Why Constipation Follows Astronauts into Orbit: Blood from 52 Crew Members Points to Their Gut Bacteria

Researchers Now Understand Why Astronauts Can't 'Go'

Astronauts' stubborn bowels are finally getting a scientific explanation—and it's about more than bathroom inconvenience. In a NASA-funded study of more than 400 blood samples from 52 astronauts who spent at least two months on the International Space Station, researchers found that life in microgravity appears to slow the...

Scientists finally know why astronauts struggle to poop in space — and reveal a hidden risk of long-haul spaceflight

Scientists have finally gotten to the bottom of why astronauts struggle to poop in space, thanks to a new blood test. The findings also reveal an unexpected side effect of this cosmic constipation that may need to be addressed before humans take long-haul trips to Mars and beyond, the study authors say. As soon as people started living in space, it became apparent that it was harder to go "number two" among the stars than down on Earth — and not…

Researchers Seem to Have Figured Out Why It’s Harder to Poop in Space

We were going to write a constipation joke here, but it wouldn’t come out.

Why Constipation Follows Astronauts into Orbit: Blood from 52 Crew Members Points to Their Gut Bacteria

Blood from 52 astronauts shows gut microbes ferment protein instead of fiber in orbit, a biochemical clue to why digestion slows in space.