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ArchiveLesson #21Science

Scottish Doctor Pioneers Space Medicine

Dr. Christina Mackaill combines emergency and space medicine, working with NASA to ensure astronaut safety in space and on Earth.

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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

Dr. Christina Mackaill is a Scottish doctor who specializes in both emergency medicine and space medicine. She works with NASA to ensure that are medically safe while in space and when they return to Earth. Mackaill has developed a method for performing on the moon and Mars, where is weaker. She believes it is essential for to learn life-saving skills before going on missions, especially as space travel becomes more common.

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Adapted from BBC and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Key vocabulary

  • astronaut

    a person trained to travel in space

    “An astronaut must learn many skills to survive in space.”

  • gravity

    the force that pulls objects toward each other

    “Gravity is weaker on the moon than on Earth.”

  • CPR

    a life-saving technique used in emergencies

    “CPR can help save someone's life during a medical emergency.”

  • speciality

    a specific area of expertise

    “Space medicine is a growing speciality in healthcare.”

  • evacuation

    the act of removing someone from a dangerous place

    “Medical evacuation is not possible on distant space missions.”

Quick quiz

01What is Dr. Christina Mackaill's profession?

02What method did Mackaill develop for low gravity?

03Why is it important for astronauts to learn CPR?

04What does Mackaill say about space medicine's future?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

How do you think space medicine will evolve as more people travel to space?