Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Journals
  3. International Journal of Astrobiology
  4. Volume 21 Issue 1
Journal Home
Refine listing

Refine listing

Access:
Publication date:

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×
< Back to all volumes

Volume 21 - Issue 1 - February 2022

Contents

Research Article

  • A brief epistemological discussion of astrotheology in the light of astrobiology

  • Octavio A. Chon-Torres, Konrad Szocik
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    15 December 2021, pp. 1-8

  • Astrotheology is presented as a discipline of study that manages to complement theology and science. It considers that each one has its own role and that as long as there is no reductionism that wants to monopolize the place of the other, fluid communication between both is possible. Therefore, it is worth examining epistemologically astrotheology in the light of astrobiology. To achieve this, we will highlight the aspect of experience in order to relate it to transdisciplinarity.

  • Self-conscious intelligent technological societies in the universe: a simple direct approach to probable astrosociological realistic scenarios

  • L. A. L. da Silva
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    14 December 2021, pp. 9-31

  • We present an alternative equation to estimate the probable number N of self-conscious intelligent technological societies (SCITSs) within the radius of the observable universe. This equation has only one poorly-known factor, Pc, the SCITS's formation probability, which can be estimated within an uncertainty by a factor of 102 (10−11 ≤ Pc ≤ 10−9) by applying the restriction imposed by Fermi's Paradox. The SCITS's formation rate for a typical spiral galaxy is then estimated as ≈1 civ Gyr−1. For a very optimistic maximum life expectancy ≈108 yr, the conclusion is that two civilizations never coexist in the same galaxy. Our estimated values for Pc are compatible with current biological and astrophysical evidences. We also propose an alternative astrosociological classification scheme which enables us to speculate about possible evolutionary paths for SCITSs in the universe. The so-called ‘Closed Bottle Neck’ (CBN) scenario suggests that civilizations are no exit evolutionary ways. We argue that simply there would not be interstellar travels nor Galaxy colonization or a Galactic Club. Thus Fermi's Paradox results eliminated, and the perspectives about the future of our own civilization may not be positive.

  • The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on human psychology and physical activity; a space analogue research perspective

  • Jeroen Van Cutsem, Vera Abeln, Stefan Schneider, Nathan Keller, Ana Diaz-Artiles, Miguel A. Ramallo, Emilie Dessy, Nathalie Pattyn, Fabio Ferlazzo, Gabriel G. De La Torre
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    14 January 2022, pp. 32-45
    • Article
      • You have access
      • Open access
    • PDF
    • HTML
    • Export citation
  • Introduction

    Astronauts will encounter isolated, confined and extreme (ICE) conditions during future missions, and will have to be able to adapt. Until recently, however, few places on Earth could serve as acceptable space analogues (i.e., submarine and polar regions). The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdowns around the globe provided a good opportunity to obtain more comprehensive datasets on the impact of prolonged isolation on human functioning in a very large sample.

    Methods

    Seven hundred forty-eight individuals (Belgium 442, Spain 183, Germany 50, Italy 50, US 23; Mean age ± SD: 41 ± 14 years, with an age range of 18–83 years; 66% women) filled out an online survey assessing the impact of the COVID-lockdown on psychological, exercise and general health variables a first time near the beginning of the initial lockdown (hereafter ‘T1’; 24 ± 13 days after the start of the first lockdown; i.e., 3 weeks after the start of the first lockdown) and a second time a couple of weeks thereafter (hereafter ‘T2’; 17 ± 5 days after the first online survey; i.e., 6 weeks after the start of the first lockdown).

    Results

    From T1 to T2 an improvement of subjective sleep quality was observed (P = 0.003), that was related to an increase in subjective sleep efficiency and a decrease in sleep latency and disturbance (P ≤ 0.013). Weekly sitting time decreased, and the weekly amount of moderate and vigorous physical activity increased from T1 to T2 (P ≤ 0.049). No differences from T1 to T2 were observed in terms of mood, loneliness and state anxiety. A lower amount of sitting time was significantly correlated with improved subjective sleep quality (r = 0.096, P = 0.035) and with an increased amount of moderate (r = −0.126, P = 0.005) and vigorous (r = −0.110, P = 0.015) physical activity.

    Conclusion

    Compared to 3 weeks into the first COVID-imposed lockdown, 6-weeks after the start of the first COVID-imposed lockdown, physical activity and subjective sleep scores were positively impacted. The present, large sample size study further confirms exercise as a worthwhile countermeasure to psycho-physiological deconditioning during confinement.

Corrigendum