In the Void of Space, No One Will Hear Your Cries, by Scott LaFee

Here’s a summary of the content:

Issue: Astronauts often face constipation during long missions in space, a problem that isn’t commonly discussed.
Research Findings: A study analyzed blood samples from 52 astronauts on extended flights to the International Space Station. It revealed that gut bacteria in astronauts ferment proteins more than usual once they are in space, particularly after consuming all available fiber.
Cause: The lack of gravity is believed to slow down food transit in the intestines. As dietary fiber diminishes, gut bacteria resort to fermenting proteins.
Remedies: Suggestions for alleviating this issue include increasing dietary fiber intake and using prebiotic supplements to improve gut transit time.

Body of Knowledge: Human body odor is unique, and infants can identify their mothers by scent.
Get Me That, Stat!: Influenza and pneumonia were among the top ten causes of death in the U.S. in 2026.
Counts: There was a 3% drop in flu vaccination coverage among U.S. adults in the 2024-25 period.
Doc Talk: Definition of proctalgia, translating to “pain in the butt.”
Mania of the Week: Empleomania, a strong desire to work in government jobs.
Never Say ‘Diet’: Joey Chestnut holds the record for eating 14.5 pounds of boysenberry pie in eight minutes.
Best Medicine: A humorous exchange at a nursing home regarding identity.
Observation: A quote by psychiatrist R.D. Laing about life and mortality.
Medical History: The introduction of baby incubators in the U.S. in 1888, which improved care for premature infants.
Ig Nobel Apprised: The Ig Nobel Prizes recognize humorous yet thought-provoking scientific achievements.
Med School: The most prevalent noncontagious disease globally is tooth decay, affecting a majority of adults.
Last Words: The poignant final words of Major-General William Erskine.

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