Why would NASA and a number of news outlets announce that identical-twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly are still twins? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that even though Scott Kelly spent a year in orbit, such experiences don't change people's biological relationships. A couple may decide to no longer be husband and wife, sure — but how could space de-relate you from your parents, siblings or twin?
It turns out NASA's statement of the obvious was fallout from a bad case of mangled science communication. It started with an attempt on the part of the space agency to drum up publicity for some ongoing research about how Scott Kelly's year-long stint in space affected his physiology.
It was an appealing story not only because he broke the record for long-duration space flight, but because scientists were able to compare samples of his blood, saliva and urine with his twin brother's — "the perfect nature versus nurture study," as NASA described it. In promoting the research, NASA also introduced people to the term "space gene."