"Revolutionary Kidney Stone Procedure Enables Mars Travel for Astronauts"
A groundbreaking medical procedure called burst wave lithotripsy, which uses ultrasound waves to break apart kidney stones, is being developed at the University of Washington. The procedure, currently in clinical trials, has the potential to provide relief to patients in 10 minutes or less without the need for anesthesia. Additionally, this technology is crucial for astronauts, as they are at a higher risk of developing kidney stones during space travel. NASA has been funding the research for the past decade, and the procedure could be used by astronauts to treat kidney stones during long-duration missions to Mars.