Neuroscientist keeps astronauts awake with ISS lighting tweaks

A neuroscientist is working with Nasa to develop special lamps that could help restore the circadian rhythm of exhausted astronauts working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Thomas Jefferson University neuroscientist George C Brainard, who has headed up the university’s Light Research Program since 1984, received approval for the lights in early 2012 and 100 of the LED models are due to be sent to Nasa by mid-2015. The lights have three different colour temperatures to help ease the astronauts into morning, nighttime and normal working mode.

"An astronaut here on Earth experiences a 24-hour day/night cycle just like you and I," explained Brainard. "Now when they’re on the space station, they’re circling the planet every 90 minutes. So they’ve gone from a 24-hour day to a 90-minute day."