Key Takeaway
Astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent 340 days aboard the International Space Station, will keynote TwinFest 2023, shedding light on the effects of extended space travel on the human body and the scientific value of twin studies.
Summary
- Astronaut Scott Kelly will be the keynote speaker at TwinFest 2023, an event sponsored by Washington State University (WSU) and scheduled for July 22 in Everett.
- Kelly's 340-day stay on the International Space Station while his identical twin remained on Earth provided valuable insights into the molecular and physiological effects of extended space travel and demonstrated the scientific significance of twin registries.
- The study conducted on Kelly's samples and data, along with his twin brother Mark, revealed findings related to aging, cognition, immunology, and various aspects of the human body during long stretches in space.
- One surprising discovery was that Kelly's telomeres, which typically shorten with age, actually lengthened in space, suggesting a possible influence of radiation beyond Earth's atmosphere.
- Twin studies enable researchers to control for genetic effects when investigating health outcomes, allowing a focus on specific conditions of interest and the impact of environmental factors on health.
- WSU's Twin Registry, with nearly 10,000 twin pairs, collaborates with researchers from across the country and offers opportunities for scientific studies.
- The experience left Kelly confident in the potential for manned flights to Mars, although successful missions to more distant planets would require scientific innovations like artificial gravity.
- This year's TwinFest will be the first since the Twin Registry's move to WSU, following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The event information is available on the Washington State Twin Registry's website.
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