Imagine spending 100 days beneath the ocean's surface, in a habitat scarcely larger than a walk-in closet. This was the extraordinary reality for Dr Joseph Dituri.
The biomedical engineer and ex-US naval commander embarked on a study of what happens to the human body under conditions like those astronauts might endure on a trip to Mars.
From March 1 to June 9, 2023, the researcher lived in a 17x5ft capsule submerged 23ft below the surface of the sea in Key Largo, Florida.
With food delivered every three days, the dad relied on a microwave and fresh produce was a luxury. He treated himself to a weekly indulgence of frozen key lime pie.
Dr Dituri joked: "I had basically 100 bad hair days because it was 100% humidity. I just gave up on doing anything with my hair."
On the 12th day, a rogue popcorn kernel cracked his tooth, resulting in 88 days of "tremendous" pain and a subsequent emergency root canal.
A severe lightning storm also caused a power outage, triggering emergency lighting and raising concerns about the air supply, which Dr Dituri managed using emergency scuba tanks.