In 1947, the military sent fruit flies 67 miles into space to test radiation risks. 11 years later, NASA was founded in 1958, with animal flights underway in America now1947 mission was part of a larger American effort to understand whether living organisms could survive the journey into space. Beginning in...
03 Sep, 2026, 08.59 PM IST
In 1970, NASA launched two bullfrogs into orbit to study vestibular function; over six days, the animals provided hours of data on balance in weightlessnessIn 1970, an extraordinary experiment sent two frogs, Pierre and Tee-Nom, into orbit around Earth. Researchers closely examined their inner ...
03 Sep, 2026, 03.20 PM IST
In 1983, NASA flew Neurospora bread mold on STS-9 to test its body clock; the rhythm persisted, but faded out in 25% of flight tubes before light restored itIn 1983, NASA conducted research on fungal circadian rhythms aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, observing the bread mold Neurospora crassa....
03 Sep, 2026, 03.00 PM IST
Toyohiro Akiyama dies at 84: Japan’s first person in space was a journalist who live-reported from Mir and observed six tree frogs in zero gravityToyohiro Akiyama, the trailblazing figure and Japan's first civilian in space, has passed away at the age of 84. His remarkable journey to ...
03 Sep, 2026, 11.16 AM IST
In 2010, NASA launched a 12-pound, loaf-of-bread-sized satellite with two Bacillus populations; radiation exposure reached about 15 times that of the ISS orbitNASA's O/OREOS mission embarked on an exciting journey to observe how bacteria withstand the rigors of space radiation. The compact satelli...
02 Sep, 2026, 02.30 PM IST
In 1998, NASA flew crickets on Neurolab to study how spaceflight affects developing nervous systems; across the 16-day mission, they joined about 2,000 animals in spaceDuring the Neurolab mission, the space shuttle Columbia hosted 2,000 animals, crickets being one of them, to examine spaceflight's impacts ...
02 Sep, 2026, 01.50 PM IST
Science says space smells different after astronauts return inside, Here’s the chemistry behind the strange odorAstronauts have described the smell as resembling spent gunpowder, ozone, burning metal and welding fumes. NASA even worked with fragrance ...
01 Sep, 2026, 09.57 PM IST
Montreal transit agency bans workplace prayers from September 1 under Quebec’s new secularism law: What employees need to know about Bill 9Montreal’s public transit agency STM has banned employees from praying on workplace property from September 1 under Quebec’s new secularism...
01 Sep, 2026, 06.53 PM IST
Madhavan grows muskmelon, lady’s finger, broccoli, and tomatoes in his balcony. Actor shares 7 steps to grow organic vegetables at homeR Madhavan is quite passionate about organic gardening and grows vegetables like lady’s finger, broccoli, tomatoes and cucumber at home. He...
01 Sep, 2026, 08.35 AM IST
In 2005, NASA flew five thick-toed geckos aboard Foton-M2 for 16 days without food or water; all were recovered with no apparent negative health effectsFive geckos orbited Earth for sixteen days without food or water. Researchers studied how weightlessness affects these cold-blooded animals...
31 Aug, 2026, 07.54 PM IST
In 2003, researchers found freshwater snails had mated in space; their gravity-sensing statoconia were 50% larger by volume than matched ground controlsExperiments conducted aboard the Space Shuttle demonstrated that pond snails bred in microgravity possessed larger gravity-sensing structur...
31 Aug, 2026, 07.20 PM IST
Can fish populate space? In 1994, four medaka fish were flown aboard Columbia. They laid 43 eggs; 8 babies were born in space with no gravity. Adult fish, however, forgot to use one organ in their bodyIn 1994, Japanese astronaut Chiaki Mukai was pleasantly shocked to find that new life could indeed be born in space. Four fish he had carri...
29 Aug, 2026, 06.59 PM IST
In 2009, NASA sent four painted lady caterpillars to the ISS; reports said all four completed metamorphosis and emerged as adult butterflies in microgravityIn 2009, four painted lady caterpillars made their way to the International Space Station, embarking on a unique journey. In the absence of...
29 Aug, 2026, 06.54 PM IST
In 1962, NASA packed 22,900 gallons of water into a Saturn I rocket and deliberately released it 65 miles above Earth to see how water behaved in the upper atmosphereNASA scientists have long explored recycling resources for extended space travel. Plants and microorganisms could help regenerate vital sup...
28 Aug, 2026, 09.39 PM IST
In 1997, NASA sent 64 desert beetles to Russia’s Mir space station with tiny wheels tracking their every movement; their movements helped scientists understand how light regulates biological clocks in microgravityNASA sent black desert beetles into space aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1997. These insects lived on the Russian Mir space station f...
28 Aug, 2026, 08.19 PM IST
In 1958, the US launched Gordo the squirrel monkey 300 miles above Earth; he endured 8.3 minutes of weightlessness and 40 g during re-entry, but died after his capsule sank at seaIn the historic space flight of 1958, Gordo, a courageous squirrel monkey, faced intense conditions that ultimately validated human surviva...
28 Aug, 2026, 03.50 PM IST
In 1992, Endeavour carried 4 female African clawed frogs into orbit; their eggs were fertilized in microgravity and developed into apparently normal tadpolesIn 1992, four frogs embarked on a journey aboard the space shuttle Endeavour as part of a groundbreaking reproductive experiment. Their egg...
27 Aug, 2026, 01.50 PM IST