Combined Effects of Microgravity and Chronic Low-Dose Gamma Radiation on Microgreens.

Plants in space face unique challenges, including chronic ionizing radiation and reduced gravity, which affect their growth and functionality. Understanding these impacts is essential to determine the cultivation conditions and protective shielding needs in future space greenhouses. While certain doses of ionizing radiation may enhance crop yield and quality, providing "functional food" rich in bioactive compounds, to support astronaut health, the combined effects of radiation and reduced gravity are still unclear, with potential additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions.

Morphological and Photosynthetic Pigment Screening of Four Microgreens Species Exposed to Heavy Ions.

Numerous challenges are posed by the extra-terrestrial environment for space farming and various technological growth systems are being developed to allow for microgreens' cultivation in space. Microgreens, with their unique nutrient profiles, may well integrate the diet of crew members, being a natural substitute for chemical food supplements. However, the space radiation environment may alter plant properties, and there is still a knowledge gap concerning the effects of various types of radiation on plants and specifically on the application of efficient and rapid methods for selecting new species for space farming, based on their radio-resistance.

Seizure and movement disorder in CACNA1E developmental and epileptic encephalopathy: Two sides of the same coin or same side of two different coins?

Pathogenic variants in CACNA1E are associated with early-onset epileptic and developmental encephalopathy (DEE). Severe to profound global developmental delay, early-onset refractory seizures, severe hypotonia, and macrocephaly are the main clinical features. Patients harboring the recurrent CACNA1E variant p.

Plant and microbial science and technology as cornerstones to Bioregenerative Life Support Systems in space.

Long-term human space exploration missions require environmental control and closed Life Support Systems (LSS) capable of producing and recycling resources, thus fulfilling all the essential metabolic needs for human survival in harsh space environments, both during travel and on orbital/planetary stations. This will become increasingly necessary as missions reach farther away from Earth, thereby limiting the technical and economic feasibility of resupplying resources from Earth. Further incorporation of biological elements into state-of-the-art (mostly abiotic) LSS, leading to bioregenerative LSS (BLSS), is needed for additional resource recovery, food production, and waste treatment solutions, and to enable more self-sustainable missions to the Moon and Mars.