5 healthcare developments that were born in space
Space might just be the next frontier in our quest for better health. That’s because numerous healthcare developments we’ve come to rely on over the years got their start with astronauts.
The microgravity climate of the International Space Station combined with the unique needs of making mechanical repairs in space and research efforts beyond our universe have led to some pretty amazing technologies – many of which we benefit from today.
Discover how the healthcare industry has come to rely on space as a breeding ground for innovation.
A better way to take your temperature
Temperature-taking technologies got a lot more comfortable in the 1990s thanks to the invention of a device that could use a person’s eardrum as a way to detect a fever. In 1991, Diatek Corporation debuted an electronic thermometer whose technology was developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. The original purpose? Reading infrared radiation emitted from stars and planets.
Finding relief for asthma sufferers
When astronauts are in space, their vitals are constantly measured so that we can better understand what a weightless environment does to the human body. Led by a team based in Sweden, the Airway Monitoring Experiment is testing to see how much nitric oxide is in astronauts’ lungs. According to the European Space Agency, “Small amounts are normal, but excess levels indicate airway inflammation caused by environmental factors such as dust and pollutants or diseases like asthma.” While there needs to be more data in order to fully understand how to apply these findings, it’s studies like this that are helping to shape our understanding of lung health back on planet Earth.
Insight into osteoporosis prevention
Due to a lack of load-bearing activities, astronauts experience bone loss in space at a rate of about ten times that of osteoporosis. Daily exercise can combat some of this, as well as taking a weekly dose of bisphosphonate – two discoveries which are already helping to alleviate the effects of aging back home.
A robotic arm to help with surgery
Canadarm2 was developed so that astronauts could avoid high-risk spacewalks, instead conducting repairs on the ISS from the comfort of the ship. Since the robotic arm technology found its place on Earth in the shape of neuroArm, it’s helping to make surgery safer by performing complicated and delicate procedures – like removing a brain tumor.
Making braces less noticeable
Believe it or not, dental innovations and space exploration have long had a close relationship – from advances in fillings and learning about tooth loss to combatting water contamination during procedures and even alleviating pain. Anyone who’s had braces may also have astronauts to thank. Invisible braces are made from transparent polycrystalline alumina (TPA), a material that’s stronger than steel and was first developed by NASA to track missiles.
Innovation is born out of creative problem solving – something which astronauts know well. As we look to the future of healthcare, whether it’s how to make procedures more effective, discovering new materials, or even just how to better understand the human body, we’ll no doubt have astronauts to thank for breaking ground – even if they’re nowhere near it.
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Topics Health
As Director of Special Projects, Nicole Cammorata helps guide Mashable's editorial innovations, licensing programs, and specialty series. Previously, she was the site's Executive Editor and its very first Shopping Editor before that. Nicole is also Mashable's resident gifting expert and gets a thrill out of helping readers find the perfect present. She received a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and an MFA in fiction writing from The New School. She lives in Maine with her husband, their three young children, and a backyard full of flowers.
