Earth Relearned: Astronauts Come Home to a Sensory Deluge

Astronauts returning from extended stays in orbit report a jarring re-entry to Earth: rain smells overwhelming, grass feels abrasive, and driving feels like piloting a rover as the brain relearns gravity; the vestibular system, skin, and brain undergo lasting recalibration, a challenge intensifying with longer missions now being studied, including a year-long Chinese flight and future Mars transits.