Vuoti di memoria, riflessi rallentati, scarsa concentrazione: ecco cosa potrebbero rischiare gli astronauti in missione su Marte per colpa dei raggi cosmici.
Uno studio condotto dall'Università della California a Irvine, in collaborazione con la Nasa, ha dimostrato che l'esposizione prolungata a queste particelle energetiche che pervadono lo spazio rischierebbe di danneggiare in modo irreversibile il cervello dei cosmonauti. Ciò provocherebbe un declino cognitivo simile a quello della demenza che renderebbe di fatto complicato portare a termine la missione.
Per garantire la sicurezza sarà necessario sviluppare nuove soluzioni, come scudi protettivi più efficienti per i veicoli spaziali e terapie farmacologiche preventive.
ATS/lg
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