Space worms are a success

Scientists have discovered that worms can survive in space for long periods, paving the way for longer human flights.

It means that worm colonies could be established in space stations without researchers having to tend to them.

Nathaniel Szewczyk from the University of Nottingham, who is the lead author on the new study in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, explained that the worms provide an important study into the negative-effects that weightlessness has on muscles.

He said that without gravity, animals not only use their muscles less, but chemical reactions are altered too.

Worms could be used to test whether conditions on Mars will ever be suitable for people, as much of the biological changes that occur during spaceflight affect worms and humans in the same way.

"While this sounds like science fiction, a fair number of scientists agree that we could colonise other planets, and will one day need to if mankind wants to avoid extinction," said Mr Szewczyk.

Posted by Neil Clark