Question 1 of 12Correct: 0
Where do astronauts' flashes of light come from?
How was this confirmed?
Why does a person get taller in weightlessness?
Why are you usually a little shorter in the evening than in the morning?
What makes it hard to walk right after returning from space?
What takes the longest to recover?
Why can your vision go dark after returning to Earth?
Why do bones and muscles start weakening in weightlessness?
Why do people sleep strapped in on the station?
How much sleep do people actually get out of 8.5 planned hours?
Why does weightlessness make you feel sick?
How long does the condition usually last?
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Why Astronauts See Flashes of Light0/2Why astronauts get taller0/2Why It's Hard to Walk After a Spaceflightin the app0/2What Happens to Your Body in Weightlessness0/2How You Sleep in Orbitin the app0/2What Is Space Sicknessin the app0/2
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Answers and explanations12 questions
- Where do astronauts' flashes of light come from? Charged particles from cosmic radiation pass through the eyeThe brain interprets any excitation of the visual pathway as light.From “Why Astronauts See Flashes of Light”
- How was this confirmed? Flash reports coincided with particles passing through a detectorExperiments in orbit used individual particle detectors.From “Why Astronauts See Flashes of Light”
- Why does a person get taller in weightlessness? Discs absorb water and the spine straightensWithout body weight, the discs absorb water and the spine's curves partially straighten.From “Why astronauts get taller”
- Why are you usually a little shorter in the evening than in the morning? Body weight squeezes some water from the discsDaytime load compresses the discs and they lose some fluid, then absorb it again at night.From “Why astronauts get taller”
- What makes it hard to walk right after returning from space? Changes in balance, blood pressure, and support all at onceYour brain starts receiving a signal about which way is down again but has forgotten how to use it, while your blood vessels have stopped keeping blood in the upper half of your body.From “Why It's Hard to Walk After a Spaceflight”
- What takes the longest to recover? BonesRestoring bone density takes considerably longer than the flight itself.From “Why It's Hard to Walk After a Spaceflight”
- Why can your vision go dark after returning to Earth? There is less blood, and leg vessels forgot to constrictIn weightlessness, your body gets rid of some plasma, and the vessels in your legs forget to help blood rise to your head.From “What Happens to Your Body in Weightlessness”
- Why do bones and muscles start weakening in weightlessness? Without load, your body builds less bone and muscleLoad tells your body to maintain tissue: without its usual pressure, bones and muscles lose shape and strength.From “What Happens to Your Body in Weightlessness”
- Why do people sleep strapped in on the station? Otherwise, ventilation carries them awayThe bag is fastened to the wall, while weightlessness lets the body settle into a relaxed position without pressure.From “How You Sleep in Orbit”
- How much sleep do people actually get out of 8.5 planned hours? About 6Noise, a shifted body clock, and a stuffy nose caused by fluid redistribution all interfere with sleep.From “How You Sleep in Orbit”
- Why does weightlessness make you feel sick? Because vision and the vestibular system disagreeThe crystals in the inner ear stop shifting, while your eyes keep showing you the floor and ceiling.From “What Is Space Sickness”
- How long does the condition usually last? 2-4 daysThe brain readjusts and starts relying on vision and sensations from the body.From “What Is Space Sickness”