Medicine
Effects of microgravity on bone density in long-duration spaceflight
Quick fact
Astronauts can lose up to 2% of their bone density per month in microgravity, primarily in the spine and hips—a rate far exceeding that of osteoporosis on Earth.
Why this is interesting
Imagine your bones slowly disappearing, month after month, while you float weightlessly. That's the reality for astronauts on long space missions.