After Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı was sent into space on January 19, scientists in the country intensified their work to protect the health of astronauts on long-term space missions.
In this context is Prof., who conducts studies in the field of aerospace pharmacy. Dr. İsmail Tuncer Değim, together with his students, took measures to protect astronauts from the high levels of radiation in space.
Prof. Dr. As a result of their work, Değim and his students prepared a cream from scorpion skin, which is known to be impermeable to radiation and ultraviolet light. The aim of this cream is to protect the face and hands of astronauts, especially those on missions, from the effects of radiation during spacewalks.
There is more radiation in space
Prof. DR. İsmail Tuncer Değim said in his statement that although sunscreen is important on Earth, radiation protection creams are more important in space.
Emphasizing that people who fly into space are exposed to more radiation, Değim said: “The living creatures that are most resistant to radiation, that do not die or are harmed by radiation, are scorpions and other insects that have a chitinous layer . “We wanted to reduce astronauts' radiation exposure during space missions by using this cream,” he said.
Değim explained that scorpion skin reflects ultraviolet light and radiation: “Since radiation or ultraviolet light is reflected in the area where the ointment we made from scorpion skin is used, the person is protected from ultraviolet light and radiation,” said .
Değim stated that studies have shown that astronauts are exposed to 10 to 50 times more radiation than people on Earth and that they developed the cream to reduce this radiation.
Değim said that the patent application process for this cream is still ongoing.
Studies are being conducted on drugs that should be used by those going into space.
Prof. DR. İsmail Tuncer Değim stated that they started teaching aerospace pharmacy at the university in 2018-2019.
In this regard, Değim explained that they are conducting studies on what changes occur in the bodies of people who fly into space and what medicines these people need in space, and that knowledge on this topic has gradually accumulated.
Noting that non-standard topics increased students' curiosity, Prof. DR. Değim explained that this course attracted more attention after Alper Gezeravcı's space flight and that various faculties began to be interested in this topic and received invitations to lecture would have. Değim also stated that he was the first academic to give lectures on aerospace pharmacy.
In this course: “What drug formulations would a human need when flying into space?”, “How does the stability of drugs change in space?” Explaining that they focused on these topics, Değim continued as follows:
“In the space probe, medicines are exposed to greater radiation, vibration and pressure changes. So as pharmacists we anticipate this and ask, 'What should we consider in their stability and formulation?' This or “Which drug formulations require which drug active ingredient?” “We're studying it because there's an incredible gyroscopic effect inside the spacecraft that causes the astronauts and the people there to become dizzy and change their physiology.”
Dry shampoo with a cap for washing hair was developed for astronauts
Explaining that people have some cosmetic needs, such as washing hair, bathing, brushing teeth, Değim said that those who fly into space like those on Earth also need to do them.
Pointing out that one of the formulations they developed in this context is dry shampoo, Değim said, “Because astronauts need to take a bath and wash their hair in the spacecraft. But there is no source of water as plentiful as on Earth. That is why we usually have this included in our pharmacy legislation, but this “dry shampoo has come to the fore through space missions or the development of technologies. Dry shampoo is a shampoo that we use in powder form without the use of water,” he said.
Pointing out that dry shampoo can be used even in disaster situations as access to water resources is difficult, Değim explained that the hair can be cleaned by wearing a cap with dry shampoo prepared within the formula developed by his student became the head.
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