Humans

A stunning view of Earth with a distant satellite in space

Nine volunteers spent 105 days in isolation as trust and energy slowly changed, but an abrupt 8-hour clock shift produced the sharpest jump in depression, aggression, hostility and physical complaints

105 days in a sealed routine Nine people entered a long confinement study in 1976 and the most dramatic psychological change did not appear at the beginning. According to a PubMed record for the study, the crew completed 105 days of social isolation while researchers tracked mood, behavior and physical complaints. The paper, published in…

The volcanic summit landscape of Mauna Kea in Hawaii at sunset

Humans Explainer

Six people spent 8 months inside a mock Mars dome on Mauna Loa and used a virtual psychologist to work through 13 stressors and 9 crew problems, testing private support for missions too distant for real-time help

A woman in a spacesuit operating controls inside a simulated space habitat

Humans Explainer

Sixteen volunteers spent 30 days sealed inside NASA’s HERA habitat, and although cortisol rose as the mission continued, their mood and thinking scores held steady, suggesting the body can register isolation before performance begins to slip

A red Antarctic research station surrounded by ice beside the sea

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Thirteen men spent 13 months at Antarctica’s Concordia station, where polar night and thin air disrupted sleep and slowed reactions, revealing how people sharing the same Mars-like isolation can reach very different limits

An aerial view of Wellington, New Zealand and its ocean waterfront at sunset

Humans Explainer

Four hundred forty-two adults in Wellington reported less psychological distress when more ocean was visible from home, and the association remained after income, housing, crime, deprivation and nearby green space were considered

A tranquil forest path surrounded by vibrant green trees and moss, perfect for nature lovers and tranquility seekers

Humans Explainer

Seventy-six adults aged 18 to 25 watched six minutes of woodland paths and flowing water or a busy train ride, and the brief virtual nature break lowered stress while preserving positive mood and strengthening their connection to nature

Open-water swimmers in bright caps racing toward a buoy at sea

Humans Explainer

Ten swimmers described calmer minds, a stronger sense of purpose and greater control over daily stress after repeated plunges in the sea and freshwater, helping explain why outdoor swimming is being tested as a social prescription

A remote research habitat in a barren Mars-like desert landscape

Humans Explainer

Eighty-two people were tracked through pandemic isolation, and prior experience in extreme environments helped them maintain productivity even when their mental health still suffered, a split that could shape support for Mars crews

Long missions beyond low Earth orbit will ask crews to work inside small, sealed habitats for months or years while distance strips away easy contact, quick rescue and ordinary routines. A pandemic survey offered researchers an unusual way to ask which parts of that strain are softened by prior experience in harsh settings and which…

Two scuba divers exploring the vibrant underwater world off Zanzibar's coast in Tanzania

Humans Explainer

After one hour in the Mediterranean, 176 scuba divers and 70 beachgoers reported brighter moods, with the strongest gains among people taking medication for chronic or psychiatric conditions

Cap de Creus became a one-hour mental health test Researchers at the University of Girona used a busy stretch of the Cap de Creus Natural Park in northeastern Spain to test a simple question. Could a short session in a protected coastal setting improve mood and would a dive change that effect? Their answer, published…

Professional triathlete swimming in open water

Humans Explainer

Adults with depression entered an eight-session outdoor swimming trial at three British sites and the first randomized test found strong engagement, few safety problems and enough promising signals to justify a larger clinical study

Outdoor swimming has built a public reputation as a mood booster, yet most claims have come from personal stories or small uncontrolled studies. A 2025 trial in Mental Health and Physical Activity took a more demanding step by randomizing adults with mild to moderate depression to an eight-session course in outdoor water plus usual care,…

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