Long spells in microgravity can alter eyeball shape, but a sleeping bag that applies suction to the lower body could prevent such problems
Space
9 December 2021
Volunteers spent 72 hours in the high-tech sleeping bag UT Southwestern Medical Center
A sleeping bag that mimics the pull of gravity could prevent astronauts’ eyes from bulging in space, reducing the risk of vision problems on long journeys.
About 70 per cent of people in space experience changes to the shape of their eyeballs, sometimes affecting their vision.
When we lie down on Earth, there is a threefold increase in pressure inside the skull because our body fluids are redistributed. This pressure is usually relieved when we get up in the morning, but …