Science Café kicks off with 'Worms in Space: Improving Astronaut Muscle Health' on Sept. 7

Nathaniel Szewczyk

The fall 2022 lineup for Ohio University’s Science Café kicks off with Nathaniel Szewczyk, Ph.D., discussing "Worms in Space: Improving Astronaut Muscle Health" at 5 p.m. on Sept. 7, at the Baker Center Theater and via YouTube.

To celebrate the first café of the season, come at 4:30 p.m. and join the Ohio University Sigma Xi chapter for an ice cream treat. Free coffee coupons also will be provided for the first 50 people.

“It turns out that worms have muscles and can experience the same problems as humans in space,” said Szewczyk, who will talk about conducting experiments with worms on the International Space Station.

Szewczyk is professor and principal investigator of the Ohio Musculoskeletal & Neurological Institute and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O. Endowed Professor in Molecular Medicine in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

He has been studying worm muscle health for 20 years. Like humans, worm muscles decline with age, disease and reduced gravity in space. His research investigates drug and dietary interventions that may decrease or reverse space-related muscle decline.

“Conducting experiments in space is challenging. By combining ground- and space-based experiments, our lab hopes to find new treatments for astronauts,” says Szewczyk.

Watch the Sept. 7 Science Café live or later on YouTube.

For more information, contact Roxanne Malé-Brune at male-bru@ohio.edu.

The series is supported by the Ohio University Research Division and Ohio University Chapter of Sigma Xi. For more information, visit the Science Café website.