A neuron, or nerve cell, consists of a cell body, short extensions called dendrites, and a long arm called an axon that branches off into axon terminals. For messages to be sent from one neuron to another, an electrical signal travels down the axon, and the axon terminals pass an electrochemical signal to the dendrites of other neurons.

November 13, 2024

From Viral Villain to Gene Therapy Hero: Assembling 3D Brain Organoids in Space to Advance...

Most people think of viruses as villains. However, sometimes viruses can be good—even heroic.

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Immunofluorescence image of breast cancer cells (MCF 7) treated with a MicroQuin therapeutic taken at 100x magnification. The staining of the cell shows a normal nucleus (blue) with the endoplasmic reticulum (green) localized of the cell showing significant vacuolation. This image shows a unique form of cell death, known as paraptosis, induced by MicroQuins therapeutics which offers a unique treatment for cancer.

October 17, 2024

Orbital Oncology: 3D Cell Cultures in Space Reveal the Secret to Killing Cancer Cells on...

Sometimes, science reveals something so unexpected and wonderous that it almost feels magical.

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The Beauty of Accelerated Aging

August 29, 2024

The Beauty of Accelerated Aging: Using Tissue Chips to Explore Age-Related Muscle Loss in...

Contrary to Bob Dylan’s famous song, it’s not possible to “stay forever young,” and aging is inevitable.

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Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques onboard the International Space Station

April 23, 2024

From Root Cause to Remedy: Can Microgravity Help Prevent Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis?

Space-based research aims to treat the underlying causes of an "epidemic" among female athletes: post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

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NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren processes samples inside the Life Science Glovebox for the Immunosenescence space biology study.

September 29, 2023

Unlocking the Secrets of the Immune System: How Tissue Chips in Space Could Hold the Key

They say you’re only as old as you feel, but in reality, you’re only as old as your immune cells.

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ESA astronaut Lt. Samantha Cristoforetti installing the Ring Sheared Drop system.

September 29, 2023

A Small Drop With a Big Impact: Fundamental Science in Space to Improve Medicine on Earth

Studying a drop of protein solution in space could be key to improving pharmaceutical manufacturing on Earth.

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NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Drew Morgan work with the mice in the Life Sciences Glovebox onboard the ISS.

February 27, 2023

Mighty Mice to the Rescue: How Mice in Microgravity Help Patients With Muscle and Bone Loss...

Research results have implications both for patients on Earth and astronauts on long-duration spaceflight missions. 

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European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst working on the KRAS protein crystallization experiment onboard the ISS

February 27, 2023

Space Crystals and the Search for a Cancer Cure: Using Microgravity to Improve Protein...

To take a shot at a “holy grail” of cancer drug discovery, researchers set their sights on space.

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European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst places Toledo Crystallization Boxes (TCBs) into storage onboard the ISS.

July 26, 2022

Crystal Clear: Super-Sized Protein Crystals From Space Could Help Treat Diseases on Earth

The microgravity environment of the ISS allowed researchers to do something that had never been achieved on Earth.

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A view of the miniPCR device in the cupola on the International Space Station.

June 22, 2022

From Science Fairs to Space: Student Experiments Help Launch New Era of Space-Based Research

To advance scientific discovery in new ways, scientists are taking their experiments and labs to an environment unlike any other.

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view from cupola lucie low

December 23, 2019

The View From the Cupola: Lucie Low

This special issue of Upward will revisit some of the most groundbreaking life sciences research done on the ISS National Lab.

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heart hook2

July 11, 2019

Mending a Broken Heart Using Microgravity: Cardiovascular Progenitor Cells Hold Promise for...

The microgravity environment of the ISS National Lab allows scientists to study cells in ways not possible on the ground.

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