We all get lazy from time to time and just want
to quit everything, crawl back to bed under a layer of blankets and live there
until we feel better. We might feel a bit guilty but a relaxing day in bed
sounds awesome. Even though it’s a luxury which few of us can afford, at least
we can all fantasize about it.
If you’re one of those who are in desperate need
of some peace and relaxation, NASA might offer you the perfect opportunity to
do so and get payed on top of it. But it may involve a bit more relaxation than
you’re prepared for.
NASA has put out an ad looking for people who’re
willing to take part in their “Rest Studies” – a study which will require
participant to spend 70 straight days in bed, relaxing and smoking different
types of cannabis, for which they will receive a salary of 18.000 USD. During
the relaxation period participants are allowed to read books, play games, Skype
and smoke weed. They can do whatever they want as long as it involves staying
in bed, week after week, earning a cool 1200 USD per week.
So what is the exact purpose of these studies?
These studies have the purpose of figuring out
the best way to preserve astronauts’ health and safety during periods of
prolonged space travel. Complete rest and relaxation is the best way to
stimulate zero gravity in space because zero gravity actually means zero weight
or strain on your muscle. Additionally, they wanted to see how marijuana will
affect the body in such an environment.
The Rest Study is a very convenient way to
examine the changes our body endures during space travel.
This study is designed to achieve three core
tasks:
.Examining how the astronauts’ changing
physiology in space could affect the process of certain missions.
.Examining if the astronauts’ physiological state
could affect their ability to perform in particular tasks.
.Preparing countermeasures to combat any
impairment that these physiological conditions may impose.
The study’s participants were divided into two
groups: exercising and non-exercising.
The exercising group will have to exercise (on a
specially designed equipment to maintain the laying down position and smoke
cannabis), while the non-exercising group will just have to lie down and relax
completely.
The entire study will last somewhere between 97
and 105, depending on whether you’re in the exercising or non-exercising group.
Once the study begins, during the initial 13
days (non-exercising subjects) and 21 days (exercising subjects) you can move
around the bed rest area freely, in and out of bed. But once this period ends,
for the next 70 days you’ll be forbidden from leaving your bed. For 70 days
you’ll have to lie down, with your feet up, kick back and enjoy! You’ll get out
of bed only for a few tests and nothing more. 70 days of complete lazing.
During the study, NASA will have to conduct
bone, muscle and heart tests, as well as tests of your circulatory and nervous
systems, your nutritional condition, and your body’s immunity system.
But is it worth it?
You may not think so at first, but spending two
whole months in bed can be really excruciating. At some point you may feel like
you can’t take it anymore but at least you can rest assured that your efforts
will help in the advancement of human space travel.
This will probably be your only opportunity to
say that you’ve actually helped send the first astronauts to Mars by just being
your lazy self and doing nothing in particular but lying flat on your back.
