A new study suggests that being in space for long periods of time not only causes muscle atrophy and reductions in bone density, but it could have lasting effects on the brain.

A team of neuroscientists from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) of Munich led the study and showed that differential changes in the three primary tissue volumes of the brain remain detectable for at least half a year after the end of their last mission.

An important study to follow for Asgardia as they aim to build habitable platforms in low-Earth orbit and create the first ever space nation.

Professor Peter zu Eulenburg from the LMU explained that their results show prolonged changes in the pattern of cerebrospinal fluid circulation over a period of at last seven months after the return to Earth.

What’s more, the RAS is putting a spotlight on two new papers written about the Kordylewski clouds in their peer-reviewed journal, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. In a statement, the RAS said that a group of Hungarian astronomers and physicists might have confirmed the clouds just where Kordylewski said they would be, in semi-stable points only 250,000 miles (400,000 km) from Earth.

Researchers have confirmed the existence of the Kordylewski dust clouds, which orbit at the L4 and L5 points in the Earth-moon system.  The dust clouds orbit approximately in the moon’s orbit and move ahead of and behind the moon in orbit.

Lastly, China has been trying to outdo private space companies such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Unfortunately, a privately developed Chinese carrier rocket failed to reach orbit after taking flight from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on Saturday.

The three-stage rocket, known as Zhuque-1, was built by Beijing-based Landspace.  In a microblog post, the company explained that after nominal first and second stages the spacecraft failed to reach orbit due to an issue with the third stage.

Are you excited about the confirmation of the Kordylewski dust clouds? Have you been following China's space program? Do you think China will begin to outpace private companies? 

Let's discuss in the comments below.