“Exposure to short duration gravity load changes including microgravity, as sustained in a parabolic flight statistically significantly decreases the sperm motility and vitality of human fresh sperm samples,” the team found, adding that this may have huge importance for any prolonged human settlement missions in space.

“In the future, should humans remain in space for long periods of time with exposure to different microgravity and hypergravity peaks, which could range from months to a number of years, reproduction may pose a problem to be tackled.”

The mechanism by which sperm motility was decreased remains unknown, with further study needed.

    • NatakuNox@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      I’m dyslexic and for a moment I was like. Why would you take people who work on boats on the vomit comet? Is it to see if their sealegs transfer to space?

      ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ disorders can be fun sometimes…

      Ps. Someone should do that study I mentioned.

  • Francisco@lemmy.world
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    26 days ago

    After sparing this paper a fair bit of attention I feel I’ve wasted it.

    Nowhere in the paper could i find in what conditions the test samples were kept during the experiment. This is pretty basic stuff. At this stage I’d wage sloshing was the issue.

    Reading this part of the methodology:

    "2.2 Initial sperm analysis

    After liquefaction…

    [Two paragraphs later, in the same section: ] After this first analysis, the 15 sperm samples were split into two fractions. All the samples were exposed to ‘Parabolic flight’ (split 1) and to…"

    Did they liquefied the samples and tested like that? Whaa?

    The “After this first analysis” should not be in the “2.2 Initial sperm analysis”. It just shouldn’t!

    Then I think “15 sperm samples were split into two fractions”. … “the samples were exposed to ‘Parabolic flight’ (split 1)” — splits, fractions, what a mess!! At this stage I’ve wasted enough.

    The paper should be retracted, the reviewers spanked and the editor fired.

  • j4k3@lemmy.world
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    26 days ago

    Literally (fiction) speaking, I’ve randomly gambled on ~10 generations max before the population crashes if a generation ship arrives and fails to complete an O’Neill cylinder on the other side.

    Sound legit? 4am, going to bed, so no read.

  • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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    25 days ago

    Can we please stop pretending that future space colonists will live their whole lives in microgravity? Nobody seriously suggests that as an option, that’s stupid. Countless studies have shown that for proper biological development, humans (and in fact nearly all organisms) need gravity. But for large space stations, spin gravity is actually not that freaking hard. If you can create a large enough station to support a sizable colony, it does not take much more engineering to make it spin.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      Most of us aren’t suffering and spending time with my kids is amazing and I enioy it.

      • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
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        26 days ago

        Lol the downvotes are killing me.
        “Fuck you for enjoying your life and family!”

    • angrystego@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      I get you. But that’s life. Life wants to live and create more life. That’s what it’s about. The parts of life that ask why will be set aside and not used for the continuation of life.