Women may be more resilient than men to stresses of spaceflight, says study

Nasa astronauts Christina Koch (left) and Jessica Meir. Scientists say it is unclear why women might be more resilient to space flight. Photograph: Nasa Handout/EPA

When faced with acid-dripping aliens, an untested machine that travels through wormholes, or a space station shattered by hurtling debris, it is the tough female astronaut who steps up to save the day.

And perhaps Hollywood is on to something. A major study into the impact of spaceflight suggests women may be more resilient than men to the stresses of space, and recover more quickly when they return to Earth.