Cosmic dangers: Why NASA astronauts risk their lives every minute they spend in space

These charged protons and electrons shoot out from the star and penetrate anything they encounter.

Even within the comfort of the ISS and Earth’s magnetosphere, astronauts still see bright flashes of light when they close their eyes – particles flying through their eyes.

With the exposure to radiation comes the increased risk of developing cancer and other dangerous maladies.

Energetic particles can tear through strands of DNA, triggering mutations and the growth of cancer cells.

According to Dr Andrzej Fludra from RAL Space at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), the particles are powerful enough to even punch through spacecraft walls.

He told Express.co.uk: “These energetic particles always pose a danger to astronauts in space.

source: express.co.uk