Can biophysics tell us something about the weak equivalence principle vis a vis the thought experiment of Einstein involving human subjects?

Abstract

Over a period of several decades it has been noticed that most astronauts, either orbiting the earth or on trips to the moon, have observed phosphenes or light flashes (LF) including streaks, spots and clouds of light when their eyes are closed or they are in a darkened cabin. Scientists suspect that two separate components of cosmic rays cause these flashes due to direct interaction with the retina. This phenomenon is not noticed on the ground because of cosmic ray interaction with the atmosphere. The argument is advanced that this effect may provide us with a new method of exploring the weak equivalence principle from the standpoint of Einstein's original thought experiment involving human subjects. This can be done, utilizing the retina only, as an animate quantum mechanical measuring device or, in conjunction with the Anomalous Long Term Effects on Astronauts (ALTEA) facility.

A New Biophysical Analysis of the Twin Paradox: The Interaction between Velocity and the Variable Biological Clock

“…Einstein said that he first got his idea of the equivalence principle one day when it came to him that falling in earth's gravity would be the equivalent of floating in space while undergoing uniform motion, and that there would be no way to distinguish between the two if one was inside a closed container conducting only internal measurements. The author had raised the question in a previous paper about the validity of this reasoning in view of recent experiments on earth and in space showing the appearance of phosphenes or flashes of light in the retina of astronauts in space as a result of interaction with cosmic rays and no phosphenes for humans shielded on earth [21].…”