Orion. Nebula By Sirbozlington

Scott Kelly Spent a Year in Space, and Now He Has Different DNA Than His Identical Twin Brother

After a year aboard the International Space Station, Scott Kelly is a different man. For starters, he may not have the same DNA as his identical twin brother anymore.

Scott and Mark Kelly are identical twin brothers — at least, they were until Scott spent a year living in space.

When Scott Kelly returned to Earth after a 340-day voyage aboard the International Space Station (ISS) two years ago, he was 2 inches taller than he’d been when he left. His body mass had decreased, his gut bacteria were completely different, and — according to preliminary findings from NASA researchers — his genetic code had changed significantly. (Interestingly, Scott Kelly has since shrunk back down to his initial prespaceflight height.)

A new NASA statement suggests the physical and mental stresses of Scott Kelly’s year in orbit may have activated hundreds of “space genes” that altered the astronaut’s immune system, bone formation, eyesight and other bodily processes. While most of these genetic changes reverted to normal following Scott Kelly’s return to Earth, about 7 percent of the astronaut’s genetic code remained altered — and it may stay that way permanently.

Mars, God of War

Sharpless 273, Fox Fur Nebula

Night Moves

donalboyd

Enceladus [6th Largest Moon Of Saturn]

Pale Blue Dot (read comment) by AIEH5813

★☆★ SPACE ★☆★

The North American Nebula by jaredbowens

★☆★ SPACE ★☆★

What glows there? The answer depends: sea or sky? In the sea, the unusual blue glow is bioluminescence. Specifically, the glimmer arises from Noctiluca scintillans, single-celled plankton stimulated by the lapping waves.

The plankton use their glow to startle and illuminate predators. This mid-February display on an island in the Maldives was so intense that the astrophotographer described it as a turquoise wonderland.

In the sky, by contrast, are the more familiar glows of stars and nebulas. The white band rising from the artificially-illuminated green plants is created by billions of stars in the central disk of our Milky Way Galaxy.

Also visible in the sky is the star cluster Omega Centauri, toward the left, and the famous Southern Cross asterism in the center.

Red-glowing nebulas include the bright Carina Nebula, just right of center, and the expansive Gum Nebula on the upper right.

📷: Petr Horálek / Institute of Physics in Opava, Sovena Jani

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