"Do we have any idea what is pulling on the orbit of Pluto? I have heard several things, from a black hole to a star to a brown dwarf."
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Question
What is the appeal of microgravity to research scientists?
All life on Earth (which is the only life we know) has evolved to adapt to normal Earth gravity of 1 g. While many other environmental effects have changed over time (temperature, atmospheric composition, etc.), gravity has remained a constant. Now, with access to space, we can for the first time study the response of life to microgravity. Scientists were initially interested in studying how individual plants and animals adapted to this unfamiliar situation. Astrobiologists are looking forward to extending these studies to communities of living things, and to see if we can investigate the process of evolution in microgravity. This is a new field, and no one knows what insights we may obtain, or how this information will influence our perspectives on ecosystems on Earth and (potentially) on other planets. In addition, there are practical issues if we ever aspire to spend long times in space, or to establish bases on the Moon or Mars. Adjusting to variable gravity is important for the astronauts and for the other life forms that accompany them into space. We need to know more about the effects of microgravity, and about countermeasures, before we send astronauts to Mars, for example.
David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
January 12, 2004
- How frequently are questions answered?
- I asked a question but there was no answer?
- Who is the Astrobiologist answering these questions?
- Will I get an email when my question is answered?
- What college courses should I take to become an astrobiologist?
- How can I get a job as an astrobiologist at NASA?
- Have aliens visited Earth? Are UFOs real?
- Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?
- Is it true that the Sun will be in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy in December 2012 and that this will cause a pole shift and massive destruction.
- Has NASA discovered life on other worlds?
- Astrobiology Career Path Suggestions
