NASA is undertaking very ambitious projects in a direction to explore the possibilities of living in space, more likely on another planet on a large scale. On the resupply mission to the International Space Station, the Space X Dragon has carried 20 mice along with other supplies up in space. The laboratory mice have been taken to study the how zero-gravity affects biological processes like circadian rhythms and microbiomes. This experiment is in a way testing if there can ever be a human settlement on Mars.

The Dragon cargo ship has reached the ISS on early Monday morning, July 2 along carrying about 3 tons of supplies. Along with the 20 mice, there is an AI-powered robot with coffee and ice-cream bars. The experiment involving the mice include pricking, weighing, and collecting poop from them and also videotaping their sleep schedules. Before exploring the possibilities of sending humans to Mars they want to know human bodies will be messed up with long stays in space. It also includes studying the resident bacteria. Tupperware Helps NASA To Grow Vegetables in Space To Improve Astronauts' Diet

Ten of these mice will spend 90 days in space, which is nine years in human time! "We’re trying to understand the cascade of events that happens when microgravity interrupts sleep and wake cycles," says Martha Vitaterna, a co-principal investigator on the study. Microbes make up essential molecules which humans cannot produce by themselves. The experiment will study if the change in the chemicals will affect the host's ability to situations like sleep loss. A disturbance in the sleep system directly affects the metabolism and immune systems. Bacteria-Coated Broccoli Sent to Space.

Within these mice, there are two different strains of mice, one that will adjust fine in a zero-gravity situation and others that will sleep lighter. Half of the mice will be in the orbit while the other group will be in the NASA simulator These mice will be in NASA's research facilities in metal boxes with a proper air-filtration system. These mice will have exact same environmental surroundings which include gas composition, temperature, lighting to simulate night and day. The mice experiment not just aims at how the human bodies will react in a zero gravity situation but also could provide light on how human lives could be improved on the planet.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2018 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).