Going to space changes your brain: Here's how
Turns out, going to space doesn't just give you cool stories: it also moves your brain around.
A new study scanned 26 astronauts before and after their International Space Station missions and found their brains shifted upward and backward inside their skulls.
Some brain areas moved up by 2.5mm
The changes weren't small: some brain areas moved up by as much as 2.5mm, with parts getting compressed or stretched.
The researchers observed slight rotations of the brain.
Comparison with bed rest
For comparison, people who did weeks of head-down bed rest had different brain shifts, mostly backward movement.
The team thinks this shows space messes with your body in ways Earth can't really copy.
Effects lasted after return to Earth
These brain changes stuck around for up to six months after returning home.
Some astronauts had more trouble with balance at first (but bounced back quickly).
Longer trips made these effects stronger (a heads-up for future Mars or Artemis missions)!