Heart Tissues Beat on the International Space Station

The three-dimensional engineered heart tissues used in the Cardinal Heart experiment are created from human stem cells. These tissues are grown in a bioreactor, which provides them with the nutrients and oxygen they need to survive and grow.
Once the heart tissues are mature, they are placed in a special chamber that simulates the microgravity environment of space. The researchers then measure the heart tissues' function and gene expression over time to see how they are affected by microgravity.
In the second phase of the experiment, the researchers will treat the heart tissues with different drugs to see if any of them can prevent or reduce the microgravity-induced changes. If they find a drug that is effective, they could develop it into a countermeasure for astronauts or patients at high risk of developing heart disease.
The Cardinal Heart experiment is a complex and ambitious undertaking, but it has the potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding and treatment of heart disease.