Gravity rewires astronauts' grip in space, with months-long readjustment on Earth

A new study shows astronauts’ brains adapt to weightlessness by misreading gravity: in space they grip objects with more force than needed, and after returning to Earth it can take months to recalibrate. Researchers tracked grip force and movement in 11 ESA astronauts on Earth and in space, revealing sensory feedback reinterpretation due to gravity changes. The findings have safety implications for future missions, including spacewalks and robotic operations on the ISS and the Moon.