Science News Archive

Strawberries Boost Astronaut's Performance

Snacking on strawberries may help astronauts to perform better on long space missions. A daily dose of the frozen fruit boosts the brain function in rats exposed to a lab version of cosmic radiation, according to a study from the University of Maryland, in Baltimore. If you travel outside the earth’s protection magnetic field you get bombarded by cosmic rays- energetic particles left over from the big bang- and extended exposure to these rays can have dangerous physical and mental affects. Unfortunately, the research team still don’t know why eating strawberries is boosting these lab rats but it’s possible that antioxidant molecules could help shield the brain from harmful cosmic rays. Similar chemicals in blueberries have been shown to slow age-related memory decline in rats.

23rd Nov 2003