New Delhi, June 14 -- Sharmila Bhattacharya, a scientist at the US space agency Nasa, has long focused on a singular goal: understanding how space conditions affect living organisms and using that knowledge to protect human health in space.

For more than 25 years, she has focused on how phenomena like gravity and radiation impact tiny organisms like fruit flies and yeast, which share cellular and genetic traits with humans. These insights help develop strategies to safeguard astronauts.

Now leading science and technology utilisation at Nasa's Ames Research Center, she also oversees initiatives that apply science and technology to advance space exploration. "My role includes working closely with those in computing and aerospace engineeri...