NASA Sends Squid into Space for Research
2021-06-29
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1Some 128 baby squid from Hawaii are in space for a study.
2The baby Hawaiian bobtail squid came from the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory.
3They rode on a SpaceX spacecraft along with thousands of kilos of supplies for the International Space Station on June 3.
4Jamie Foster is conducting the study as a researcher and doctoral student at the University of Hawaii under Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai.
5The Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspapers reported that she studied how spaceflight affects the squid.
6The research, started in 1989, can help scientists learn about human health during long trips in space.
7Squid have a relationship with natural bacteria that help control their bioluminescence.
8Bioluminescence is when plants and animals naturally give off light.
9McFall-Ngai is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
10She said when astronauts are in low gravity, their bodies' relationship with microbes changes.
11Microbes, or microscopic organisms, are very important to the human body and health.
12The relationship "of humans with their microbes is perturbed in microgravity, and Jamie has shown that [it] is true in squid," said McFall-Ngai.
13"And, because it's a simple system, she can get to the bottom of what's going wrong."
14Foster is now a professor at the University of Florida.
15She also works at a NASA space agency program that researches how microgravity affects the relationships between animals and microbes.
16"As astronauts spend more and more time in space, their immune systems become what's called dysregulated. It doesn't function as well," Foster said.
17"Their immune systems don't recognize bacteria as easily. They sometimes get sick."
18Foster said understanding what happens to the squid in space could help solve health problems that astronauts face.
19She said the immune system does not work properly on long spaceflights.
20"If humans want to spend time on the moon or Mars, we have to solve health problems to get them there safely."
21The Kewalo Marine Laboratory raises the squid for research projects around the world.
22They are about 7.6 centimeters long. There are plenty of these tiny animals in Hawaiian waters.
23The squid will come back to Earth in July.
24I'm Dan Novak.
1Some 128 baby squid from Hawaii are in space for a study. 2The baby Hawaiian bobtail squid came from the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory. They rode on a SpaceX spacecraft along with thousands of kilos of supplies for the International Space Station on June 3. 3Jamie Foster is conducting the study as a researcher and doctoral student at the University of Hawaii under Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspapers reported that she studied how spaceflight affects the squid. The research, started in 1989, can help scientists learn about human health during long trips in space. 4Squid have a relationship with natural bacteria that help control their bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is when plants and animals naturally give off light. 5McFall-Ngai is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. She said when astronauts are in low gravity, their bodies' relationship with microbes changes. Microbes, or microscopic organisms, are very important to the human body and health. 6The relationship "of humans with their microbes is perturbed in microgravity, and Jamie has shown that [it] is true in squid," said McFall-Ngai. "And, because it's a simple system, she can get to the bottom of what's going wrong." 7Foster is now a professor at the University of Florida. She also works at a NASA space agency program that researches how microgravity affects the relationships between animals and microbes. 8"As astronauts spend more and more time in space, their immune systems become what's called dysregulated. It doesn't function as well," Foster said. "Their immune systems don't recognize bacteria as easily. They sometimes get sick." 9Foster said understanding what happens to the squid in space could help solve health problems that astronauts face. 10She said the immune system does not work properly on long spaceflights. "If humans want to spend time on the moon or Mars, we have to solve health problems to get them there safely." 11The Kewalo Marine Laboratory raises the squid for research projects around the world. They are about 7.6 centimeters long. There are plenty of these tiny animals in Hawaiian waters. 12The squid will come back to Earth in July. 13I'm Dan Novak. 14The Associated Press and The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 15_________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17doctoral - adj. of or relating to the highest degree that is given by a university 18perturb - v. to cause (someone) to be worried or upset 19immune system - n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections 20dysregulation - n. weakness or damage in the regulation of a metabolic, physiological, or psychological process.