redefining normality through technology and exploration

I strongly believe that being normal is just being adapted to an environment. It is being mediocre, average. In space as in other extreme environments like deep ocean, glaciers, salt deserts or caves we cannot survive without aids: sometimes those are technology, sometimes just tools that help us survive and even thrive. Technology can also win disabilities, and make us superhuman. Astronauts on earth.

first Life

All that effort and now what supposedly is the very tip of that evolutionary effort, the bearer of the brains who can decipher the code and reveal of its mysteries and secrets is thoroughly preoccupied with fashion, make-up, silicon implants, sport cars, football games, economic growth ... there shall be a very british sense of humour behind it all, don't you think ?

David Attenborough's First Life

disrupting conventions

Structure is important. Obvious. Without structure and categorisation it's hard to comprehend the world around us and extrapolate from observations. And yet!

We are lazy beings. When we find a pattern that suits us, we make a convention and stick to it. It becomes our law, our religion. Anything is wither within or without. And we judge.

Personally, I strive for 100%, I believe in n=1, and if a method is not described it does not mean the results are negligible. I believe inventions are just good observations, and plagiarism of the portion of the universe that we are able to perceive is the only chance we have to be creative.

a day down into CAVES

Join me in a day down into CAVES. Helmet on, buckle up ... and don't forget your headlamp!

equally curious

We're all diversely something: as a woman I am diversely a man, as a European I am diversely an African, as an engineer I am diversely a philosopher.

And those considered most able amongst us are the most disable: Astronauts are unable to walk in space, and unable to survive outside a vehicle without a space suit.

As a speleologist ,you understand your disabilities: in a cave men are unable to see without artificial light, unable to progress safely without artificial rigging, a harness and a helmet, unable to walk comfortably without proper shoes, unable to eat without food carried from outside and mostly unable to drink without a water canteen.

The concept of being able to do something is very unnaturally an acquired pretentious effect of social habits. What we are all equally able to be is curious. And that's what makes us explorers.

life, universes and everything

Of course the answer is 42. Which makes sense. Nothing else really does make sense when we talk about life in the Universe. This Universe, or one of the possible Multiverses.
Let's be clear: I'm no specialist. An online course on astrobiology does not qualify me to speak about extremophiles, or discuss about where and how to find them within our solar system.
Yet, I like to think about the existence of sentient beings other than ourselves and our fellows in the animal kingdom as an obvious fact of ... life.
But sentient beings does not mean "things" that see in the visible spectrum of light, or even that see at all. In caves animals loose the ability to see, since they do not need to see a light that does not exist. And I assume that beings which would have evolved on the Moon, if that would have been the case, would not have used air waves to communicate, since air is not an option on the Moon.
Now, those are of course simplified cases, but considering how quickly our body adapts to different conditions, say, microgravity, by loosing fluids or calcium, or reducing muscle mass, we can only assume that beings growing in a different world would adapt to the physical parameters of that world. Therefore developing a need to use the most appropriate senses for that world.
Now, there is a chance that some of those beings may have developed some ways to sense portions of their environment that we share: like x- or gamma- rays. Unless they went for a more local adaptation, and then who knows, what beings living in the core of stars may be able to sense.
For them, beings like us, living in the cold of a planet surface would be real extremophiles, don't you think?

visiting other worlds

Leaving aside the very well known fact that we are all spacefarers, being tied to a planet that makes revolutions around a star, which itself goes around an arm of a galaxy, I've just discovered that our own planet is hiding worlds that we do not know. And I am not talking about the worlds we can find in microscopes, the little particles and energy beams that make up the void that shapes us.

I am talking about worlds that we humans can experience with our senses. But not understand. Yet. New worlds, hidden from the eye of most humans for millions of year, and shaped by the forces of nature: chemistry, physics, but also biology.

I like to say "I've been to the house of gods, and I've seen things that you humans cannot even imagine". 

But how do I describe that world? My soul is still impregnated with the overwhelming sensations of its colours, its shapes, its sounds, its silence, its contrasts, its peacefulness ... and I have no words. I want to share the pictures, which I yet do not have, and the infinite awe that engulfed me. I'm in need of a poet, an artist, a musician, which is not in me. 

Privileged: that is what I can easily say. I feel privileged to have been amongst the 20 people who have ever left their footprints in that place. Carefully placed footprints, trying to always step on the previous ones, realizing to be an elephant in a christal shop, wanting to be able to fly over the thousands of speleothemes, all new to science. Those formations will help rewrite the science of speleology.

My mind is flying back there ... meeting my fellow explorers ... 

listening to yourself: what a weird experience

Today I found myself on the web. It's not as paradoxical as meeting yourself in time travel, but still it feels weird, especially when you did not really know you had been recorded for a radio interview.
In 2010, during a very challenging personal time, I was contacted by a journalist who had found my name in association with an article on astronaut survival training. She wanted to inject me into an IEEE special edition on Dream Jobs. It sounded interesting, so I decided to go along. I had a very interesting day long conversation with an exceptional person: a professional journalist and editor, extremely smart and competent, asking challenging and clever questions. She recorded all our conversations, and told me that I would be contacted for a radio interview, but then that appointment did not materialise. I had my first photo shooting session instead, in a very uncomfortable and unrealistical space suit dummy.
It's been a nice surprise to find the recordings of our day together today. I had been speaking to her the whole day, relaxed and sincere, so for the first time I actually enjoy listening to myself.
If you care to listen to it, advance to minute 20 http://www.prx.org/pieces/66100-dream-jobs-2011-outside-the-cubicle.
The IEEE article can be found here: http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/profiles/dream-job-loredana-bessone.

estraterrestri sotto terra

(estratto dal mio articolo su Montagne 360 di Novembre 2013)

Per prepararsi ad andare in luoghi sconosciuti, ci si allena in luoghi sconosciuti. 

Si parla molto di esplorazione spaziale, ma per il momento ci si limita ad esplorare se stessi nello spazio attorno alla terra. Eppure adattarsi a vivere nello spazio richiede curiosità, rispetto per le difficoltà con le quali ci si confronterà, per le persone che hanno preparato le spedizioni, per i compagni che parlano una lingua diversa e che decidono, comunicano, interagiscono secondo canoni propri della cultura nella quali sono stati immersi negli anni passati della loro vita. 

Nello spazio ci si muove usando longe, corde di sicurezza, si devono evitare gli ostacoli, bisogna stare lontani da zone vietate, ci si muove in 3D, con una visione limitata dai 60 gradi di visibilità permessi dall' elmetto, a volte ci si muove al buio, e bisogna sapersi orientare per riuscire a trovare l' ingresso. Nello spazio le giornate non sono scandite dal ritmo del sorgere e tramontare del sole ogni 24 ore, ma ogni 90 minuti. Il tempo nello spazio e' quello degli orologi sincronizzati con la terra. Nello spazio si vive di luce artificiale. I colori sono artificiali. Gli odori sono naturali, ma molto umani. I rumori sono quelli dell' elettronica di bordo, ripetitivi, e un po' noiosi.  

E questo e' lo spazio attorno alla terra.

Se si pensa a viaggi su pianeti lontani o asteroidi, il tempo, lo spazio, i colori, i profumi, la musica della voce di un bimbo sono ricordi lontani, sintetizzati in sistemi di realtà virtuale, limitati dalla capacita dei dischi di bordo e dalla fantasia di chi li ha creati.

E la terra, gli amici, la sicurezza della propria casa sono riflessioni lontane, ricreate in simulazioni interiori. La realtà e' quella di una piccola società di persone con le quali si e' partiti da una terra amata, lontana, che forse un giorno si tornerà a rivivere.

Nessun ambiente, o situazione, ricrea tutto questo meglio della grotta. Esplorare l' ignoto, dover ritrovare l' uscita, dipendere dai sistemi di illuminazione artificiali, muoversi in 3D, su corde, con longe, non avere luci, colori, profumi, suoni, altri che quelli dei compagni, coi quali si compartono le difficoltà, i successi, il cibo, le risorse, e dei quali ci si deve fidare, ciecamente. E come lo spazio, la grotta affascina, intimorisce, incute rispetto, offre paure, crea unione.

Ma la grotta e' un ambiente. E va capito, studiato, esplorato, fotografato, topografato. Le conoscenze acquisite vanno compartite con tutti quelli che non hanno la capacita' l'eta' o la voglia di immergervisi. Imparare ad esplorare significa imparare a conoscere e a divulgare. Con curiosità, rispetto, umiltà, e con gli amici.

space analogues

Analogue means in some ways comparable. But comparable to what? Human Spaceflight is nowadays confined to Low Earth Orbit, and it will be, for a few more years, to the Solar System. But there is no comparison between LEO, an Asteroid and Mars or the Moon, or even Libration Points in terms of atmosphere, gravity, soil composition, distance from Earth, mission duration, and therefore habitats, communication, equipment, operations.

So, first answer the question: Analogue to WHAT?

And then, it so highly depends on what one wants from the analogue: planetary science? Therefore (geo)logical analogy is required. Or maybe testing of equipment? Therefore environmental analogy is important. You want to test an operational concept? Then you also need some level of situational analogy. Human research? Depending on what you study, you need some combination of environmental, situational, operational analogy. And the level of realism needs to be a known assumption, to be seriously considered in the interpretation of results. Training? You need a REALISTIC combination of environmental, situational, operational analogy. And that's not easy to achieve, especially considering how little experience we have of the target.

la scoperta del fuoco

Il fuoco non è stato inventato a tavolino. O almeno non credo. Non riesco ad immaginarmi un gruppo di uomini primitivi seduti attorno a una pietra, a discutere su come creare il fuoco.
Neppure credo che i primi naviganti abbiano creato le specifiche prima di provare a creare una zattera.
O che prima di esplorare l'Antartide si siano inviati dei robot a controllare com'era il terreno.
E so per certo che gli esploratori di oggi imparano a organizzare spedizioni partecipando a spedizioni, non pianificandole a tavolino per anni.
Insomma, sarò arrogante, ma credo che per imparare a esplorare il sistema solare bisogna esplorare il sistema solare. Punto. E fintanto che un branco di ingegneri che non hanno mai montato una tenda ne' organizzato la logistica di una spedizione si sederanno attorno a un tavolo a discutere su che cosa è necessario fare sulla terra, in scatole di metallo sterilizzate e illuminate dai riflettori per imparare a esplorare lo spazio, la scintilla resterà un sogno e il fuoco non scalderà gli animi.
Spero il tempo mi dia torto. Ma Goddard e Korolev si sporcavano le mani col grasso dei motori, oggi ci si sporca le dita sfogliando stampe di presentazioni powerpoint. Triste, no?

going where no one has gone before

It gets to you pretty soon. You start by following the steps of others, terrified that you won't be able to find your way out, or that you'll get into something dangerous. You observe, note, move carefully, always wanting to make the next move but afraid that somebody else should be there first.
And then the odd moment comes when you're just waiting for the others to join, with your light you've been indicating the height of the ceiling in that canyon you're following (the last chimney opened with almost 50 meters on top of your head), and you want to go and see what's next. The way is not so hard, you just need to climb a bit, a little squeeze, and there you are, your footprint does not mark the rock, but your soul. You've gone where no one has gone before: a small step for mankind, but a giant leap for you.
Now you're trapped: you're an explorer!

recognition by caricature

Isn't it fascinating that one of our best faculties, recognising others, is based on creating stereotypes of average faces and identifying deviations from the perfect mask average as caricatures?
An interesting article

brains, wives and hats

I read it again, and I was fascinated like the first time 20 years ago. By the stories, the reflections, and by the deviant definition we use of "normality" or "genius". The triviality with which we dismiss weird behaviour as an indication of deficit rather than a window over the potential of our scattered perception of the universe.

I'm especially fascinated by the "savants", those people with the exceptional abilities to draw, remember, reproduce, and much more "see" the beauty and harmony of music and numbers.

Their stories, paired with those of the people who have lost the ability to recognise objects, or faces, or the existence of left altogether, hint that our selective faculties for perceiving the world may have left out a lot of possibilities, which may be selectively developed where other faculties are underdeveloped. 

Is that not fascinating? The only thought of a whole new way to perceive the world, of a series of "haha" moments beyond our reach is tantalizing. 

The closest I remember having come to those moments has been associated with suddenly "seeing" stereograms of 3D pictures by crossing my eyes. Can't even start imagining what perceiving music and numbers as a whole means. And going beyond, what sensing new facets of the world would be. 

(un)social networks

As of today, blogging will need to be split into multiple platforms. I already try to collect entries to feed the esa concordia blog, using my preferential channel with the members of the Concordia Antarctic station winter teams, which I train since 2007. Now I'll also start collecting blog entries from my CAVES team in the newly opened esa CAVES blog, where the first post was just published. And if that was not enough, there's the @ESA_CAVES twitter. Social networks force your life to be highly unsocial. True statement!

a(n) (under)world of explorers

The explorers of inner Earth are of a special kind. In Brno I met a lot of them. Not all young, not many looking like Indiana Jones. 

All motivated, determined to investigate the geology, microbiology, paleontology, biology (you name it) ... in fact all possible contributions to the evolution of the depths of our planet.

These people go places where nobody has gone before, and they do it discreetly, with limited or no resources, but a lot of friends.

Some months ago I presented ESA CAVES to my home speleological group. It was the 55th anniversary of the foundation of the group. They were presenting a publication summarising the history of their exploration. While reading about the early adventures, still using ladders, one story captured my attention. It said "I knew that while I was exploring down there, an astronaut was in space. Everybody knew about him being in space, but nobody knew about me being down here. And yet, I had less chances to return safe to the surface than he did, and less chances of anybody finding out soon if I didn't."

I'd love the underworld to get the spot sometimes, and all those adventurous explorers to have the recognition that they deserve, for bringing to light a reality that most of us will never reach, not even know of, in our entire life.

ESA CAVES 2012

Totally taken by the preparation for ESA CAVES 2012. Next week will be performing dry runs in Sardinia with the instructors and scientists, and the week after the Training Readiness Review board will check if I've prepared things right. And on September 2nd it'll take off, with a crew of six international astronauts.
I'll write about it on the @ESA_CAVES twitter account. In the meanwhile enjoy the CAVES 2011 video.

rocks and minerals

"There is something breathtaking about the basic laws of crystals. They are in no sense a discovery of the human mind; they simply are; they exist quite independently of us. The most that any man can do is to become aware, in a moment of clarity, that they are there, and take cognizance of them."
M.C. Escher

a speleothem nursery

Photo by Marco Marrosu

Men are at times very artistic, but mostly create ugliness and desolation. Give it enough time, and nature will make it all look beautiful again. Some droplets of karts water and an underwater tunnel can become a nursery for handsome speleothems. What will it take for us to learn to allow beauty to exist?

amazed by education

Are you not amazed by the beauty and power of education? Since I was young, I always thought what a pity it is when people cannot have the wonderful chance I have been given to go to school, learn, read, and now access the internet and watch documentaries and educational lectures, and of the sort I simply adore British ones. Because they seem to be done for the listener to be able to grasp and learn, rather than for the speaker to show off.
This is not a common concept in the Italian system, and surely not in the Italian television. And if it has ever been, not any longer, after the ridiculous decline provided by the media empire of a ridiculous middle class dwarf empowered by mafia collusion and black money.
Maybe not in some parts of the world, maybe not in younger generations, but in Italy, and amongst people of my age, and sure amongst older people, television is still the main source of information, or I should say opinion, cheap entertainment, and trash.

Enjoy some quality lectures here: http://www.richannel.org/