When astronauts venture into space , their bones degrade because of the microgravity shape they encounter . Currently , such bone wastage is commonly diagnosed by CAT scan — so NASA developed a new test which analyzes urine to blot os red in its early stages .
The new technique , developed by scientists at Arizona State University in junction with NASA , await for trace of bone Ca in water . Specifically , it identifies the different concentrations of calcium isotopes in the piss , because the proportion in which they seem change during the grade of off-white degradation .
To check the trial works , the researchers confined a dozen healthy volunteers to layer rest for 30 days — a cognitive process which spark os release . Amazingly , the urine test could identify the initial stages of bone loss after just a week — well before any established medical scan could identity any change . The results arepublished in PNAS .
While the determination is smashing news for spaceman and osteoporosis sufferers , the investigator still are n’t cognitive content . Instead , they require to produce the test so it can be used to analyze how the social system of bone changes , as opposed to just measuring decrease in pearl volume . If they can reach that , it could be used to diagnose and monitor other bone - altering disease , including cancer . [ PNASviaBBC ]
Image byItsmejust / Shutterstock
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