"This in-space, sub-magnetic fruit fly experiment primarily aims to study the molecular mechanisms of fruit flies in microgravity and sub-magnetic environments, as well as their movement characteristics and whether there are any changes in their biological rhythms," Zheng Weibo, a researcher from the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, told China Central Television.
"magnetic fields have a significant impact on living beings" - which is an understatement. The Earth's magnetic field protects us from dangerous cosmic rays and other forms of radiation that zip through space - not to mention our Sun's dangerous outbursts.
Since the Tiangong is parked in low Earth orbit, where the Earth's magnetic field is still protective, the researchers have designed a "sub-magnetic environment inside the space station, while also maintaining an Earth's magnetic field environment for comparison this time," Zheng said.
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