Not Enough Hours In The Day Then Look To Mars

MARSDAILY

The research could prove useful in preparing astronauts for any trip to Mars where one day lasts 24.65 earthly hours. "The implications of these findings are important, because they could be used to treat circadian misalignment associated with space flight, shift work and circadian rhythm sleep disorders," the researchers wrote.

by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) May 15, 2007
Scientists have proved it is possible to pack another hour into the day in a study which could help prepare humans for life on Mars. Using bright, fluorescent lights, researchers artificially lengthened the days for 12 people who agreed to spend 65 days living in individual rooms without windows, clocks or any other clues as to the time in the outside world.

In the study, scientists from the sleep medicine division of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and Havard Medical School slowly began to change the hours of light and dark.

This helped pinpoint the body clocks, known as the natural circadian rhythm, of the nine men and three women participants aged between 22 and 33.

According to the study published in Monday's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers then began adding an extra hour of light to their volunteeers' waking day.

Exposed to pulses of bright light, 10 times brighter than normal room light, the participants began to stay awake an hour longer, effectively cramming 25 hours into their day.

They then stayed on this 25-hour day for a month, with their bodies adjusting hormone levels and temperature to the new schedule.

The research could prove useful in preparing astronauts for any trip to Mars where one day lasts 24.65 earthly hours.

"The implications of these findings are important, because they could be used to treat circadian misalignment associated with space flight, shift work and circadian rhythm sleep disorders," the researchers wrote.

Researchers have argued that if the body clocks of astronauts are not re-set to Mars time, they could find themselves permanently jet-lagged.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Email This Article

MARSDAILY

Spirit Studies Dust Devils In Concert With The MRO

Pasadena CA (SPX) May 15, 2007
Spirit is healthy and has finished investigating a patch of churned-up, white-toned, silica-rich material known as "Gertrude Weise." Meanwhile, the rover's first attempt to autonomously place and exchange scientific instruments at the same target was partially successful. Spirit backed up over Gertrude Weise to a spot 2 meters (6.6 feet) beyond it and placed the Moessbauer spectrometer on the target, but did not replace it with the microscopic imager due to potential collisions.

ENERGY TECH Powered By Sound Revolutionary Stove Could Help Reduce Poverty Researchers Identify Compounds When Making Cellulosic Ethanol Russian Pipeline Monopoly Takes Over Oil Product Transit Firm Bush Vies To Wean US Off Foreign Oil	CIVIL NUCLEAR Russia To Build Nuclear Centre In Sanctions-Hit Myanmar Regulator To Ask US Experts For Hydrocarbon Reserves Estimate Japan Sees Advantage Of Nuclear Deal With Russia Russia Sparks Up Tianwan First Unit
BLUE SKY Widespread Twilight Zone Detected Around Clouds Rand Says Further Study Warranted On Save The World Air Technology Noxious Lightning AIM Heads For Orbit	WOOD PILE Brazil Demonstrating That Reducing Tropical Deforestation Is Key WinWin Global Warming Solution Global Scientists Urge Canada To Save Boreal Forest "Reducing Emissions From Deforestation" Initiative Launched Reducing Tropical Deforestation Feasible, Affordable And Essential
FARM NEWS Spud Origin Controversy Solved Decimation Of Bee Colonies Has Various Possible Causes Asia Fears Chinese Greens Netherlands Refuses GM Corn Shipment From US	CAR TECH The Driving Force Behind Electric Vehicles Radical Engine Redesign Would Reduce Pollution And Oil Consumption Intelligent Cars As Fuel-Efficient As Hybrids China Automobile Dream A Nightmare For Climate Change
AEROSPACE Australia Fears Jet Flight Guilt Could Hit Tourism Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying New FAA Oceanic Air Traffic System Designed By Lockheed Martin Fully Operational NASA Seeks New Research Proposals	NUCLEAR SPACE Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement