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Scientists May Have Finally Figured Out Why Astronauts Get Constipated in Space

A new study suggests microgravity changes how gut bacteria process food, slowing digestion and making constipation more likely.

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The glory of spaceflight does a good job of masking the smaller, less magnificent details of space travel. For instance, did you know astronauts have a long, rich history of getting constipated in space? It’s been documented for years, and now researchers may have figured out why people hanging around in zero gravity struggle to poop.

According to a new study published in Nature Communications, the problem more than likely begins with the bacteria and astronauts’ guts. Researchers tracked 52 astronauts before, during, and after missions aboard the International Space Station, analyzing 488 of their plasma samples. They were specifically........

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