Heart tissue samples that spent 30 days at the International Space Station (ISS) showed low gravity conditions in space weakened the tissues and disrupted their normal rhythmic beats when compared to earth-bound samples from the same source. The finding has implications for the cardiac health of astronauts on long duration space flights.

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists sent 48 human bioengineered heart tissue samples aboard a SpaceX resupply missions to the ISS in 2020, and again in March 2023.

The researchers said the heart tissues “really don’t fare well in space.” Over time, the tissues aboard the space station beat about half as strong as tissues from the same source kept on Earth… Continue reading.