Sun May 04 01:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Indian Scientists Develop 3D Model to Predict Astronaut Body Temperature in Space
**Thiruvananthapuram, India – May 4, 2025** – Researchers at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) have developed a groundbreaking 3D computational model to predict human body temperature regulation in the microgravity environment of space. The model, detailed in a study published in *Life Sciences in Space Research*, addresses a critical challenge for long-duration space missions: maintaining astronaut well-being in the face of significant physiological changes caused by near-zero gravity.
The IIST team, led by Professor Shine S.R. and PhD student Chithramol M.K., found that microgravity consistently increases core body temperature, primarily due to fluid shifts. The model accounts for various factors affecting thermoregulation, including blood redistribution, metabolic variations, muscle atrophy, and the impact of exercise. It simulates how heat moves through the body in three dimensions, considering sweating, shivering, clothing, and heat generated by organs.
The model’s accuracy was validated by simulating conditions aboard the Mir and International Space Stations, with results matching official reports. Crucially, it incorporates data specific to diverse populations, addressing a limitation of existing models which primarily utilize data from non-Indian populations. This new model is expected to improve the accuracy of predictions for diverse populations.
The research has significant implications beyond space exploration. The model’s applications extend to various fields, including clothing design, architectural engineering (designing climate-controlled buildings), and medicine (particularly in heart surgery). The team believes its model can enhance safety, comfort, and performance in numerous real-world scenarios by calculating the universal thermal climate index – a measure of how hot or cold it feels, considering wind, humidity, and sunlight.
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