NASA Stunned After Students Uncover EpiPen Toxicity in Space
Staff Editor NASA was surprised when elementary school students discovered that EpiPens can become toxic in space due to radiation. The students conducted a study using simulated conditions of outer space and found that the active ingredients in an EpiPen could be affected by cosmic rays. This is concerning news for astronauts who may rely on these devices to treat allergic reactions while they are away from Earth.
The research team tested various samples of epinephrine stored at different temperatures and exposed them to gamma radiation, which mimics the effects of cosmic rays experienced in outer space. They found that after exposure, some samples had lost their potency or even turned toxic over time.
These findings have prompted NASA scientists to further investigate how other medications used by astronauts might be impacted by long-term exposure to space radiation, as well as consider alternative treatments for medical emergencies during extended missions into deep-space exploration areas, such as Mars and beyond.
The work done by these young researchers has been praised not only within the scientific community but also among parents who are now more aware of potential risks associated with sending children into outer space without proper medication onboard spacecraft or habitats designed for human habitation outside our planet’s atmosphere.
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