The Spectator

Barometer | 12 November 2011

issue 12 November 2011

Another world

Six cosmonauts have completed an experiment in which they were isolated inside a container for 520 days to simulate a voyage to Mars. A similar experiment, the Lunar-Mars Life Support Test Project between 1995-97 isolated crews for 91 days at a time. These were some of the findings:

— Without natural daylight, the astronauts found themselves gravitating towards days of 28 to 30 hours, of which they would work nearly 20.
— After emerging from the chamber it took hours for astronauts’ eyes to recover vision at distances greater than six metres.
— Many reported having trouble adjusting to the variable noise levels outside the chamber, the noise inside being constant.
— Several reported feelings of mild depression after leaving the chamber.
— Several hung around it for a few days, not wanting to leave.



Beating retreats

A Texan girl with cerebral palsy has released a video of her being beaten with a belt by her father, a judge.

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