“太空鼠”当妈妈啦

Core Insights - The successful birth of nine baby mice from a female mouse that returned from space marks a significant achievement in China's space research, demonstrating the ability to conduct mammalian space experiments and recover samples [1][2] Group 1: Experiment Overview - Four experimental mice were launched aboard the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft on October 31 and were housed in a small mammal breeding facility in the Chinese space station [1] - The mission faced challenges, including a food supply issue due to adjustments in the Shenzhou 20 return plan, which led to a temporary "food shortage" for the mice [1] Group 2: Emergency Response - The ground research team activated an emergency response mechanism, evaluating various potential food alternatives, including compressed biscuits, corn, hazelnuts, and soy milk [1] - Soy milk was ultimately selected as the emergency food, and the team successfully provided it to the mice, resolving their food supply issue [1] Group 3: Data Support and Monitoring - An AI behavior analysis system was developed to track the mice's movements, eating, and sleeping patterns, providing critical data for emergency decision-making [2] - The mice safely landed on November 14, and were promptly recovered by researchers, marking the completion of a full-cycle mammalian space experiment [2] Group 4: Research Implications - The mother mouse exhibited normal nurturing behavior, and the vitality of the baby mice was reported to be good, indicating that short-term space flight did not negatively impact the reproductive capabilities of the mice [2] - This mission provides valuable samples for studying the effects of space environments on early mammalian development [2]