2009.06.04
Yikes, that's hot!
Today's addition to the "How cool is that?" files:
Meet Matroshka, a torso stuffed with real human blood and simulated human tissues. NASA scientists plan to expose him to an artificial solar flare right here on Earth.
When humans travel in space, beyond the protection of the Earth's magnetic field, they are exposed too all sorts of nastiness, including solar flares that eject all sorts of energetic particles that bombard anything in their path. With plans in the work for a manned base on the Moon and sending humans to Mars, scientsits want to know what effects that sort of exposure will have on people's bodies.
He's already traveled on the space shuttle and to the Interntational Space Station for experiments. The nice thing is if radiation damages the blood , a quick transfusion has Matroshka as good as new.
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This looks like something on Mythbusters.
Comment by Kristen — June 4, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
If it were still the 80's, my sister would be asking why Matroshka had to be male...
Comment by Ed S. — June 4, 2009 @ 5:12 pm