There are many dangers for the astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The zero gravity makes muscles and bones weaker and there are fifteen sunrises and sunsets in a twenty-four hour cycle, which greatly disturb sleep patterns. Special lights help with sleep and extreme exercise strengthens muscles despite zero gravity. However, despite all this, bone loss is still happening … or was.

Experiments with mice in space have found out new ways for preventing bone loss in humans, too. There was one experiment with a particular antibody that helps to block sclerostin (a natural protein that slows down the making of new bones), thus speeding up bone formation. It worked very well. Not only did it prevent any further bone loss, it healed any bone loss that had already happened. This is not just for astronauts, either. Anyone with naturally weak bones or osteoporosis (a disease that weakens bones) can use this, too. This is an important advance in technology.

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/feature/mice-studies-in-space-offer-clues-on-bone-loss