USF Researcher explores extreme environments with NASA
Researcher Dominic D'Agostino and his wife Csilla Ari D'Agostino visited the NASA training center to prepare for the mission.
SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/USFNEWS
A USF researcher is participating in an underwater expedition simulating Mars’ environment.
The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations 22 missions will conduct simulated spacewalks on the ocean floor, test time delays in communication and evaluate procedures for future space missions.
Dominic D’Agostino, associate professor in USF’s Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, is a member of the four-person team. The team will spend 10 days in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary located off the coast of Key Largo starting June 18.
D’Agostino has researched how extreme environments impact the human body and plans to continue his research on the expedition.
One of the USF-patented methods of nutrition in extreme environments involves triggering the body to burn fat rather than glucose as its primary source of fuel. The hope is this method will help protect astronauts from neurological risks associated with space travel.
D’Agostino is the only one using this method to allow for comparison. Other crew members are from NASA and the European Space Agency.
More Stories
As Hurricane Milton approaches, here’s where USF students can evacuate to
As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast, USF has shut down all campuses and on-campus residence halls. Though campus residents can evacuate to Jennings Middle School, this shelter is closed to non-residential students. Related: Hurricane Milton forces closure of USF residence halls – The Oracle This means students who do not live in an on-campus […]
Hurricane Milton forces closure of USF residence halls
Residence halls at the Tampa campus will close Tuesday morning and all classes will be canceled through Thursday due to Hurricane Milton. Related: USF closes campuses for Hurricane Milton – The Oracle Tampa campus students were encouraged to evacuate if they can do so safely in an email sent to the USF community Monday afternoon. […]
USF closes campuses for Hurricane Milton
All USF campuses will be closed through at least Wednesday due to Hurricane Milton. Classes will be remote on Monday and canceled Tuesday and Wednesday, USF announced in a university-wide email Sunday afternoon. An update on Thursday’s classes and the university’s reopening will be made later, according to the email. Students will receive an online […]
USF pres calls for respect on campus ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary
USF President Rhea Law urged the USF community to maintain a respectful and civil environment on campus ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. In a universitywide email on Thursday, Law said the university was aware of several on and off-campus events planned for next week to recognize the […]
USF student protester forced to leave the country after suspension
Joseph Charry, a junior sociology major, had to move back home to Colombia after he lost his student visa due to his year-long suspension from USF. He said he was suspended due to his involvement with a series of April protests calling for the university to divest from companies that support Israel. While several students […]
Bats roosted in USF’s Student Services building
There are thirteen species of bats residing in Florida, but USF students might be able to spot two of them at their own campus. In June, USF facilities department found evidence of roosting in an upper floor of the Student Services Building (SVC). But, after a September investigation, facilities could not find any more evidence […]