Real World: Small Systems Count – Cells in Space
Have you ever wondered what living in space would do to your body? In this Real World video, learn how NASA scientists study cells on Earth to learn how to protect astronauts from radiation during space flights. Dr. Egle Cekanaviciute describes changes in cells and cell organelles. She also compares quantitative and qualitative data and demonstrates how to calculate the percentage of mutated cells.
Discussion and writing prompts
1. Individual cells are tiny, but changes to even a small number of cells can affect the health of an entire organism. Why is it important for NASA scientists to study cells when preparing for long-duration space missions? Explain how understanding changes at the cellular level can help scientists protect astronauts during missions to the Moon, Mars, or beyond. Include examples from the video to support your explanation.
2. The video demonstrates how scientists collect both qualitative observations and quantitative measurements when studying cells exposed to space radiation. Why is it important to use both types of data to draw scientific conclusions? Imagine you are analyzing microscope images of healthy and mutated cells. Describe the observations you would record, the measurements you would calculate, and explain how both types of evidence would help answer your research question.
3. Much of NASA's research begins in laboratories on Earth before it is applied to human spaceflight. How can experiments conducted with cells on Earth improve the safety and success of future space missions?
Background Information
Grades 3 through 8
- NASA Space Place What Is Space Weather? (webpage)
- NASA Space Place Why Does the Sun Burn Us? (webpage)
Grades 3 through 12
- NASA eClips Ask SME: Space Biologist Dr. Egle Cekanaviciute (video)
Grades 6 through 12
- NASA Hazards of Human Space Flight -- Hazard 1: Space Radiation (video)
- NASA Space Radiation is Risky Business for the Human Body (webpage/video)
- NASA Space Radiation Element (videos)
- NASA The Human Body in Space (webpage)
- NASA Why Space Radiation Matters (webpage)
Activities
Grades K through 8
- NASA Ray Shielding Activity (webpage)
- NASA Space Place Make Handprint Art Using Ultraviolet Light! (webpage)
Grades 3 through 8
- Lunar and Planetary Institute UV Kid Radiation Challenge (webpage)
Grades 5 through 8
- NASA Habitation with Gateway: Radiation Shield Activity (webpage)
- NASA Modeling Radiation-Damaged DNA (webpage)
Grades 6 through 8
- NASA Hazards to Deep Space Astronauts: Activity 1 -- Radiation (webpage)
Grades 9 through 12
- NASA Space Faring: The Radiation Challenge (pdf)