, injuries, limited access to medical facilities and emergency care services, and a possible failure of life support systems. Long-term effects and risks are certain types of cancer due to exposure to radiation, weightlessness-induced muscular and vertebral changes, psychological effects from fatigue to sleep deprivation, bone and calcium loss, renal stone risk, effects of isolation, social effects due to cultural differences, cardiovascular risks, the change in the circadian shifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>How do we ensure that those people who are able to afford traveling to Mars and willing to undertake the journey arrive at the destination healthily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are several problems which could be solved by using digital health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Col class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>As astronauts cannot bring every medical resource with them and cannot cover every medical specialty, they need devices which are small, smart and comprehensive.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Since the time delay between the spaceship and mission control could reach between 4 and 24 minutes – the amount of time needed for radio signals to reach the vehicle in space from Earth and vice versa -, telemedicine and giving medical advice remotely is limited. Especially, if astronauts have to deal with emergencies. Thus, they need efficient instruments for decision-making on board.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Besides medical challenges, astronauts are also required to keep up with their tight schedule and an extremely healthy lifestyle. Digital health technologies would allow astronauts to access data about their vital signs and health status, predict whether any major medical conditions are imminent, and participate in the shared decision-making process about their care. It could support the prevention, diagnoses, interventions, and monitoring of health conditions and injuries of the crew to avoid unnecessary risks and minimize others. It could involve them in their care.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Fol>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Thus, \u003Cstrong>astronauts themselves need to become the point-of-care\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-16435\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fcristoforetti_on_ared.jpg\" alt=\"digital health\" class=\"wp-image-16435\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fcristoforetti_on_ared.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fcristoforetti_on_ared-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fcristoforetti_on_ared-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fcristoforetti_on_ared-376x250.jpg 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cem>ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti exercises on the International Space Station\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Why do space agencies miss out digital health?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I got really curious about how much time and effort space agencies and SpaceX dedicate to keeping astronauts (and potential passengers) healthy in space. I found that NASA’s ground medical team of physicians, biomedical engineers, nurses, imaging specialists, and psychologists evaluates medical care needs, means of prevention, and potential risks for every mission. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.esa.int\u002FAbout_Us\u002FEAC\u002FSpace_Medicine_Office\">Space Medicine Office\u003C\u002Fa> carries out similar tasks, and their Russian and Chinese counterparts also dedicate resources to medical issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the case of NASA, the ground medical team periodically evaluates NASA’s procedures and medical kits to make them up-to-date with recent best practices and studies in both terrestrial and space medicine. Astronauts undergo extensive medical examinations and also training to use medical kits on board. NASA’s Exploration Medical Capabilities research program has launched investigations into developing a flexible ultrasound imaging system and track medical equipment with RFID chips among others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Space agencies are clearly aware of the medical challenges of long missions; however, it seems astronauts are not fully engaged in their care. In my view, a lot more effort should be done for developing space medicine in order to successfully bring people to Mars. Moreover, companies advancing digital health technologies have experience with huge patient cohorts and present amazing innovations that could further augment the efforts of agencies. However, I haven’t met any digital health venture being involved in the mid- or long-term plans of space agencies or SpaceX for that matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fwomen-in-space_d-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16446\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fwomen-in-space_d-1.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fwomen-in-space_d-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fwomen-in-space_d-1-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fwomen-in-space_d-1-376x250.jpg 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Digital health technologies could and should support astronautics\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That’s why I decided to draw attention to the subject and examined the issue \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fonline.liebertpub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fpdf\u002F10.1089\u002FSPACE.2017.0035\">in an article in New Space\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003Cstrong>I argue that digital health technologies could help reduce the health risks and potential medical consequences related to human spaceflights to Mars by making astronauts the point-of-care\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"665\" height=\"870\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fdigital-health-for-space-missions.png\" alt=\"digital health\" class=\"wp-image-16439\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fdigital-health-for-space-missions.png 665w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fdigital-health-for-space-missions-391x512.png 391w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fdigital-health-for-space-missions-191x250.png 191w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fdigital-health-for-space-missions-768x1004.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Digital health offers a vast network of technologies that could support human mission to Mars. Certain companies developing such technologies even have experience and more importantly data of millions of patients. It also introduces the concept that involving the end users of these technologies is a crucial component in maintaining their motivation of living a rigorously healthy lifestyle. The transition from astronauts’ regular lifestyle to a data-based lifestyle should start before the mission to ensure the necessary habits are built on time, resulting in active use of the necessary technologies and leading to seamless collaboration between the crew and mission control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I truly believe a higher synergy between developers and researchers in digital health and space technologies would help avoid astronauts facing unnecessary risks in hostile environments. Furthermore, more detailed studies are needed to test whether specialized digital health technologies need to be developed to work effectively in high-radiation environments and in microgravity, and to fully exploit their potential in supporting human missions to Mars and beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":528,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>“It’s 2017, we should have a lunar base by now,” noted Elon Musk when he revealed his grandiose plans about going to Mars in at least five years. “What the hell is going on?”, he asked clearly not being satisfied with the current state of astronautics. However, I say, we should not only concentrate on the development of space technologies but devote more focus to advancing technologies to keep people well and alive on the Red Planet. Digital health opens amazing horizons there. That’s what I detailed in my paper in New Space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",16447,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[271,5,532],494,[274,534,535,536,84,81,283,278,86,537,72,538,539,85,76],453,207,522,740,741,355,[],[],[289,543,544,108,545,546,547],1617,1681,2017,3825,3829,[549,53,113,114,115,116,117,295,121,550,297,551,552,553,134,131,306,301,136,554,122,555,556,135,126],"post-16433","category-telemedicine","tag-wearables-2","tag-digital-health","tag-gc3","tag-elon-musk","tag-spacex","tag-personalized-medicine",{"id":529,"alt_text":64,"caption":558,"description":64,"media_type":141,"media_details":559,"post":350,"source_url":585},"Future Mars colonists playing with children on Mars, a place they call home.",{"width":143,"height":560,"file":561,"sizes":562,"image_meta":583},435,"2017\u002F10\u002Fo-mars-colony-facebook.jpg",{"medium":563,"large":566,"thumbnail":570,"medium_large":573,"large_old_512x256":574,"medium_old_458x229":578},{"file":564,"width":149,"height":150,"mime-type":319,"source_url":565},"o-mars-colony-facebook-370x208.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fo-mars-colony-facebook-370x208.jpg",{"file":567,"width":155,"height":568,"mime-type":319,"source_url":569},"o-mars-colony-facebook-768x384.jpg",384,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fo-mars-colony-facebook-768x384.jpg",{"file":571,"width":160,"height":160,"mime-type":319,"source_url":572},"o-mars-colony-facebook-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fo-mars-colony-facebook-150x150.jpg",{"file":567,"width":155,"height":568,"mime-type":319,"source_url":569},{"file":575,"width":165,"height":576,"mime-type":319,"source_url":577},"o-mars-colony-facebook-512x256.jpg",256,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fo-mars-colony-facebook-512x256.jpg",{"file":579,"width":580,"height":581,"mime-type":319,"source_url":582},"o-mars-colony-facebook-458x229.jpg",458,229,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fo-mars-colony-facebook-458x229.jpg",{"aperture":180,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":180,"copyright":64,"focal_length":180,"iso":180,"shutter_speed":180,"title":64,"orientation":180,"keywords":584},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F10\u002Fo-mars-colony-facebook.jpg",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16},{"yoast_wpseo_title":588,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":64,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":522},"We Simply Won't Go To Mars Without Digital Health - The Medical Futurist",{"self":590,"collection":595,"about":597,"author":599,"replies":601,"version-history":604,"predecessor-version":608,"wp:featuredmedia":612,"wp:attachment":615,"wp:term":618,"curies":629},[591],{"href":592,"targetHints":593},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16433",{"allow":594},[27],[596],{"href":211},[598],{"href":214},[600],{"embeddable":41,"href":217},[602],{"embeddable":41,"href":603},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=16433",[605],{"count":606,"href":607},17,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16433\u002Frevisions",[609],{"id":610,"href":611},45517,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16433\u002Frevisions\u002F45517",[613],{"embeddable":41,"href":614},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F16447",[616],{"href":617},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=16433",[619,621,623,625,627],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":620},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=16433",{"taxonomy":239,"embeddable":41,"href":622},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=16433",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":624},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=16433",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":626},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=16433",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":628},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=16433",[630],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":632,"date":633,"date_gmt":634,"guid":635,"modified":637,"modified_gmt":638,"slug":639,"status":52,"type":53,"link":640,"title":641,"content":643,"excerpt":645,"author":61,"featured_media":647,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":16,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":648,"categories":649,"tags":650,"project_category":653,"contact_email_category":654,"yst_prominent_words":655,"class_list":656,"better_featured_image":660,"acf":686,"yoast_meta":687,"_links":690},14287,"2016-10-27T17:40:32","2016-10-27T15:40:32",{"rendered":636},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=14287","2021-12-06T01:11:57","2021-12-06T00:11:57","our-galactic-future-depends-on-digital-health-technologies","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Four-galactic-future-depends-on-digital-health-technologies",{"rendered":642},"Our Galactic Future Depends On Digital Health Technologies",{"rendered":644,"protected":16},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\"> \u003Ctbody> \u003Ctr> \u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"> \u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp> \u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr> \u003C\u002Ftbody> \u003C\u002Ftable> \u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Experts and visionaries such as Elon Musk (SpaceX) envisioned a trip to Mars in the near future. Knowing medicine and healthcare both as a physician and The Medical Futurist, I believe the biggest obstacle to reach this goal is not rocket technology. Improving medicine with the help of digital health technologies is actually a bigger challenge than rocket science (no offense to physicists) itself in astronautics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>You need bold, inspiring and a little crazy plans if you want to go to Mars\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On 27 September, Elon Musk, CEO of the SpaceX rocket company aroused hope in astronautics again for the greatest pleasure of the fans of space flights. He promised no less than to take humanity to Mars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F0qo78R_yYFA?start=255&feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.popsci.com\u002Felon-musks-master-plan-for-colonizing-mars-gives-us-sci-fi-future-we-crave\">Speaking at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico\u003C\u002Fa>, he unveiled a mission architecture that is bold, inspiring, and a little crazy. The cornerstone of the plan is the Interplanetary Transport System. A 55-foot-wide pod-shaped spaceship designed to carry 100 people or 100 tons of cargo, which would ride into orbit on a huge rocket. The spaceship could eventually make the journey from Earth to Mars in 30 to 80 days, according to Musk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Musk hopes the two could take off on a journey to Mars in as little as 10 years. He acknowledged though that timeline depends on a lot of factors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Felon-musk-colonies-on-mars.jpg\" alt=\"Elon Musk Colonies on Mars - Digital Health\" class=\"wp-image-14288\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Felon-musk-colonies-on-mars.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Felon-musk-colonies-on-mars-768x347.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Felon-musk-colonies-on-mars-512x231.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Felon-musk-colonies-on-mars-458x207.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Space travel has serious health risks\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I followed Musk’s brilliant and inspiring speech online and I got really excited about his vision. His words rang in my head for the next couple of days, and I started to think about the realities of the mission to Mars. Usually, just as Musk did in his speech, experts and visionaries in astronautics concentrate on spaceships, rockets and the physics of getting to the Red Planet or orbiting in space. However, as The Medical Futurist, I am 100 per cent certain that the biggest obstacle in reaching Mars and installing the conditions of life there is the current state of healthcare and medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In spite of Musk’s bold statement, currently \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthere-will-be-no-mars-generation-without-these-technologies-2\u002F\">a trip to Mars takes around seven months\u003C\u002Fa>, which is only a little longer than the time astronauts spend on the International Space Station. However, counting their mission, orbit around Mars, landing, and then returning safely to Earth, the journey might take several years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Spaceflight has a serious effect on astronauts. Variations in temperature and radiation levels, motion sickness, losing bone and muscle mass despite doing exercises, disruption of vision and taste. All of these cause health issues, not to mention the psychological consequences of space travel. Musk did not hide that travelling to Mars is dangerous. The probability of death is quite high on the first mission, he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"670\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg.jpg\" alt=\"mars digital health technology\" class=\"wp-image-14339\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg-768x591.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg-512x394.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmars_hi-logo-jpg-325x250.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>But how can we decrease the hazards – first of all health and biological risks – of space travel? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Here, I specify the three biggest areas of digital health technologies without which the Mars mission is simply impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) Finding The Most Skilled And Healthy Astronauts\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Being an astronaut requires special physical and psychological conditions, as well as unique capabilities to endure extreme conditions and stress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>a) Virtual and Augmented Reality Training\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lately, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Funimersiv.com\u002Fhow-nasa-is-using-virtual-and-augmented-reality-to-train-astronauts-37\u002F\">National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) started to extensively employ virtual reality\u003C\u002Fa> to better acclimatize its astronauts to conditions they will experience once they step across the Earth’s boundaries. NASA’s VR lab trains astronauts first of all for the experience of spacewalking – outside of the International Space Station (ISS). In the lab, every segment of the ISS is modeled in a complete way; with all cables and components. So, when an astronaut wears a combination of a headset, haptic feedback gloves and motion trackers he or she can perform a virtual spacewalk, grab objects and explore the space station in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NASA's Virtual Reality Laboratory\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FLHbhVJ_nP68?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another important development in NASA’s immersive training is the setup’s collaboration with Microsoft in an augmented reality endeavor code-named as Project Sidekick. It involves the use of Microsoft’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fmicrosoft-hololens\u002Fen-us\">HoloLens\u003C\u002Fa>, the world’s first unconnected holographic computer which enables for its wearer to witness and interact with holograms in high definition while also listening to them in surround sound. Sidekick will utilize HoloLens in order to facilitate communication between astronauts and their ground staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another project of NASA involving the HoloLens is OnSight. It pertains to using the headset’s augmented reality properties to connect scientists and engineers with the environment of Mars using a feed from the \u003Cem>Curiosity\u003C\u002Fem> rover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With these projects and tactics, NASA and the ground staff can actually prepare astronauts for the conditions awaiting them in space or on Mars – so they might alleviate the psychological effect space travel could have on people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fnasa-and-microsoft-plan-to-take-you-to-mars-with-the-hololens.jpg\" alt=\"NASA and HoloLens - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14294\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fnasa-and-microsoft-plan-to-take-you-to-mars-with-the-hololens.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fnasa-and-microsoft-plan-to-take-you-to-mars-with-the-hololens-768x392.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fnasa-and-microsoft-plan-to-take-you-to-mars-with-the-hololens-512x261.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fnasa-and-microsoft-plan-to-take-you-to-mars-with-the-hololens-458x234.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>b) Mining Genomic Data Could Help Prevent Diseases\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Since astronauts won’t have access to proper healthcare for years, knowing what major health risks the Martian astronauts carry within themselves would be highly beneficial, indeed, even necessary. A full genome sequencing, assisted by microbiome tests and other lab markers, will let physicians partially predict what major diseases they will probably encounter in their lives and what they can do to try to avoid most of them. This includes what diet to choose based on the types of bacteria they live with and what lab markers to regularly re-check to catch a disease before it would develop. It also includes nutrigenomic guidance which promotes certain types of food based on the astronaut’s genetic and metabolic background.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>By measuring all other available parameters and vital signs, we should be able to assess their health and strength (physical, emotional and cognitive) properly. In such a way, not only the psychological, but also the physical and cognitive abilities of the astronauts could be preserved for the long run and health risks might be reduced permanently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fgenetics.jpg\" alt=\"Genetics - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14295\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fgenetics.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fgenetics-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fgenetics-512x256.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fgenetics-458x229.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) Making Sure Astronauts Reach Mars Alive\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I cannot stress enough the importance of human health in space travel, as you already know that based on our current knowledge and medical technologies in use today, the survival rate might converge to zero with regards to travelling to the Red Planet. But how could we improve the percentage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>a) Thin Body Sensors Measure Everything\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On a trip to Mars, one of the most significant issue is the amount of cargo. Without tiny sensors that can measure every important vital sign and health parameter, crew members will not be able to make medical decisions. Currently available wearables and health trackers are unfortunately too big, get discharged quickly, and are difficult to work with. Astronauts cannot rely on them. Digital tattoos and implanted microchips could do the job without the active participation of astronauts. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Feurope.newsweek.com\u002Felectronic-tattoo-skin-screen-448928?rm=eu\">Japanese Professor Takao Someya\u003C\u002Fa>, as well as the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mc10inc.com\u002Four-story\">MC10 Company\u003C\u002Fa> has been developing such tattoos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"820\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F09\u002Fdigital-tattoo.jpg\" alt=\"Digital tattoo - bioterrorism\" class=\"wp-image-14060\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F09\u002Fdigital-tattoo.jpg 820w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F09\u002Fdigital-tattoo-768x393.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F09\u002Fdigital-tattoo-512x262.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F09\u002Fdigital-tattoo-458x235.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>b) The Real Medical Tricorder From Star Trek\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwill-the-medical-tricorder-from-star-trek-become-real\u002F\">A working tricorder inspired by one of my favourite series, Star Trek\u003C\u002Fa> could bring about a new era in medicine. Instead of expensive machines and long waiting times, information would be available immediately. Physicians could scan a patient, or patients could scan themselves and receive a list of diagnostic options and suggestions. Imagine the influence it could have on measuring the health of astronauts in space!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A high–power microscope with a smartphone, for example, could analyse swab samples and photos of skin lesions. Sensors could pick up abnormalities in DNA, or detect antibodies and specific proteins. An electronic nose, an ultrasonic probe, or almost anything we have now could be yoked to a smartphone and augment its features. Although we already have some examples from real life (\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scanadu.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fvitals\">Scanadu Scout\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.viatomtech.com\u002F\">Viatom CheckMe\u003C\u002Fa>), there is still a long way to go until we can use a tricorder during space travel. So let’s speed up development to make it happen as soon as possible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fstar-trek-tricorder-almost-here.jpg\" alt=\"Star Trek Tricorder - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14298\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fstar-trek-tricorder-almost-here.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fstar-trek-tricorder-almost-here-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fstar-trek-tricorder-almost-here-512x256.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fstar-trek-tricorder-almost-here-458x229.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>c) Artificial Intelligence Should Get Into Space\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>You already know that humans cannot live without artificial intelligence in space from the iconic Stanley Kubrick movie, \u003Cem>2001: A Space Odyssey\u003C\u002Fem>. Well, it is exactly the case in real life. No matter how sophisticated body sensors and wearables become, measurements will not help day-to-day issues without smart algorithms. Astronauts will have delayed contact with Earth, and they cannot have all the skills of an experienced physician, researcher, and data analyst, thus smart algorithms have to do it for them. This will help them get the most out of each day to exploit the theoretical limits of efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Artificial Intelligence in Space | StarTalk\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FHJNNU2eR2oc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>d) Telemedicine For Healing In Space\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As you could already hear it from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fneiltyson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Neil deGrasse Tyson\u003C\u002Fa>, huge distances and delays in communication create tremendous problems in astronautics. As the inter-space is \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.space.com\u002F14729-spacekids-distance-earth-mars.html\">at least 54.6 million kilometers \u003C\u002Fa>between physicians on Earth and the crew on Mars, high quality communication with specialized caregivers on Earth has to be an essential part of their care. Although the distance will still make it tricky, from time to time, communication with a real doctor will be absolutely necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the future of smart algorithms\u002Ftiny sensors in healthcare is bright, and should be even brighter regarding space travel, human supervision will still be a crucial part of making sure they are on the right track. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.intouchhealth.com\u002F\">InTouch Health\u003C\u002Fa> is a good example, which might also develop services for space travel in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fdistance_earth_space.jpg\" alt=\"Distance - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14299\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fdistance_earth_space.jpg 700w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fdistance_earth_space-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fdistance_earth_space-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fdistance_earth_space-444x250.jpg 444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>e) New Food Technologies\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>How can we make sure that astronauts have enough food in space and they eat exactly the amount, quality and kind of food their organisms would like to have? The solution involves food scanners and 3D food printers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the future, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffood-scanners\u002F\">food scanners will be able to tell\u003C\u002Fa> how many grams of sugar a piece of fruit contains, or what the alcohol percentage of a drink is. Also, with the development of genetic testing, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.wsj.com\u002Farticles\u002Ftest-your-genes-to-find-your-best-diet-1471887390\">dietary recommendations could be made based on the information contained in your genes\u003C\u002Fa>. There will be 3D food printers using fresh ingredients and create pizza, cookies, or almost any kind of final products just like what \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.naturalmachines.com\u002F\">Foodini\u003C\u002Fa> does these days. Imagine how well these brand-new tools might be used in astronautics…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Ffood-in-space.jpg\" alt=\"Food in Space - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14300\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Ffood-in-space.jpg 700w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Ffood-in-space-512x320.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Ffood-in-space-400x250.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) Keeping Astronauts Healthy To Establish A Colony On Mars\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As you already have seen it, it is a huge challenge to even get one person alive to the Red Planet. But imagine that we reached the point where Matt Damon was not only able to arrive to Mars in the movie, \u003Cem>The Martian\u003C\u002Fem>, but also in real life. How can we make sure that he stays alive or even starts a colony with the other lucky ones not having died during travelling to the planet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmartian_survive_in_space.png\" alt=\"Martian - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14297\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmartian_survive_in_space.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmartian_survive_in_space-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmartian_survive_in_space-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmartian_survive_in_space-512x288.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fmartian_survive_in_space-444x250.png 444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>a) The Plaster For Almost All Sores: 3D Printing\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As astronauts will be alone and cannot bring all the supplies for a lengthy stay on the Red Planet. They will need printers that can print out medical equipment, prosthetics, and drugs on demand. Bringing the ingredients for these, and printing out what is needed on site, makes more sense than bringing a few types of equipment and drugs which could only help under limited circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The lucky ones staying alive on Mars could establish manufacturing by designing printers that can print out other printers. Thus, the whole idea of 3D printing will be essential. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002F3dprintingindustry.com\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F26\u002F12-things-we-can-3d-print-in-medicine-right-now\u002F\">It has been shown that customized prosthetics can be printed out\u003C\u002Fa> and some forms of medical equipment. Last year, the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fqz.com\u002F471030\u002Fthe-fda-has-approved-the-first-drug-made-by-a-3d-printer\u002F\">FDA just approved\u003C\u002Fa> an epilepsy drug called Spritam that is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-fda-just-approved-the-first-3d-printed-drug\u002F\">made by 3D printers\u003C\u002Fa>. It prints out the powdered drug layer by layer to make it dissolve faster than average pills. The basic examples are already here or trends seem to be pointing into this direction. So the future is looking bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"3D Printing Theophylline tablet\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFGpbiJxkkak?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>b) Exoskeletons Might Be The Most Reliable Helpers Of Humans\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lifting huge weights and working tirelessly for long hours will be must-have features on Mars, as astronauts will need to build a base camp. As exoskeletons get thinner and more comfortable, the crew on Mars will use them as frequently as the first astronauts used screwdrivers. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fpulse\u002Fexoskeletons-let-paralyzed-people-walk-again-bertalan-mesk%C3%B3-md-phd?trk=mp-reader-card\">Exoskeletons today can already let paralyzed people walk again\u003C\u002Fa>; let soldiers not get tired of walking for hours or even run faster and jump higher. As long spaceflights weaken their muscles no matter how much they try to exercise in zero gravity, exoskeletons could supply them with the lost strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"476\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fback-long-imagesmugded.jpg\" alt=\"Exoskeleton astronaut\" class=\"wp-image-14338\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fback-long-imagesmugded.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fback-long-imagesmugded-768x420.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fback-long-imagesmugded-512x280.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fback-long-imagesmugded-458x250.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>c) Engineering Life On Mars\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Astronauts will need to be able to partially engineer life on other planets – as unfortunately we have not found the signs of life anywhere else but Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Here, by life, I mean bacteria, yeast, and even their own immune system if needed. The new genome editing method, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FCRISPR\">CRISPR\u003C\u002Fa>, could play a major role here. Systems involving engineering bacteria to produce hormones, antibiotics, or other materials would allow them to use nature as a manufacturing device – even to filter water or create the desired atmosphere. Community labs currently available in California and the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Figem.org\u002FMain_Page\">iGem competitions\u003C\u002Fa> have demonstrated in what a wide range of situations bioengineering can offer solutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A team of students at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark also have a plan to \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fsciencenordic.com\u002Fspace-bacteria-will-produce-dinner-mars-astronauts\">grow food, medicine, and tools\u003C\u002Fa> in space using genetically engineered bacteria. It means that a culture of a special type of bacteria will harvest Martian sunlight and produce sugar. Then another type of bacteria will digest that sugar and then produce whatever it has been engineered to produce. The bacteria might generate vitamins or any other digestible materials and bioplastics that could be 3D printed into any form, including the forks and knives that will be necessary in order to eat the space spaghetti. How amazing is that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We should conduct more and more experiments and projects like that if we truly want to establish a colony on Mars in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-14302\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fyout-sunflower-plant-aboard-the-iss.jpg\" alt=\"ISS plant - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14302\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fyout-sunflower-plant-aboard-the-iss.jpg 800w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fyout-sunflower-plant-aboard-the-iss-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fyout-sunflower-plant-aboard-the-iss-512x340.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fyout-sunflower-plant-aboard-the-iss-376x250.jpg 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>A young sunflower aboard the ISS\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>d) Surgical Robots Might Operate Astronauts On Mars While Commanded From Earth\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is almost inevitable that astronauts will need to undergo surgery also on the Red Planet. Anything can happen to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Currently, surgeons control surgical robots that perform big operations through a control panel. The movie \u003Cem>Prometheus\u003C\u002Fem> featured a surgical robot capsule that can perform the whole operation on its own. The Mars generation will require an invention somewhere in between. And it should be developed pretty soon! Surgeons on Earth could pre-plan every step, and the robot could perform those steps while being supervised with the time delay digitally. The \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.davincisurgery.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">daVinci robot\u003C\u002Fa> and the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.verbsurgical.com\u002Fabout-us\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">one developed\u003C\u002Fa> by Google and Johnson&Johnson are good examples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"548\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fsurgical-robots.jpg\" alt=\"Surgical Robots - Digital Health Technologies for Space Travel\" class=\"wp-image-14303\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fsurgical-robots.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fsurgical-robots-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fsurgical-robots-512x323.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fsurgical-robots-397x250.jpg 397w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I agree with Musk, when he said, getting to Mars would be an incredible adventure. “It would be the most exciting thing that I could possibly imagine. Life needs to be more than just solving problems every day. You need to wake up and be excited about the future, to be inspired and want to live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nobody wants the Mars mission to succeed more than I do. But I firmly believe that digital health is lagging behind rocket technologies and astrophysics. We need the companies in the forefront of innovation to acknowledge this and invest into digital health too. And then we can do what humanity can do best: keep on discovering. The infinite cosmos as well as the tiniest particles within us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cp>[subscribe image=”false” type=”article-horizontal”]Subscribe to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>\u003Cb>The Medical Futurist℠ Newsletter\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>News shaping the future of healthcare\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Advice on taking charge of your health\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Reviews of the latest health technology\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>[\u002Fsubscribe]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":646,"protected":16},"\u003Cp>THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",14292,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[271,5],[651,535,84,72,76,652,81],206,517,[],[],[289,543,546],[657,53,113,114,115,116,117,295,121,658,552,134,122,126,659,131],"post-14287","tag-digital","tag-gc1",{"id":647,"alt_text":661,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":141,"media_details":662,"post":632,"source_url":685},"Astronaut in Space - Digital Health in Space",{"width":143,"height":144,"file":663,"sizes":664,"image_meta":683},"2016\u002F10\u002Fastronaut-in-space.jpg",{"medium":665,"large":668,"thumbnail":671,"medium_large":674,"large_old_512x288":675,"medium_old_445x250":678},{"file":666,"width":149,"height":150,"mime-type":319,"source_url":667},"astronaut-in-space-370x208.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fastronaut-in-space-370x208.jpg",{"file":669,"width":155,"height":156,"mime-type":319,"source_url":670},"astronaut-in-space-768x432.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fastronaut-in-space-768x432.jpg",{"file":672,"width":160,"height":160,"mime-type":319,"source_url":673},"astronaut-in-space-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fastronaut-in-space-150x150.jpg",{"file":669,"width":155,"height":156,"mime-type":319,"source_url":670},{"file":676,"width":165,"height":166,"mime-type":319,"source_url":677},"astronaut-in-space-512x288.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fastronaut-in-space-512x288.jpg",{"file":679,"width":680,"height":681,"mime-type":319,"source_url":682},"astronaut-in-space-445x250.jpg",445,250,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fastronaut-in-space-445x250.jpg",{"aperture":180,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":180,"copyright":64,"focal_length":180,"iso":180,"shutter_speed":180,"title":64,"orientation":180,"keywords":684},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F10\u002Fastronaut-in-space.jpg",{"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"related_posts":16},{"yoast_wpseo_title":688,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":689,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":640},"Our Galactic Future Depends On Digital Health Technologies - The Medical Futurist","Improving healthcare is actually a bigger challenge than rocket science itself in reaching humanity's next grand goal to reach Mars in the next decades.",{"self":691,"collection":696,"about":698,"author":700,"replies":702,"version-history":705,"predecessor-version":709,"wp:featuredmedia":713,"wp:attachment":716,"wp:term":719,"curies":730},[692],{"href":693,"targetHints":694},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14287",{"allow":695},[27],[697],{"href":211},[699],{"href":214},[701],{"embeddable":41,"href":217},[703],{"embeddable":41,"href":704},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=14287",[706],{"count":707,"href":708},9,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14287\u002Frevisions",[710],{"id":711,"href":712},37317,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F14287\u002Frevisions\u002F37317",[714],{"embeddable":41,"href":715},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F14292",[717],{"href":718},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=14287",[720,722,724,726,728],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":721},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=14287",{"taxonomy":239,"embeddable":41,"href":723},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=14287",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":725},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=14287",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":727},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=14287",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":729},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=14287",[731],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":733,"date":734,"date_gmt":735,"guid":736,"modified":738,"modified_gmt":739,"slug":740,"status":52,"type":53,"link":741,"title":742,"content":744,"excerpt":746,"author":61,"featured_media":747,"comment_status":63,"ping_status":63,"sticky":16,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":748,"categories":749,"tags":751,"project_category":753,"contact_email_category":754,"yst_prominent_words":755,"class_list":764,"better_featured_image":768,"acf":796,"yoast_meta":797,"_links":799},13665,"2016-08-02T18:35:32","2016-08-02T16:35:32",{"rendered":737},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=13665","2021-12-06T00:58:21","2021-12-05T23:58:21","elon-musk-masterplan-in-digital-health","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Felon-musk-masterplan-in-digital-health",{"rendered":743},"Elon Musk Will Need a Masterplan in Digital Health Too",{"rendered":745,"protected":16},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\"> \u003Ctbody> \u003Ctr> \u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"> \u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp> \u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr> \u003C\u002Ftbody> \u003C\u002Ftable> \u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Elon Musk has revealed his second Master Plan. In it, he paints a bold future for the transportation and solar industries. Strong visions like Musk’s help advance our technology and civilization – but he will also need a Master Plan for digital health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Elon Musk shared the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tesla.com\u002Fblog\u002Fmaster-plan-part-deux\">second part of his Master Plan\u003C\u002Fa> at Tesla. His vision for the transportation industry:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">creating stunning solar roofs to generate cheap electricity; \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expanding the electric vehicle product line;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provide self-driving capability that is 10X safer than manual – \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bcgperspectives.com\u002Fcontent\u002Farticles\u002Fautomotive-public-sector-self-driving-vehicles-robo-taxis-urban-mobility-revolution\u002F\">potentially decreasing car accidents 90%\u003C\u002Fa>;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and enabling cars to make money for their owners when they aren’t using them.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F15-1.jpg\" alt=\"Driverless car\" class=\"wp-image-13671\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F15-1.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F15-1-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F15-1-512x348.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F15-1-367x250.jpg 367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It’s brilliant and draws a clear plan for the industry and people who are interested in it. Musk is not only a visionary but he also executes his plans in practice (see SolarCity, Tesla or SpaceX). He is changing the industries of space travel, energy and automobiles at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, his long term plans are worth fighting for. He wants to bring humanity to Mars, ensuring our survival as a species by making space travel affordable. He wants to save our planet’s ecology by persuading companies to switch to clean energy. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But Musk cannot succeed without digital health solutions\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, a trip to Mars is not only about developing spaceships and rockets. Astronauts must also survive the trip and life on a new planet. For this, we need to be able to assess their health for years in advance and interfere from a distance when emergencies arise. Telemedicine, health sensors, powerful but portable diagnostic devices, in-depth knowledge about predicting health from genomics, on demand 3D bioprinting solutions \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F15\u002Fthere-will-be-no-mars-generation-without-these-technologies-2\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are all needed \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if we want to\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">get to another planet alive\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-13673 size-full\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"639\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fmars-one-11.jpg\" alt=\"Health station on Mars\" class=\"wp-image-13673\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fmars-one-11.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fmars-one-11-768x564.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fmars-one-11-512x376.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fmars-one-11-340x250.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Concept art of a Mars lab with 3D bioprinters and sensors.\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Driverless car as the point-of-care\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\u003Cp>[subscribe]Subscribe to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>\u003Cb>The Medical Futurist Newsletter\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>News shaping the future of healthcare\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Advice on taking charge of your health\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Reviews of the latest health technology\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>[\u002Fsubscribe]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second, the future of transportation is autonomous – cars and other vehicles will eventually be able to navigate by themselves completely. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">means we will keep spending a lot of time sitting in vehicles, but we are going to be passive passengers. And if Musk has his way, vehicles will act like self-driving taxis, generating income while their owners are not using them. As such a system would allow many more people to use cars than today, it will create a huge medical opportunity for car manufacturers. Cars could become the point-of-care. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today the point-of-care is the practice, a lab or the hospital. Soon, it will be where the patient is. This could be an entirely new market where basic health parameters and vital signs are determined by the car with sensors located in the seats or the safety belt. Measurements could be analyzed with supercomputers such as IBM Watson in the cloud. If something is wrong, the patient would receive a notification, making the whole experience seamless and user-friendly. Not using cars for this purpose would be a missed opportunity.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fdriverless-tesla-1.jpg\" alt=\"Life in driverless cars\" class=\"wp-image-13674\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fdriverless-tesla-1.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fdriverless-tesla-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fdriverless-tesla-1-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fdriverless-tesla-1-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though many think digital health is a revolution of disruptive technology, it is first and foremost a cultural revolution. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like Elon Musk’s visions for transportation, we will need to change our approach to healthcare, whether we’re patients, doctors, or regulators. If we do not persuade people that the upcoming technological changes mean a new chance for humanity to improve the skills that make us exceptional human beings; and extend our capabilities, we will fail. If we cannot demonstrate the advantages of disruptive innovations in making care more affordable, efficient and personalized through evidence-based studies, we will fail. If we don’t push regulatory agencies to create a framework that welcomes innovation rather than keeping the over-regulated healthcare system, patients will look for their own solutions for their health problems and, we will fail. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>What we need, is a plan. Though Mr. Musk might jump into healthcare to make this revolution happen, we already know how we could bring science fiction to reality. Here are the four grand challenges that we need to tackle:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgrand-challenges\u002Fdisruptive-medical-technology\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">We need to embrace disruptive technologies\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Technological advance is not the solution for healthcare problems, I acknowledge that, but I firmly believe that only disruption can change healthcare from the bottom. We need to massively discuss worldwide how amazing and dangerous disruptive technologies can be. This way we can prepare in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgrand-challenges\u002Fempower-patients\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">We must put patients in the center of care\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This is an ongoing movement worldwide, but we are far from finishing the job. We have to invite patients and their organizations to every project from hospital advisory boards to conferences in order to let their voices heard. They are the most important elements in healthcare and today we design care without their participation. This must stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgrand-challenges\u002Fprevention-focused-healthcare\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">We need to shift from treatment to prevention\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We will spend a similar amount of knowledge, money and energy on preventive care, but this will allow us to catch diseases and even prevent them from arising in time. This is only possible with measuring data at home, at the practice and in hospitals. The swarm of wearable sensors and portable diagnosti devices should be incorporated into everyday care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgrand-challenges\u002Fdigital-health-care\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">We need to digitize the process of care\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We can only improve a system if we measure data in it. Today’s healthcare fails at this. Let’s measure and analyze the vast amounts of data from medical records, patients’ sensors and insurance claims with Watson-like algorithms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>I think Elon Musk’s vision for a cleaner, safer and more efficient world is an example to follow. Imagine how our lives would change if that most important of all industries, healthcare would be similarly transformed. I invite you all to join me in making this change happen. \u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":646,"protected":16},13681,{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[271,750,5],496,[752],519,[],[],[756,757,289,758,543,759,760,761,762,763],3607,4619,1593,1631,1683,2121,2613,3207,[765,53,113,114,115,116,117,295,766,121,767],"post-13665","category-health-sensors-trackers","tag-gc4",{"id":747,"alt_text":769,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":141,"media_details":770,"post":733,"source_url":795},"Elon Musk",{"width":143,"height":771,"file":772,"sizes":773,"image_meta":793},338,"2016\u002F08\u002F3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck.jpg",{"medium":774,"large":777,"thumbnail":781,"medium_large":784,"large_old_512x199":785,"medium_old_458x178":789},{"file":775,"width":149,"height":150,"mime-type":319,"source_url":776},"3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-370x208.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-370x208.jpg",{"file":778,"width":155,"height":779,"mime-type":319,"source_url":780},"3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-768x298.jpg",298,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-768x298.jpg",{"file":782,"width":160,"height":160,"mime-type":319,"source_url":783},"3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-150x150.jpg",{"file":778,"width":155,"height":779,"mime-type":319,"source_url":780},{"file":786,"width":165,"height":787,"mime-type":319,"source_url":788},"3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-512x199.jpg",199,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-512x199.jpg",{"file":790,"width":580,"height":791,"mime-type":319,"source_url":792},"3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-458x178.jpg",178,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck-458x178.jpg",{"aperture":180,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":180,"copyright":64,"focal_length":180,"iso":180,"shutter_speed":180,"title":64,"orientation":180,"keywords":794},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F3052889-poster-p-2-the-issue-with-existing-batteries-is-that-they-suck.jpg",{"related_posts":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16},{"yoast_wpseo_title":798,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":64,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":741},"Elon Musk Will Need a Masterplan in Digital Health Too - The Medical Futurist",{"self":800,"collection":805,"about":807,"author":809,"replies":811,"version-history":814,"predecessor-version":818,"wp:featuredmedia":822,"wp:attachment":825,"wp:term":828,"curies":839},[801],{"href":802,"targetHints":803},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13665",{"allow":804},[27],[806],{"href":211},[808],{"href":214},[810],{"embeddable":41,"href":217},[812],{"embeddable":41,"href":813},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=13665",[815],{"count":816,"href":817},15,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13665\u002Frevisions",[819],{"id":820,"href":821},37237,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13665\u002Frevisions\u002F37237",[823],{"embeddable":41,"href":824},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F13681",[826],{"href":827},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=13665",[829,831,833,835,837],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":830},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=13665",{"taxonomy":239,"embeddable":41,"href":832},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=13665",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":834},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=13665",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":836},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=13665",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":838},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=13665",[840],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},{"id":185,"date":842,"date_gmt":843,"guid":844,"modified":846,"modified_gmt":847,"slug":848,"status":52,"type":53,"link":849,"title":850,"content":852,"excerpt":854,"author":61,"featured_media":855,"comment_status":856,"ping_status":856,"sticky":16,"template":64,"format":65,"meta":857,"categories":858,"tags":859,"project_category":860,"contact_email_category":861,"yst_prominent_words":862,"class_list":863,"better_featured_image":865,"acf":892,"yoast_meta":893,"_links":895},"2016-01-15T09:51:36","2016-01-15T08:51:36",{"rendered":845},"http:\u002F\u002Fscienceroll.com\u002F?p=11902","2021-12-06T00:27:48","2021-12-05T23:27:48","there-will-be-no-mars-generation-without-these-technologies-2","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthere-will-be-no-mars-generation-without-these-technologies-2",{"rendered":851},"There Will Be No “Mars Generation” Without These Technologies",{"rendered":853,"protected":16},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\"> \u003Ctbody> \u003Ctr> \u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"> \u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp> \u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr> \u003C\u002Ftbody> \u003C\u002Ftable> \u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>NASA is set to send astronauts to orbit Mars and return them safely by the mid 2030s. And a manned landing on the Red Planet will soon follow. However, this work will be in vain if health technology does not advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My parents were members of the Apollo generation. The amazing accomplishment of putting men on the Moon defined their era, stretching the boundaries of what humanity can achieve. But after the last Moon landing, no more exciting breakthroughs emerged. Global attention to space declined. Until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Visionaries like Elon Musk and Richard Branson are making spaceflight exciting again – turning our children into the Mars generation. Indeed, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Ffuturism.com\u002Fthe-journey-to-mars-7-real-nasa-technologies-in-the-martian\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NASA is set to send astronauts to orbit Mars\u003C\u002Fa> and return them safely by the mid 2030s. And a manned landing on the Red Planet will soon follow. However, this work will be in vain if health technology does not advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">THE HAZARDS OF GETTING MAN TO MARS\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"\u002Fwp-content\u002Fmedia\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F1.png\" alt=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-11907\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Image credit: NASA\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The trip to Mars takes around seven months, which is a only a little longer than the time astronauts spend on the International Space Station; however, counting their mission, orbit around Mars, landing, and return, the journey will take years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Spaceflight has a serious effect on astronauts. Variations in temperature and radiation levels, motion sickness, losing bone and muscle mass despite doing exercises, disruption of vision and taste…all of these cause health issues, not to mention the psychological consequences of space travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, today, our health can only be effectively monitored by sensors that, at the present time, fill a room. Treating an injury such as a broken bone—a simple matter on Earth—requires medical manufacturing capabilities, capabilities that we don’t have on the Red Planet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The technologies we need to solve the aforementioned issues exist, but they are in their infancy. Telemedicine is inaccurate and unregulated; genome sequencing is used in the rarest of cases and only by top medical institutions; 3D printing in medicine is the playground of citizen scientists, but has yet to advance into a viable and effective method of treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The sad fact is, we don’t stand a chance of getting to Mars without a booming digital health industry. With that in mind, here are the top inventions and technologies we need if we ever hope to make a new home for humanity on Mars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3D PRINTERS THAT CAN CREATE EVERYTHING AVAILABLE IN A DOCTOR’S OFFICE\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"\u002Fwp-content\u002Fmedia\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F2.jpg\" alt=\"2\" class=\"wp-image-11909\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Printing with a 3D printer at Makers Party: Via WikiMedia\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As astronauts will be alone and cannot bring all the supplies for a lengthy stay on the Red Planet, they will need printers that can print out medical equipment, prosthetics, and drugs on demand. Bringing the ingredients for these, and printing out what is needed on site, makes more sense than bringing a few types of equipment and drugs which could only help under limited circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Astronauts could establish manufacturing by designing printers that can print out other printers. The whole idea of 3D printing is going to be essential to them. It \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002F3dprintingindustry.com\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F26\u002F12-things-we-can-3d-print-in-medicine-right-now\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">has been shown\u003C\u002Fa> that customized prosthetics can be printed out, some forms of medical equipment, and even drug used in epilepsy. The basic examples are here already or trends seem to be pointing into this direction. So the future is looking bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WEARABLE AND IMPLANTED BODY SENSORS\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"\u002Fwp-content\u002Fmedia\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F31.jpg\" alt=\"3\" class=\"wp-image-11911\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Credit: Professor Takao Someya\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Forget smart clothes and devices that can measure your ECG or pulse with a smartphone. On a trip to Mars, every ounce of cargo matters. Without tiny sensors that can measure every important vital sign and health parameter, crew members will not be able to make medical decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Today’s wearable trackers are big, get discharged quickly, and are hard to work with. Astronauts cannot rely on them. Digital tattoos and implanted microchips could do the job without the active participation of astronauts. These would measure every relevant parameter and let them know when there is something they should take care of. The Japanese \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ntech.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp\u002Fen\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Professor Someya\u003C\u002Fa> has been developing such tattoos with his team; as well as the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mc10inc.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MC10 company\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FULL GENOMIC ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY ASTRONAUTS’ HEALTH RISKS\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Since they won’t have access to proper healthcare for years, knowing what major conditions the Martian astronauts might face would be highly beneficial, indeed, even necessary. A full genome sequencing, assisted by microbiome tests and other lab markers, will let physicians partially predict what major diseases they will probably encounter in their lives and what they can do to try to avoid most of them. This includes what diet to choose based on the types of bacteria they live with and what lab markers to regularly re-check to catch a disease before it would develop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT CAN DRAW CONCLUSIONS FROM LIVE HEALTH DATA\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11914\" src=\"\u002Fwp-content\u002Fmedia\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F4.png\" alt=\"4\" width=\"1200\" height=\"803\">\u003Cbr>IBM’s Watson computer, Yorktown Heights, NY. Via: WikiMedia\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No matter how sophisticated sensors are, measurements will not help with day-to-day issues unless there are smart algorithms that can make suggestions. Astronauts will have no constant contact with Earth, and they cannot have all the skills of an experienced physician, researcher, and data analyst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Algorithms will do this job for them. This will help them get the most out of each day to exploit the theoretical limits of efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">TELEMEDICAL SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW REMOTE CARE\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11916\" src=\"\u002Fwp-content\u002Fmedia\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F51.jpg\" alt=\"5\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1031\">\u003Cbr>Image credit: ITouch\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Even though the distance is big between physicians here and the crew on Mars, high quality communication with specialized caregivers on Earth will be an essential part of their care. As was mentioned, the distance and delay in communication will make it tricky, but from time to time, communication with a real doctor will be absolutely necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the future of smart algorithms used in healthcare is bright, human supervision will still be a crucial part of making sure they are on the right track. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.intouchhealth.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">InTouch Health\u003C\u002Fa> is a good example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">THIN EXOSKELETONS TO AUGMENT HUMAN STRENGTH AND POWER\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11918\" src=\"\u002Fwp-content\u002Fmedia\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F6.jpg\" alt=\"6\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\">\u003Cbr>Fortis exoskeleton. Image credit: FORTIS\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lifting huge weights and working tirelessly for long hours will be must-have features on Mars, as astronauts will need to build a base camp. As exoskeletons get thinner and more comfortable, the crew on Mars will use them as frequently as the first astronauts used screwdrivers. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fpulse\u002Fexoskeletons-let-paralyzed-people-walk-again-bertalan-mesk%C3%B3-md-phd?trk=mp-reader-card\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Exoskeletons today can already let paralyzed people walk again\u003C\u002Fa>; let soldiers not get tired of walking for hours or even run faster and jump higher. As long spaceflights weaken their muscles no matter how much they try to exercise in zero gravity, exoskeletons could supply them with the lost strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ENGINEERING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Astronauts will need to be able to partially engineer life. By life, I mean bacteria, yeast, and even their own immune system if needed. The new genome editing method, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FCRISPR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CRISPR\u003C\u002Fa>, could play a major role in this. Systems involving engineering bacteria to produce hormones, antibiotics, or other materials would allow them to use nature as a manufacturing device, even to filter water or create the desired atmosphere. Community labs currently available in California and the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Figem.org\u002FMain_Page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iGem competitions\u003C\u002Fa> have demonstrated in what a wide range of situations bioengineering can offer solutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SURGICAL ROBOTS THAT CAN BE OPERATED FROM A DISTANCE\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11920\" src=\"\u002Fwp-content\u002Fmedia\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F7.jpg\" alt=\"7\" width=\"912\" height=\"504\">\u003Cbr>Image credit: Weyland\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There will be cases, almost inevitably, when astronauts will need to undergo surgery. Current surgical robots that perform big operations are controlled by surgeons through a control panel. The movie Prometheus featured a surgical robot capsule that can perform the whole operation on its own. The Mars generation will require an invention somewhere in between. Surgeons on Earth could pre-plan every step, and the robot could perform those steps while being supervised with the time delay digitally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I truly believe that humans are discoverers – and the next great enterprise is discovering the cosmos, starting with Mars. At first, the task will fall on a few brave people, and we have to make sure we can keep them safe, healthy, and functioning in an environment that is hostile to human life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We need to upgrade their health with advancements in digital health to make this possible. Luckily, these breakthrough technologies are all within our reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Read more about health technologies we will need to reach Mars and how to start upgrading your own health in my new book, \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F1LRAp3t\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">My Health: Upgraded\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":646,"protected":16},12353,"open",{"_acf_changed":16,"footnotes":64},[271,5],[281,283,72,422,76,274,752,84],[],[],[289],[864,53,113,114,115,116,117,295,121,304,306,122,437,126,297,767,134],"post-11902",{"id":855,"alt_text":64,"caption":64,"description":64,"media_type":141,"media_details":866,"post":185,"source_url":891},{"width":143,"height":867,"file":868,"sizes":869,"image_meta":889},544,"2016\u002F01\u002Fspace_mars_planet_029860.jpg",{"medium":870,"large":873,"thumbnail":877,"medium_large":880,"large_old_512x320":881,"medium_old_400x250":885},{"file":871,"width":149,"height":150,"mime-type":319,"source_url":872},"space_mars_planet_029860-370x208.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fspace_mars_planet_029860-370x208.jpg",{"file":874,"width":155,"height":875,"mime-type":319,"source_url":876},"space_mars_planet_029860-768x480.jpg",480,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fspace_mars_planet_029860-768x480.jpg",{"file":878,"width":160,"height":160,"mime-type":319,"source_url":879},"space_mars_planet_029860-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fspace_mars_planet_029860-150x150.jpg",{"file":874,"width":155,"height":875,"mime-type":319,"source_url":876},{"file":882,"width":165,"height":883,"mime-type":319,"source_url":884},"space_mars_planet_029860-512x320.jpg",320,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fspace_mars_planet_029860-512x320.jpg",{"file":886,"width":887,"height":681,"mime-type":319,"source_url":888},"space_mars_planet_029860-400x250.jpg",400,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fspace_mars_planet_029860-400x250.jpg",{"aperture":180,"credit":64,"camera":64,"caption":64,"created_timestamp":180,"copyright":64,"focal_length":180,"iso":180,"shutter_speed":180,"title":64,"orientation":180,"keywords":890},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F01\u002Fspace_mars_planet_029860.jpg",{"cta_type":64,"cta_color":64,"subtitle":64,"related_books":16,"related_posts_footer":16,"related_posts":16},{"yoast_wpseo_title":894,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":64,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":849},"There Will Be No “Mars Generation” Without These Technologies - The Medical Futurist",{"self":896,"collection":901,"about":903,"author":905,"replies":907,"version-history":910,"predecessor-version":914,"wp:featuredmedia":918,"wp:attachment":921,"wp:term":924,"curies":935},[897],{"href":898,"targetHints":899},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F11902",{"allow":900},[27],[902],{"href":211},[904],{"href":214},[906],{"embeddable":41,"href":217},[908],{"embeddable":41,"href":909},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=11902",[911],{"count":912,"href":913},8,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F11902\u002Frevisions",[915],{"id":916,"href":917},37107,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F11902\u002Frevisions\u002F37107",[919],{"embeddable":41,"href":920},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F12353",[922],{"href":923},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=11902",[925,927,929,931,933],{"taxonomy":11,"embeddable":41,"href":926},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=11902",{"taxonomy":239,"embeddable":41,"href":928},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=11902",{"taxonomy":242,"embeddable":41,"href":930},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=11902",{"taxonomy":245,"embeddable":41,"href":932},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=11902",{"taxonomy":248,"embeddable":41,"href":934},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=11902",[936],{"name":39,"href":40,"templated":41},[],[],1785956502885]