The beautiful hidden nematodes are sent to space to explore muscle changes in microgravity environments.

Astronauts live in a space environment that faces a very different gravitational environment than on Earth.
SpaceX experimented with nematodes to study how muscles change in microgravity.
, however, in addition to the gravity environment, once out of the capsule, astronauts will also face a variety of high-energy particles radiation, even spacesuits are difficult to completely resist.
what these conditions will have on the physical condition of astronauts, it is worth further studying, after all, space will be a frequent "exploration" of human space.
, according to space exploration technology company (SpaceX) website, in the recent use of the Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon cargo spacecraft, a large number of experimental items were also sent to the International Space Station, including tens of thousands of beautiful hidden rod nematodes, the purpose of the experiment is to explore muscle changes in microgravity environment.
this is SpaceX's 16th space station resupply mission.
the launch is still reusable - having delivered supplies to the space station in February 2017.
there are 36,000 beautiful hidden nematodes of the approximately 2,500 kilograms of equipment and supplies carried by the Dragon spacecraft.
this is a non-toxic, harmless animal that can survive independently.
its individual is very small, the adult body is no more than 1.5 mm long, male and female conjoined.
and nematodes have been used as model organisms in the field of molecular biology and developmental biology since 1965.
the purpose of the study is to explore the degradation of muscles in microgravity environments.
tens of thousands of nematodes will survive and reproduce in the space station environment for six days, and scientists estimate that 2 to 3 million nematodes will eventually return to Earth if they reproduce well. Timothy Etheridge, of the University of Exeter in the Uk, a member of the
study team, said that although the nematodes are only about 1mm long, their muscle structure and function are similar to those of humans, making them ideal for patterned animals that understand muscle changes.
the online worm "heaven" at the same time, "Dragon" spacecraft also carried space refueling equipment, and will be the first in space to carry out liquid methane transfer and storage tests.
NASA says long-distance space travel to destinations such as Mars would be possible once it has the ability to refuel and refuel in space.
Source: Science Daily.