Fwd: What Happens To Your Skin in Space

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Date: July 31, 2013 8:05:09 AM GMT-06:00
To: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Subject: FW: What Happens To Your Skin in Space

 

 

What Happens To Your Skin in Space

by Jason Major on July 31, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=akw6XBjD5ho

The microgravity environment of the ISS poses many challenges to the human body — some more expected than others — but one that many people might not know about is the "molting" of dry skin, notably from the bottom of the feet. And while astronauts living aboard Space Station often spend their days working in socks, when they go to remove them they have to be especially careful to keep floating clouds of flakes at a minimum, lest they incite allergic reactions in their crewmates.

 

No, it's not the Beehive Cluster, it's a cloud of dead foot skin (screenshot)

Yeah, you read that right. "Floating clouds of flakes." Eeeewwwwww.

In the latest episode of ISS Science Garage NASA astronauts Mike Massimino and Don Pettit discuss some of the finer details of podiatric etiquette whilst sojourning aboard the ISS. (Unfortunately saying it fancy-like doesn't make it any less gross.) All I have to say is, I wouldn't want to be the one who has to clean out the vent filters.

===============================================================