We’d Tell You More About Penn’s Fake Mars Mission, But We’re Getting Too Fat and Sleepy

Penn is reporting the results of its “Mars 500” study, which simulated a Mars mission by sticking six men—all volunteers—in cramped quarters for a year-and-a-half. Apparently, it was like an episode of Big Brother, but with less drama and sex and more, well, sleeping. “Kind of a sedentariness kicked in,” said the study’s author, Mathias Basner. “They moved less while they were awake, they increased their sleep time.” Even with all the sleepiness, bad lighting, and 500 days of tedium, the study’s authors said their fake Mars mission was still cheaper and more interesting than the Mars depicted in John Carter. [NewsWorks]