Скачать или смотреть What happened to Sunita Williams' chin?

This viral image of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams shocked many — but her chin transformation has a real (and fascinating) explanation grounded in human physiology.

Originally planned as an 8-day mission, Sunita ended up spending 9 months in microgravity due to delays with Boeing’s Starliner. And during long-duration spaceflight, the absence of gravity triggers some dramatic biological changes.

Here’s what actually happens to the human body in space:

🧠 Fluid Redistribution
Without gravity pulling fluids downward, they shift upwards into the chest, neck, and head. This causes:

Facial puffiness
Nasal congestion
Increased intracranial pressure, which can even flatten the eyeballs and affect vision (called Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome or SANS).
🦴 Bone Density Loss
Bones maintain strength through a process called Wolff’s Law—they adapt and remodel in response to mechanical stress (like gravity).
In space, the lack of load-bearing leads to:

1–1.5% bone loss per month, especially from weight-bearing bones like the femur and spine
Changes in facial bones, including the mandible (jawbone) and zygomatic bones (cheekbones), which may subtly reshape facial structure
Increased risk of fractures post-return
💪 Muscle Atrophy
Muscles no longer work against gravity to maintain posture or movement. This causes:

Shrinking of skeletal muscles, particularly in the legs, back, and core
Even facial muscles, like the masseter and temporalis, can weaken and thin out, revealing more bony contours
❤️ Cardiovascular Deconditioning
Gravity helps blood pool in the lower body, but in microgravity, the heart doesn’t have to work as hard:

Over time, this leads to reduced cardiac output
Upon return to Earth, astronauts often experience orthostatic intolerance (feeling faint or dizzy when standing)
🧍‍♂️Height Increase
The intervertebral discs in the spine expand, and astronauts can grow 2–5cm taller in space. But this often reverses after re-entry.

Some viral photos of Sunita have been altered using AI, exaggerating the changes—so always check the source. But the science is real: space shapes the body in ways we’re still learning to understand.

Sunita’s journey is a reminder of how adaptable—and fragile—the human body is beyond Earth.

🎥 Watch the full reel to see how her chin changed—and why.
🔬 Follow for more breakdowns of the human body in extreme environments.

#SpaceMedicine #AstronautHealth #SunitaWilliam