INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The first batch of fruit flies bred on the Chinese space station are set to return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft, as
announced by the Chinese Academy of Sciences
These specimens are expected to provide invaluable data for fundamental research into the mechanisms of biological magnetic sensing and
gravity perception.Fruit flies, small insects that feed on fruits, are well-established model organisms in scientific research
Their use in studies dates back over a century
On November 15, 2024, flies were sent into space aboard the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft for experiments, marking China's first foray into
scientific research in a combined hypomagnetic-microgravity space environment.Li Yan, a researcher at the Institute of Biophysics of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted that the fruit flies were able to court, mate, and reproduce in space, much like on Earth
However, unique behaviors were also observed
"On Earth, fruit flies crawl and fly
In space, they float and even somersault," Li described.After about two months of in-orbit cultivation, the fruit flies have produced three
Chinese astronauts collected samples from each generation.Sub-magnetic fields, microgravity, and space radiation are three key
characteristics of the extraterrestrial environment
Zhang Wei, a researcher at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained that
observing the characteristics of fruit flies under hypomagnetic and microgravity conditions, as well as studying changes in their behavior
and nervous systems, will provide crucial basic research support for ensuring the health of astronauts in future deep space exploration
