Move over, astronauts – zebrafish are the latest stars of cosmic research! Four aquatic pioneers launched to the China Space Station aboard the Shenzhou-18 mission last month are making waves… literally. 🚀 While the fish are thriving overall, new footage reveals their hilarious (and telling) adaptation struggles in microgravity.
Taikonauts reported the fish \"swim like they’re in a psychedelic aquarium\" – performing accidental backflips, spinning like tiny torpedoes, and even drifting upside down for minutes. Scientists say this disorientation could hold clues about long-term space survival for all species, humans included! 🔬
The experiment, part of China’s cutting-edge space life sciences program, studies how microgravity affects vertebrate navigation. While humans use inner ears for balance, zebrafish rely on water-pressure sensors – making them perfect test subjects. Researchers are now analyzing whether the fish can adapt over time, which might help future missions to Mars and beyond. 🌠
Pro tip: Next time you see a fishbowl, imagine trying to swim straight in zero-G. Suddenly, space doesn’t seem so simple! 🤯
