The International Space Station is polluted with harmful chemicals

Plus: Nanoscale electronic “tattoos” track the health of each living cell [Blueprint]( Sponsored by Spare a though for the crew of the International Space Station, who now have one more hazard to think about: According to a new study, dust retrieved from the air filters of the International Space Station contains concerning levels of harmful chemicals like flame retardants and forever chemicals. The concentrations actually exceeded those typically found in homes on Earth. While not an immediate health hazard, the findings highlight the need to carefully select construction materials to limit contaminants on future manned spacecraft. We've the full details of what ISS’s inhabitants are having to live with in [today’s Must Read]( below. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it! 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The sources of these pollutants are unclear, but may include off-the-shelf items brought into orbit by astronauts, structural materials, and a lack of effective air filtration for certain chemicals. While this type of pollution is of more concern than regular household dust, it is still mostly within Earth norms. Improved material choices could avoid contaminating living space over the long-term. To learn more about the challenges involved in maintaining healthy habitats beyond Earth, click below. 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[Science]( 🔬 Nanoscale electronic ‘tattoos’ track the health of each living cell A team of researchers and engineers at Johns Hopkins University have developed an electronic tattoo that can be placed on a single cell to track its health. Essentially acting like barcodes or QR codes, these electronic tattoos can stick to soft live cells for 16 hours. [Read More]( A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR [It's time to ace the style game and save big!]( Whether you're hitting the books or hitting the courts, Nike's collection of performance gear will help you achieve greatness. Don't miss out on these incredible deals. Shop now and unleash your full potential! Use promo code SCHOOL20 to [enjoy 20% OFF]( on selected styles. Get back in style today! 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But it's all hype according to one in ten of you. 48% Cautiously optimistic 28% I have doubts 14% I am very optimistic 10% All hype, no substance “Our findings have implications for future space stations and habitats, where it may be possible to exclude many contaminant sources by careful material choices in the early stages of design and construction.” Stuart Harrad, co-author of the ISS pollution study THE UNIQUE BOUTIQUE [InBody H20N Smart Full Body Composition Analyzer]( [$349.99]( [Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Neck Pillow]( [$109]( [ZJART Tiffany Lamp]( [$119.88]( [Cheese Board Set]( [$49.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Disney’s new task force will investigate how to best incorporate AI]( - [New robotic sea turtle could protect and guide hatchlings]( - [First ever bull semen modified to produce cows that burp less methane]( - [45,000-year-old pelvic bone indicates unknown human lineage]( - [New X-ray nanosatellite to study black holes, neutron stars]( - [First evidence of 'quantum superchemistry' observed in lab]( - [Double-lung transplants save lives of patients with flipped lungs]( - [Rechargeable batteries made from waste]( [premium] - [Pregnant woman wrongly arrested over face recognition error]( Need help with advertising? 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