Preface ; Acknowledgments; Contents ; Chapter 1; How the Human Body Works: From Quarks to Cells; 1.1 The Stuff of Life; 1.2 What Is Life?; 1.3 The Chemistry of Life; 1.4 Cells and Their Contents; 1.4.1 Cytoplasm; 1.4.2 The Nucleus; 1.5 Human Anatomy; 1.5.1 Tissues ; 1.5.2 Organs and Organ Systems; 1.6 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 2; Hurting and Healing Characters; 2.1 Common Illnesses; 2.1.1 Common Causes of Death; 2.1.2 Cardiovascular Disease; 2.1.3 Infections; 2.1.4 Cancer; 2.1.5 Miscellaneous Health Issues; 2.2 Common Injuries; 2.2.1 Penetrating Injuries; 2.2.2 Blunt Trauma

2.2.3 Burns2.2.4 Explosions; 2.2.5 Poisons and Toxins; 2.3 Delivering Medical Care; 2.4 "He's Dead, Jim."; 2.5 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 3; Space Is a Dangerous Place; 3.1 The Weakest Link; 3.2 Atmosphere and Pressure; 3.3 Temperature, Toxins, and Trauma; 3.4 Psychological Stress; 3.5 Circadian Rhythms and Sleep; 3.6 Risks of Meteoroids and Space Debris; 3.7 Acceleration and Deceleration; 3.8 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 4; Microgravity and the Human Body; 4.1 Space Adaptation Syndrome; 4.2 Cardiovascular Effects; 4.3 Hematological Effects; 4.4 Musculoskeletal Effects

4.5 Effects on Vision4.6 Gastrointestinal Effects; 4.7 Genitourinary and Endocrine Effects; 4.8 Pulmonary Effects; 4.9 Dealing with Microgravity; 4.10 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 5; Space Medicine: Paging Dr. McCoy; 5.1 Medical Care in Space; 5.2 Preventive Care; 5.3 Exercise and Nutrition; 5.4 Infectious Diseases; 5.5 First Aid and Surgery in Space; 5.6 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 6; Danger! Radiation!; 6.1 What is Radiation?; 6.2 Biological Effects of Radiation Exposure; 6.3 Radiation Dosage and the Human Body; 6.4 Realistic Settings for Radiation in Science Fiction

6.5 Radiation in Space6.6 Protecting Against Radiation; 6.7 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 7; Suspended Animation: Putting Characters on Ice; 7.1 Suspended Animation and Hibernation in Animals; 7.2 Suspended Animation and Humans; 7.3 How the Human Body Responds to Cold; 7.4 Therapeutic Hypothermia; 7.5 Cells and Cold; 7.6 Making Your Characters Chill Out; 7.7 Prospects for Reviving the Frozen; 7.8 Methods Equivalent to Suspended Animation; 7.9 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 8; Telepathy, Using the Force, and Other Paranormal Abilities; 8.1 Telepathy; 8.2 Telekinesis

8.3 Precognition8.4 Extrasensory Perception; 8.5 Teleportation; 8.6 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 9; The Biology of Immortality; 9.1 The Dying of the Light; 9.2 Longevity and Genes; 9.3 Mechanisms and Theories of Aging; 9.4 The Quest for Eternal Youth; 9.5 The Hayflick and Other Limits; 9.6 The Future of Aging; 9.7 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 10; Sex in Science Fiction; 10.1 Why Does Sex Exist?; 10.2 Technology and Sex; 10.3 Cloning; 10.4 Sex in Space; 10.5 Pregnancy in Space; 10.6 Space Kids; 10.7 Sex and Aliens; 10.8 The Bottom Line; References; Chapter 11