It has been 400 years since the astronomer Galileo first looked through a telescope and recorded what he saw. In celebration of this anniversary, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. What have four centuries of stargazing taught us about our health? Quite a lot, actually.

The impulse to understand and explore the universe has led to some important advances in medicine and health research. Early telescope makers such as Galileo used their knowledge of optics to build the compound microscope, making it possible to study the cellular building blocks of life. In the 1960's, NASA developed digital image processing to get a better look at the moon, setting the stage for the development of computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Today, the connections between space research and health research continue to multiply.

CIHR is continuing the tradition of turning space research into health innovations. This month, read about researchers who are looking for ways to keep muscles strong in low-gravity environments, studying the connections between cosmic rays and skin cancer, and adapting space robots to help earth-bound surgeons.

• A health threat from outer space
• Bodybuilding in Space
• From Outer Space to Inner Space
• A serious case of jet lag: How space travel affects the human body