Particle Radiation Side-Effects: Intestinal Microbiota Composition Shapes Interferon-γ-Induced Osteo-Immunogenicity

Microbiota can both negatively and positively impact radiation-induced bone loss. Our prior research showed that compared to mice with conventional gut microbiota (CM), mice with restricted gut microbiota (RM) reduced inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in bone marrow, interleukin (IL)-17 in blood, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in bone marrow under anti-IL-17 treatment. We showed that Muribaculum intestinale was more abundant in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from the small intestine of female RM mice and positively associated with augmented skeletal bone structure. Female C57BL/6J pun RM mice, which were injected with anti-IL-17 antibody one day before exposure to 1.5 Gy 28Si ions of 850 MeV/u, showed high trabecular numbers in tibiae at 6 weeks postirradiation. Irradiated CM mice were investigated for lower interferon-γ and IL-17 levels in the small intestine than RM mice. IL-17 blockage resulted in bacterial indicator phylotypes being different between both microbiota groups before and after irradiation. Analysis of the fecal bacteria were performed in relation to bone quality and body weight, showing reduced tibia cortical thickness in irradiated CM mice (–15%) vs. irradiated RM mice (–9.2%). Correlation analyses identified relationships among trabecular bone parameters (TRI-BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, Tb.Sp) and Bacteroides massiliensis, Muribaculum sp. and Prevotella denticola. Turicibacter sp. was found directly correlated with trabecular separation in anti-IL-17 treated mice, whereas an unidentified Bacteroidetes correlated with trabecular thickness in anti-IL-17 neutralized and radiation-exposed mice. We demonstrated radiation-induced osteolytic damage to correlate with bacterial indicator phylotypes of the intestinal microbiota composition, and these relationships were determined from the previously discovered dose-dependent particle radiation effects on cell proliferation in bone tissue. New translational approaches were designed to investigate dynamic changes of gut microbiota in correlation with conditions of treatment and disease as well as mechanisms of systemic side-effects in radiotherapy.

Long-Term Sex- and Genotype-Specific Effects of 56Fe Irradiation on Wild-Type and APPswe/PS1dE9 Transgenic Mice

Space radiation presents a substantial threat to travel beyond Earth. Relatively low doses of high-energy particle radiation cause physiological and behavioral impairments in rodents and may pose risks to human spaceflight. There is evidence that 56Fe irradiation, a significant component of space radiation, may be more harmful to males than to females and worsen Alzheimer’s disease pathology in genetically vulnerable models. Yet, research on the long-term, sex- and genotype-specific effects of 56Fe irradiation is lacking. Here, we irradiated 4-month-old male and female, wild-type and Alzheimer’s-like APP/PS1 mice with 0, 0.10, or 0.50 Gy of 56Fe ions (1GeV/u). Mice underwent microPET scans before and 7.5 months after irradiation, a battery of behavioral tests at 11 months of age and were sacrificed for pathological and biochemical analyses at 12 months of age. 56Fe irradiation worsened amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology, gliosis, neuroinflammation and spatial memory, but improved motor coordination, in male transgenic mice and worsened fear memory in wild-type males. Although sham-irradiated female APP/PS1 mice had more cerebral Aβ and gliosis than sham-irradiated male transgenics, female mice of both genotypes were relatively spared from radiation effects 8 months later. These results provide evidence for sex-specific, long-term CNS effects of space radiation.

The in-situ exploration of Jupiter’s radiation belts

Jupiter has the most complex and energetic radiation belts in our Solar System and one of the most challenging space environments to measure and characterize in-depth. Their hazardous environment is also a reason why so many spacecraft avoid flying directly through their most intense regions, thus explaining how Jupiter’s radiation belts have kept many of their secrets so well hidden, despite having been studied for decades. In this paper we argue why these secrets are worth unveiling. Jupiter’s radiation belts and the vast magnetosphere that encloses them constitute an unprecedented physical laboratory, suitable for interdisciplinary and novel scientific investigations: from studying fundamental high energy plasma physics processes which operate throughout the Universe, such as adiabatic charged particle acceleration and nonlinear wave-particle interactions, to exploiting the astrobiological consequences of energetic particle radiation. The in-situ exploration of the uninviting environment of Jupiter’s radiation belts presents us with many challenges in mission design, science planning, instrumentation, and technology. We address these challenges by reviewing the different options that exist for direct and indirect observations of this unique system. We stress the need for new instruments, the value of synergistic Earth and Jupiter-based remote sensing and in-situ investigations, and the vital importance of multi-spacecraft in-situ measurements. While simultaneous, multi-point in-situ observations have long become the standard for exploring electromagnetic interactions in the inner Solar System, they have never taken place at Jupiter or any strongly magnetized planet besides Earth. We conclude that a dedicated multi-spacecraft mission to Jupiter is an essential and obvious way forward for exploring the planet’s radiation belts. Besides guaranteeing numerous discoveries and huge leaps in our understanding of radiation belt systems, such a mission would also enable us to view Jupiter, its extended magnetosphere, moons, and rings under new light, with great benefits for space, planetary, and astrophysical sciences. For all these reasons, in-situ investigations of Jupiter’s radiation belts deserve to be given a high priority in the future exploration of our Solar System. This article is based on a White Paper submitted in response to the European Space Agency’s call for science themes for its Voyage 2050 programme.

The Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer: A Review of On-Orbit Sensor Performance, Data, Operations, and Science

Measurements from NASA’s Van Allen Probes have transformed our understanding of the dynamics of Earth’s geomagnetically-trapped, charged particle radiation. The Van Allen Probes were equipped with the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometers (MagEIS) that measured energetic and relativistic electrons, along with energetic ions, in the radiation belts. Accurate and routine measurement of these particles was of fundamental importance towards achieving the scientific goals of the mission. We provide a comprehensive review of the MagEIS suite’s on-orbit performance, operation, and data products, along with a summary of scientific results. The purpose of this review is to serve as a complement to the MagEIS instrument paper, which was largely completed before flight and thus focused on pre-flight design and performance characteristics. As is the case with all space-borne instrumentation, the anticipated sensor performance was found to be different once on orbit. Our intention is to provide sufficient detail on the MagEIS instruments so that future generations of researchers can understand the subtleties of the sensors, profit from these unique measurements, and continue to unlock the mysteries of the near-Earth space radiation environment.

DNA Double Strand Break Repair Pathways in Response to Different Types of Ionizing Radiation

The superior dose distribution of particle radiation compared to photon radiation makes it a promising therapy for the treatment of tumors. However, the cellular responses to particle therapy and especially the DNA damage response (DDR) is not well characterized. Compared to photons, particles are thought to induce more closely spaced DNA lesions instead of isolated lesions. How this different spatial configuration of the DNA damage directs DNA repair pathway usage, is subject of current investigations. In this review, we describe recent insights into induction of DNA damage by particle radiation and how this shapes DNA end processing and subsequent DNA repair mechanisms. Additionally, we give an overview of promising DDR targets to improve particle therapy.

Investigation of Thermal Radiation from Soot Particles and Gases in Oxy-Combustion Counter-Flow Flames

Oxy-combustion with high flame temperature, low heat loss, high combustion efficiency, and low NOx emissions is being extensively studied. The thermal radiation from soot particles and gases in oxy-combustion accounts for the vast majority of the total heat transfer. Based on a detailed chemical reaction mechanism coupled with the soot particle dynamics model and optically thin radiation model, the influence of the flame structure and temperature distribution on the thermal radiation in oxygen-enriched counterflow diffusion flames was studied in this paper. The results revealed that reasonable assignment of total recycled flue gas and the degree of dilution of fuel and oxidant were critical, which can be used to adjust the overall radiation situation of the flame. At the same adiabatic flame temperature, as the fuel concentration decreased and the oxidant concentration increased (the stoichiometric mixture ratio is from 0.3 to 0.6), the soot formation decreased, which led to the particle radiation disappearing while the main radiation zone of gases moved 0.04 cm toward the fuel side. At the same stoichiometric mixture fraction (0.4), the radiation area was broadened and the radiation of soot particles was gradually enhanced with the adiabatic flame increasing from 2300 K to 2700 K.

Simulation study of the energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging monitoring of the geomagnetosphere on a lunar base

Since the moon’s revolution cycle is exactly the same as its rotation cycle, we can only see the moon always facing Earth in the same direction. Based on the clean particle radiation environment of the moon, a neutral atomic telemetry base station could be established on the lunar surface facing Earth to realize long-term continuous geomagnetic activity monitoring. Using the 20°×20° field of view, the 0.5°×0.5° angle resolution, and the ~0.17 cm²sr geometric factor, a two-dimensional ENA imager is being designed. The magnetospheric ring current simulation at a 4–20 keV energy channel for a medium geomagnetic storm (Kp=5) shows the following: 1) at ~60 Rᴇ (Rᴇ is the Earth radius), the imager can collect 10⁴ ENA events for 3 min to meet the statistical requirements for 2D coded imaging data inversion, so as to meet requirements for the analysis of the substorm ring current evolution process of magnetic storms above medium; 2) the ENA radiation loss puzzles in the magnetopause and magnetotail plasma sheet regions have been deduced and revealed using the 2-D ENA emission model. High spatial-temporal resolution ENA imaging monitoring of these two important regions will provide the measurement basis for the solar wind energy input process and generation mechanism; 3) the average sampling interval of ENA particle events is about 16 ms at the moon’s orbit; the spectral time difference for the set energy range is on the order of minutes, which can provide location information to track the trigger of geomagnetic storm particle events.

Simulation study of the energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging monitoring of the geomagnetosphere on a lunar base

Since the moon’s revolution cycle is exactly the same as its rotation cycle, we can only see the moon always facing Earth in the same direction. Based on the clean particle radiation environment of the moon, a neutral atomic telemetry base station could be established on the lunar surface facing Earth to realize long-term continuous geomagnetic activity monitoring. Using the 20°×20° field of view, the 0.5°×0.5° angle resolution, and the ~0.17 cm²sr geometric factor, a two-dimensional ENA imager is being designed. The magnetospheric ring current simulation at a 4–20 keV energy channel for a medium geomagnetic storm (Kp=5) shows the following: 1) at ~60 Rᴇ (Rᴇ is the Earth radius), the imager can collect 10⁴ ENA events for 3 min to meet the statistical requirements for 2D coded imaging data inversion, so as to meet requirements for the analysis of the substorm ring current evolution process of magnetic storms above medium; 2) the ENA radiation loss puzzles in the magnetopause and magnetotail plasma sheet regions have been deduced and revealed using the 2-D ENA emission model. High spatial-temporal resolution ENA imaging monitoring of these two important regions will provide the measurement basis for the solar wind energy input process and generation mechanism; 3) the average sampling interval of ENA particle events is about 16 ms at the moon’s orbit; the spectral time difference for the set energy range is on the order of minutes, which can provide location information to track the trigger of geomagnetic storm particle events.

Radiation environment for future human exploration on the surface of Mars: the current understanding based on MSL/RAD dose measurements

Potential deleterious health effects to astronauts induced by space radiation is one of the most important long-term risks for human space missions, especially future planetary missions to Mars which require a return-trip duration of about 3 years with current propulsion technology. In preparation for future human exploration, the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) was designed to detect and analyze the most biologically hazardous energetic particle radiation on the Martian surface as part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. RAD has measured the deep space radiation field within the spacecraft during the cruise to Mars and the cosmic ray induced energetic particle radiation on Mars since Curiosity’s landing in August 2012. These first-ever surface radiation data have been continuously providing a unique and direct assessment of the radiation environment on Mars. We analyze the temporal variation of the Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) radiation and the observed Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events measured by RAD from the launch of MSL until December 2020, i.e., from the pre-maximum of solar cycle 24 throughout its solar minimum until the initial year of Cycle 25. Over the long term, the Mars’s surface GCR radiation increased by about 50% due to the declining solar activity and the weakening heliospheric magnetic field. At different time scales in a shorter term, RAD also detected dynamic variations in the radiation field on Mars. We present and quantify the temporal changes of the radiation field which are mainly caused by: (a) heliospheric influences which include both temporary impacts by solar transients and the long-term solar cycle evolution, (b) atmospheric changes which include the Martian daily thermal tide and seasonal CO$$_2$$ 2 cycle as well as the altitude change of the rover, (c) topographical changes along the rover path-way causing addition structural shielding and finally (d) solar particle events which occur sporadically and may significantly enhance the radiation within a short time period. Quantification of the variation allows the estimation of the accumulated radiation for a return trip to the surface of Mars under various conditions. The accumulated GCR dose equivalent, via a Hohmann transfer, is about $$0.65 \pm 0.24$$ 0.65 ± 0.24 sievert and $$1.59 \pm 0.12$$ 1.59 ± 0.12 sievert during solar maximum and minimum periods, respectively. The shielding of the GCR radiation by heliospheric magnetic fields during solar maximum periods is rather efficient in reducing the total GCR-induced radiation for a Mars mission, by more than 50%. However, further contributions by SEPs must also be taken into account. In the future, with advanced nuclear thrusters via a fast transfer, we estimate that the total GCR dose equivalent can be reduced to about 0.2 sievert and 0.5 sievert during solar maximum and minimum periods respectively. In addition, we also examined factors which may further reduce the radiation dose in space and on Mars and discuss the many uncertainties in the interpreting the biological effect based on the current measurement.