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SCIENCE READING ARTICLES
NOTE: I have provided the article with and without questions. Included is
also options for optimized single-sided or double-sided printing. Choose
which one you prefer.

• For Single-Sided Article Printing with Questions Print pages #4 & 5

• For Single-Sided Article Printing without Questions Print pages #4 & 6

• For Double-Sided Article Printing with Questions Print pages #4 & 7

• For Double-Sided Article Printing without Questions Print pages #4 & 8

• Suggestions for Implementation are on Page # 3

• Answer Key is on Page # 9

The Articles: I love using articles to help support classroom resources,

however, it is often a challenge to find good articles that engage students
as well as ones written in a language that they can understand. Online
sources are sometimes risky because the links to them may fail in the
future. Formatting online articles to print is also sometimes a challenge and
can waste a lot of paper. Text books usually have case studies that are too
short to be useful.

Due to these types of frustrations, I have written a collection of engaging

science reading articles to help make no-prep articles ready at your
disposal. They are also great for sub plans. Please enjoy!

© Tangstar Science
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Science Classroom Uses

All Grades:
1) Sub plan – no prep printable; easy to assign and collect.
2) In school suspension plan – have something ready for these difficult
days
3) Independent work for early finishers – always have a set of printable
articles with questions handy.
4) No prep extra credit assignment – easy to assign and mark.
5) Warm up at the beginning of class – start your day with science
literacy
6) Assign at the beginning of the week and take up at the end of the
week – get a reading routine going.
7) Assign as homework and take up next day.

Younger Grades: (Gr. 7-10)

1) Read along with the class or with student volunteer readers. Give
time for students to work on answers individually or in small groups.
Take up answers after. (30-45 minutes)

Older Grades: (Gr. 11 & 12)

1) Individual warmup work at the beginning of the class. Take up
answers at the end of the warm up period or at the end of class. (15-25
minutes in class)
2) Individual warmup work at the beginning of the class. Assign
questions for homework and take up the next morning. (10-15 minutes in
class)

ELA Classroom Uses

Use the article as a non-fiction informational text for close reading.
Questions have been provided but you can choose to include your own
reflection questions for more in-depth analysis. © Tangstar Science

LIVING IN SPACE HARMS YOUR BODY 43
(1) Have you ever dreamed of being an
astronaut, or are you interested in the topic of
space exploration and travel? Very few people
have ever travelled into space and those who
have are usually possessed with an immense
curiosity for the unknown. We understand so
little about space, but one thing we are
beginning to grasp is that a prolonged time
spent in space is actually quite harmful to the
human body. Unless we figure out how to stop
this damage, any thoughts of human prolonged
space travel are not possible.
(2) One major cause of concern is the loss of
bone mass in the absence of gravity. Bones
have been designed to provide us with the
support needed to counteract the force of
gravity pulling down on our bodies when we’re
on Earth. On Earth our bone tissue is being
broken down by cells called osteoclasts but
cells called osteoblasts function to regenerate
the bone tissue so that overall bone density
remains constant in a healthy adult. When
gravity is eliminated or lessoned, bones have a
much lower load applied to them so they have
no need to be as strong or dense. This causes
osteoclast activity to increase which decreases
bone tissue and it inhibits osteoblast activity
which prevents bone regeneration. In space,
bone tissue is lost at a rate of 1%-1.5% a month
with the most dramatic losses seen in the
vertebrae, hips and femur which are the
primary bones that hold up most of the body’s
weight on Earth.
(3) This type of bone loss is called spaceflight
osteopenia and it leaves bones brittle and easy
to break during a fall. A six month stay in space
will remove almost 10% of a person’s bone
mass. This might not seem like a lot, but it will
take at least 3-4 years back on Earth and
rehabilitation to regain this lost bone. Any trip
from Earth to Mars will take 6 months of space
travel and 6 months back. It will also involve a
18-20 month stay on the surface of the planet
to wait for the proper planet alignment to
enable the return flight to Earth. Mars also
only has 1/3 of the gravity of Earth, so bone
can’t be regenerated properly while on Mars.
(4) Another negative impact of space travel on
the body is muscle atrophy (shrinkage). Similar
to bones, many of your muscles have the
 astronomy  anatomy and physiology
Science Literacy Warm Up
responsibility of supporting your body against
gravity. In space, the back and leg muscles are
especially affected and start to atrophy
extremely quickly. Without proper daily
exercise, an astronaut loses up to 20% of their
muscle mass in just 5 to 11 days! After a long
stay in space, astronauts returning to Earth
from the International Space Station cannot
immediately stand. They need to go through
medical monitoring and physiotherapy to
regain their strength to first sit and then stand
up. The longer an astronaut spends in space,
the longer the rehabilitation needed when they
return. This is the part of being an astronaut
that is not so much fun or glamorous.
(5) To slow down muscle atrophy, the
International Space Station is equipped with
machines that aid in retaining muscle strength
and mass. One machine is called the aRED
which stands for Advanced Resistive Exercise
Device. They also have a treadmill onto which
astronauts strap themselves down using
bungee cords, as well as a stationary bicycle for
exercise. Astronauts have to exercise at least 2
hours a day to prevent the worst cases of
muscle atrophy though it doesn’t help with the
bone loss. Luckily the effects of bone and
muscle loss are reversible when astronauts
return to Earth and are given enough time, and
the proper diet and exercise.
(6) Another issue with weightlessness is that
the fluids in the body, which comprise 60% of
the body, get redistributed. On Earth, fluid is
mostly in the lower body, but in space, the
fluid moves toward the upper body. As well, a
lot of the water found in the blood begins to
move out into the tissues which has many
negative side effects.
© Tangstar Science
  astronomy  anatomy and physiology

LIVING IN SPACE HARMS YOUR BODY 43

(7) The water loss decreases blood volume by
about 20%. This means that there is less blood
for the heart to pump and this causes the heart
muscle to atrophy. Once astronauts return to
Earth, their hearts are weaker and sometimes
are unable to pump enough blood to the brain,
so astronauts are prone to fainting. As well,
fluid in the upper body causes it to build up in
the face causing the face to become very puffy
optic nerve. This is of huge concern to space
agencies as the vision damage is hard to
reverse. Even if we find solutions to bone loss
and muscle atrophy, there will be no use
sending astronauts on long space missions to
Mars, or anywhere else, if they become blind
in the process.
(8) These are just some of the major problems

Science Literacy Warm Up

and giving astronauts a look that is termed
“moon face”. The fluid in the head also causes
sinus and nasal congestion that give astronauts
the symptoms of a head cold that can last the
entire span of the mission. The increased fluid
pressure in the head also exerts a lot of
pressure on the back of the eyeballs. This
affects their shape and causes damage to the
optic
caused by living in space. Other problems
include a disruption to your sense of balance,
immune system depression, sleep disturbance,
loss of taste and smell and the last one is
especially disturbing…excessive flatulence
(farting)! This is especially horrible when living
in a small and crowded space vessel without a
window to crack open.

Article Questions
1) What do osteoclasts and osteoblasts do?

2) What is spaceflight osteopenia and what causes it?

3) How does 6 months spent in the International Space Station affect an astronaut’s bones?

4) Why do muscles atrophy in space, how quickly does this happen and what can be done to slow
this down?

5) In 2006, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, an astronaut who returned from a 12 day space mission,
fainted twice during a welcome home ceremony. Explain what caused this to happen.

6) Describe the vision problems that can be caused by prolonged space missions.

© Tangstar Science

LIVING IN SPACE HARMS YOUR BODY 43
(7) The water loss decreases blood volume by
about 20%. This means that there is less blood
for the heart to pump and this causes the heart
muscle to atrophy. Once astronauts return to
Earth, their hearts are weaker and sometimes
are unable to pump enough blood to the brain,
so astronauts are prone to fainting. As well,
fluid in the upper body causes it to build up in
the face causing the face to become very puffy
and giving astronauts a look that is termed
“moon face”. The fluid in the head also causes
sinus and nasal congestion that give astronauts
the symptoms of a head cold that can last the
entire span of the mission. The increased fluid
pressure in the head also exerts a lot of
pressure on the back of the eyeballs. This
affects their shape and causes damage to the
optic
 astronomy  anatomy and physiology
optic nerve. This is of huge concern to space
agencies as the vision damage is hard to
reverse. Even if we find solutions to bone loss
and muscle atrophy, there will be no use
sending astronauts on long space missions to
Mars, or anywhere else, if they become blind
in the process.
(8) These are just some of the major problems
Science Literacy Warm Up
caused by living in space. Other problems
include a disruption to your sense of balance,
immune system depression, sleep disturbance,
loss of taste and smell and the last one is
especially disturbing…excessive flatulence
(farting)! This is especially horrible when living
in a small and crowded space vessel without a
window to crack open.
© Tangstar Science
  astronomy  anatomy and physiology

LIVING IN SPACE HARMS YOUR BODY 43

(7) The water loss decreases blood volume by
about 20%. This means that there is less blood
for the heart to pump and this causes the heart
muscle to atrophy. Once astronauts return to
Earth, their hearts are weaker and sometimes
are unable to pump enough blood to the brain,
so astronauts are prone to fainting. As well,
fluid in the upper body causes it to build up in
the face causing the face to become very puffy
optic nerve. This is of huge concern to space
agencies as the vision damage is hard to
reverse. Even if we find solutions to bone loss
and muscle atrophy, there will be no use
sending astronauts on long space missions to
Mars, or anywhere else, if they become blind
in the process.
(8) These are just some of the major problems

Science Literacy Warm Up

and giving astronauts a look that is termed
“moon face”. The fluid in the head also causes
sinus and nasal congestion that give astronauts
the symptoms of a head cold that can last the
entire span of the mission. The increased fluid
pressure in the head also exerts a lot of
pressure on the back of the eyeballs. This
affects their shape and causes damage to the
optic
caused by living in space. Other problems
include a disruption to your sense of balance,
immune system depression, sleep disturbance,
loss of taste and smell and the last one is
especially disturbing…excessive flatulence
(farting)! This is especially horrible when living
in a small and crowded space vessel without a
window to crack open.

Article Questions
1) What do osteoclasts and osteoblasts do?

2) What is spaceflight osteopenia and what causes it?

3) How does 6 months spent in the International Space Station affect an astronaut’s bones?

4) Why do muscles atrophy in space, how quickly does this happen and what can be done to slow
this down?

5) In 2006, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, an astronaut who returned from a 12 day space mission,
fainted twice during a welcome home ceremony. Explain what caused this to happen.

6) Describe the vision problems that can be caused by prolonged space missions.

© Tangstar Science

LIVING IN SPACE HARMS YOUR BODY 43
(7) The water loss decreases blood volume by
about 20%. This means that there is less blood
for the heart to pump and this causes the heart
muscle to atrophy. Once astronauts return to
Earth, their hearts are weaker and sometimes
are unable to pump enough blood to the brain,
so astronauts are prone to fainting. As well,
fluid in the upper body causes it to build up in
the face causing the face to become very puffy
and giving astronauts a look that is termed
“moon face”. The fluid in the head also causes
sinus and nasal congestion that give astronauts
the symptoms of a head cold that can last the
entire span of the mission. The increased fluid
pressure in the head also exerts a lot of
pressure on the back of the eyeballs. This
affects their shape and causes damage to the
optic
 astronomy  anatomy and physiology
optic nerve. This is of huge concern to space
agencies as the vision damage is hard to
reverse. Even if we find solutions to bone loss
and muscle atrophy, there will be no use
sending astronauts on long space missions to
Mars, or anywhere else, if they become blind
in the process.
(8) These are just some of the major problems
Science Literacy Warm Up
caused by living in space. Other problems
include a disruption to your sense of balance,
immune system depression, sleep disturbance,
loss of taste and smell and the last one is
especially disturbing…excessive flatulence
(farting)! This is especially horrible when living
in a small and crowded space vessel without a
window to crack open.
© Tangstar Science
  astronomy  anatomy and physiology

LIVING IN SPACE HARMS YOUR BODY 43

(7) The water loss decreases blood volume by
about 20%. This means that there is less blood
for the heart to pump and this causes the heart
muscle to atrophy. Once astronauts return to
Earth, their hearts are weaker and sometimes
are unable to pump enough blood to the brain,
so astronauts are prone to fainting. As well,
fluid in the upper body causes it to build up in
the face causing the face to become very puffy
optic nerve. This is of huge concern to space
agencies as the vision damage is hard to
reverse. Even if we find solutions to bone loss
and muscle atrophy, there will be no use
sending astronauts on long space missions to
Mars, or anywhere else, if they become blind
in the process.
(8) These are just some of the major problems

Science Literacy Warm Up

and giving astronauts a look that is termed
“moon face”. The fluid in the head also causes
sinus and nasal congestion that give astronauts
the symptoms of a head cold that can last the
entire span of the mission. The increased fluid
pressure in the head also exerts a lot of
pressure on the back of the eyeballs. This
affects their shape and causes damage to the
optic
caused by living in space. Other problems
include a disruption to your sense of balance,
immune system depression, sleep disturbance,
loss of taste and smell and the last one is
especially disturbing…excessive flatulence
(farting)! This is especially horrible when living
in a small and crowded space vessel without a
window to crack open.

Article Questions
1) What do osteoclasts and osteoblasts do?
Osteoclasts are cells that break down bone tissue and osteoblasts are cells that
regenerate bone tissue. Both work in harmony to keep bone mass constant on Earth. (2)
2) What is spaceflight osteopenia and what causes it?
Spaceflight osteopenia is the loss of bone mass during weightlessness. It is caused by the
lack of gravity that promotes osteoclast activity and inhibits osteoblast activity. (2 & 3)
3) How does 6 months spent in the International Space Station affect an astronaut’s bones?
After 6 months in space, up to 10% of a person’s bone mass can be lost, most of it in the
vertebrae, pelvis and femur bones that support the body’s weight on Earth. (3)
4) Why do muscles atrophy in space, how quickly does this happen and what can be done to slow
this down?
Muscles atrophy because of the absence of gravity. Without gravity, there is less need
for back and leg muscles to hold up the body so the muscles shrink in size. 20% muscle
loss can happen after 5-11 days if exercise is not used to slow this down. A minimum of 2
hours of daily exercise is required. (4 & 5)

5) In 2006, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, an astronaut who returned from a 12 day space mission,
fainted twice during a welcome home ceremony. Explain what caused this to happen.
During her space mission, she lost 20% of her blood volume due to water redistribution
during weightlessness. This caused her heart muscle to atrophy and weaken. When back
on Earth her blood volume immediately increased by 20% but her weakened heart was
not strong enough to pump the blood throughout her body quickly. This deprived her
brain of oxygen and caused her to faint. (6 & 7)

6) Describe the vision problems that can be caused by prolonged space missions.
The increased fluid build up in the head causes pressure on the back of the eyeballs
which can flatten the eyeball as well as damage the optic nerve leading to harm that is
difficult to reverse. (7) © Tangstar Science
 MORE ARTICLES
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a LARGER BUNDLE of
50 ARTICLES for 35% OFF
This lowers the price of each
article from $2.99 to $1.94.

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Article #8: Photosynthetic Animals (Gr.8-12)
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Article #10: Facebook Blues: Is Facebook Making you Unhappy (Gr.7-12)
Article #11: The Making of Human Hermaphrodites (Gr.9-12)
Article #12: Are Bed Bugs Keeping You Awake? (Gr.8-12)
Article #13: Miraculous Medical Maggots (Gr.7-12)
Article #14: How Anabolic Steroids Work (Gr.8-12)
Article #15: The Science of Sleep (Gr.7-12)
Article #16: Parasites Create Zombie Snails (Gr.7-12)
Article #17: Breathing and Peeing in Space (Gr.7-12)
Article #18: Is it Ironman? No, it’s Alloyman! (Gr.8-12)
Article #19: Immortal Cancer Cells (Gr.9-12)
Article #20: Endangered Soil (Gr.7-12)
Article #21: Sex Changing Fish (Gr.7-12)
Article #22: Fecal Transplants (Gr.7-12)
Article #23: Human Cyborgs vs. Bionic Humans (Gr.7-12)
Article #24: Black Holes Explained (Gr.9-12)
Article #25: The Science and Evolution of Skin Color (Gr.8-12)
© Tangstar Science
 MORE ARTICLES
This article can be found in
a LARGER BUNDLE of
50 ARTICLES for 35% OFF
This lowers the price of each
article from $2.99 to $1.94.

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Article #34: Hello Gastric Bypass, Goodbye Stomach (Gr.7-12)
Article #35: An Athlete’s Perfect Twitch (Gr.7-12)
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Article #37: The Chemistry of Fireworks (Gr.7-12)
Article #38: Climate Change and Pizzly Bears (Gr.7-12)
Article #39: The Science of Self-Control (Gr.7-12)
Article #40: The Truth Behind Bottled Water (Gr.7-12)
Article #41: Natural Selection Explained (Gr.8-12)
Article #42: The Evolution of Pretty Boys (Gr.8-12)
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Article #44: Fossil Fuels Uncovered (Gr.7-12)
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© Tangstar Science