NASA is looking for volunteers to spend two months in bed in exchange for 11,000 euros

NASA has spent years studying how weightless situations affect the human body. Specifically, how is the rest of our body without gravity. Now, to continue expanding these studies, ask for volunteers again to join another phase of the so-called Artificial Gravity Bedrest Study.

These studies offer scientists ways to see how the body adjusts to weightlessness. NASA is looking for volunteers (men and women) who want to pass 59 days bedridden in exchange for 11,000 euros. They must be healthy people between 24 and 55 years old and who do not smoke. Your height should be between 153 and 190 centimeters and a body mass index (BMI) between 19 and 30.

What’s more you need to speak english and be willing to live in Cologne for several months. If they meet all these requirements, interested parties can send an email with their data to [email protected].

Volunteers pass up to 70 days in bed with a six degree downward head tilt. They should eat, exercise, and even shower with their heads down. This makes their bodies adapt as if they were in space. They are continuously monitored to understand how their bodies change and why. The results allow the design of measures that will help astronauts on space missions, as well as bedridden people on Earth.

If humans ever walk on Mars or live in space, it’s partly thanks to these volunteers.

Bed rest studies often attract people looking for a change and who can afford to withdraw from everyday life for a few months, they explain in a NASA statement. Your motivation can be personal or scientific. Many participants want to do their bit to support space travel. “If humans ever walk on Mars or live in space for long periods, it is partly thanks to volunteers from bed rest,” they explain.

And they warn: “Spending many days in bed may sound great, but most participants agree that boredom sets in quickly. The daily routine (showering, dressing, eating, exercising) takes a lot of time when you can’t stand up to do them. ” There is a continuous collection of data: blood pressure, heart rate, nutrient absorption, energy expenditure, bone mass, and even the mood of the participants.

The diet is strictly controlled, giving participants little choice as to what or when to eat. Participants are encouraged to set a goal, such as learning a new language or attending classes online. To liven up the stay, family and friends are allowed to visit, which can help them distract themselves.