Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Submarines are being used to mimic space-like isolation. The SubSea project studies how extreme confinement affects human health, offering crucial insights for future long-duration space missions.
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A team of 25 volunteers spent 60 days underwater while scientists monitored stress, mood, and teamwork. The study aims to understand how crews adapt under isolation—similar to astronauts on deep-space journeys.
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Researchers tracked stress hormones like cortisol using saliva and hair samples. These biomarkers reveal how long-term isolation impacts immune health, sleep, and psychological well-being.
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ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen believes SubSea helps prepare for future space travel. “Understanding human resilience in extreme environments is key to missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond,” he explains.
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On the International Space Station, astronauts endure radiation, microgravity, and tight spaces. Lessons from SubSea will help refine mental health strategies for crews in deep-space missions.
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The findings could revolutionize healthcare for military operations, polar explorers, and people working in prolonged darkness—offering potential treatments for sleep disorders, depression, and stress-related illnesses.
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Portugal is using its natural landscapes—volcanic islands and remote terrains—to test space mission strategies. Its growing focus on analog research is making it a key player in space medicine.
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This SubSea mission is just the beginning. Future expeditions will expand research, refining how humans adapt to isolation in extreme conditions, whether beneath the ocean or beyond Earth’s orbit.
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Merging submarine and astronaut research could transform healthcare, enhance survival training, and improve long-term mission planning. The results could shape the future of both space travel and human resilience on Earth.
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