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bed via Shutterstock

Got what it takes to be a 'pillow astronaut'?

…you’d get to spend 70 days in bed for a study to test the effectiveness of exercise on loss of muscle, bone and heart function.

IF THE THOUGHT of spending 70 days in bed sounds like bliss to you, maybe you’d be interested in the latest NASA study.

NASA is looking for so-called ‘pillow astronauts’ to take part in a new study where they will have to spend more than two months in bed.

The Countermeasure and Functional Testing (CFT 70) will take place at their centre in Texas, and will look at head-down tilt bed rest. It’s being set up test the effectiveness of exercise on loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function.

Healthy astronauts

NASA are working on finding ways to keep astronauts healthier and safer when they’re in space. Head-down bedrest, they say, is a good way to mimic a person travelling in space without gravity, so it means they can study people on earth to see what works and what doesn’t for astronauts.

Participants won’t get to cosy up in a comfortable bed, however – they will be in a purpose-built bed, which is tilted down slight so their head is down and feet are up.

They’ll have to stay that way for 24 hours a day for 70 days, without getting out of bed – except for a few limited times with specific tests.

They’ll be tested on seven functional tests throughout the 70 days and the results will be measured.

The exercise portion of the programme will involve exercise using special machines designed by NASA, and will include moderate intensity aerobic exercise.

People who take part will spend 14 days after their 70 days lying in bed to get back to normal everyday activity.

NASA are looking for participants now… if you’re curious, one ‘pillow astronaut’ has been blogging about her experiences on previous studies.

Read: Frog photobombs NASA rocket lift-off>

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13 Comments
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    Mute Rodger O Waters
    Favourite Rodger O Waters
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    Dec 12th 2011, 7:24 PM

    I do not have a trace element of trust in Kenny/Gilmore,they will do what they are told irrespective of Irish national interests.

    58
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    Mute Réada Quinn
    Favourite Réada Quinn
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    Dec 12th 2011, 7:44 PM

    I can’t wait that long to write my squiggly IR £ sign again. So much prettier than the €! Ah…

    57
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    Mute Liam Ó Broin
    Favourite Liam Ó Broin
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    Dec 12th 2011, 9:09 PM

    You mightn’t *have* to wait that long Réada. The morkets are at it again, getting all scared in their boots. :P

    19
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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Dec 12th 2011, 9:16 PM

    I don’t thunk so either Spud. Even Mercozy will get fed up of being whores to those Market pimps. Oh sorry – wimps !

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    Mute Bernadette Dunne
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    Dec 13th 2011, 4:25 AM

    Can anyone say when the government are back after their Christmas break please

    1
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    Mute corky2004
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    Dec 12th 2011, 7:48 PM

    In other words “Let’s just wait until the hype blows over and we’ll sneak it through in march”

    35
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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Dec 12th 2011, 7:21 PM

    Yeah. Let’s not rush. Wasn’t it Brian Cowan who wanted to wait until March – and remember what happened him!!

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    Mute Ardo Ci
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    Dec 13th 2011, 12:33 AM

    Well said!

    6
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    Mute Lou Brennan
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    Dec 12th 2011, 8:42 PM

    Well when the inner elite of the dail get their act together.
    Here’s my decision – No .
    And when their puppeteers give them a yank on their strings to re-run the whole show the answer will be still
    NO

    22
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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Dec 13th 2011, 7:34 AM

    There act is together, it just doesn’t involve anything to do with Ireland’s best interests.

    1
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    Mute Liam Hanrahan
    Favourite Liam Hanrahan
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    Dec 12th 2011, 8:03 PM

    Ridiculous for people to be hoping we go back to the punt, we’d be crippled by inflation, our currency would be devalued all the time. We’d also be tied to sterling like in the 80s where any ups and downs in the uk forced changes on us ( punt was proportioned to sterling).

    18
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Dec 12th 2011, 8:55 PM

    I suspect we are not likely to see much of either the Euro or a referendum in March as the beleaguered currency is already in trouble one working day after Merkosy’s latest feeble effort.
    http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-12/stocks-euro-commodities-fall-as-rating-companies-assess-summit.html

    20
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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    Dec 13th 2011, 1:16 AM

    well said Liam, also sterling is as vunerable, or not more so than Euro

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    Mute Bernadette Dunne
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    Dec 13th 2011, 4:32 AM

    The Irish pound and Pound sterling came about in the late 70′s around and it caused big hassle for a while but the after effects were hard in the eighties approx 87/88 we started to pay huge interest on mortgages 18% but if this Government do not get their act together we might have to call it a day for them
    How can we have confidence in them so how can we support such a doddery leadership of OUR STATE

    1
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    Mute JeasusBigBalls
    Favourite JeasusBigBalls
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    Dec 12th 2011, 7:45 PM

    He’s not into the Smartphones yet by that Pic. A good auld Nokia with Angela Dorothea on speed dial 1.

    12
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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Dec 13th 2011, 7:32 AM

    I was just thinking that myself! what the hell decade is that phone from? My cat has a better phone than that.

    1
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    Mute John Murphy
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    Dec 12th 2011, 9:08 PM

    The’re be a plenty of back scratching and belly tickling going on to fiddle this one between this and March. Constitutional lawyers will be doing the soft shoe shuffle at the Xmas parties all over town.

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    Mute Toureag
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    Dec 12th 2011, 8:17 PM

    Yawn…..

    6
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    Mute Mike Hall
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    Dec 13th 2011, 12:18 AM

    Video of talk by Dr Heiner Flassbeck, former deputy finance minister of Germany speaking at the University of Texas. He explains how Germany manipulated & exacerbated the imbalances of the Eurozone. An attempt at ‘beggar thy neighbour’ that backfired, exposing the failure of neo liberal economics thinking that continues to offer ‘solutions’ that aren’t. Linked at nakedcapitalism.com here:

    http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/12/class-war-low-wages-and-beggar-thy-neighbor.html

    A must watch for Euro citizens. Some extraordinary honesty in this & excellent analysis.

    6
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