Research in microgravity is indispensable to disclose the impact of gravity on biological
processes and organisms. However, research in the near-Earth orbit is severely constrained …

Plant organs can re-orientate themselves with respect to gravity. Gravisensing cells
(statocytes) contain movable amyloplasts whose potential energy is apparently used to …

We have selected five evolutionary very different biological systems ranging from unicellular
protists via algae and higher plants to human cells showing responses to the gravity vector …

Unicellular organisms use gravity as an environmental guide to reach and stay in regions
optimal for their growth and reproduction. These single cells play a significant role in food …

Many plankton species undergo daily vertical migration to large depths in the turbulent
ocean. To do this efficiently, the plankton can use a gyrotactic mechanism, aligning them …

Ciliates are abundant unicellular organisms capable of resisting high concentrations of
metal ions in the environment caused by various anthropogenic activities. Understanding …

Since decades it is known that the activity of cells of the immune system is severely
dysregulated in microgravity, however, the underlying molecular aspects have not been …

Missions to Mars will subject living specimens to a range of low gravity environments.
Deleterious biological effects of prolonged exposure to Martian gravity (0.38 g), Lunar …

Life on Earth developed in the presence and under the constant influence of gravity. Gravity
has been present during the entire evolution, from the first organic molecule to mammals …

Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were used to study the effects of altered gravity on
the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton dynamics. A cholinergic stimulation of the cells …