Packing for Mars with Mary Roach

For the 500's, I picked up The Quantum Universe by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw and Packing for Mars: The Mysterious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach.

Both books have the merit of containing clear-headed, straightforward explanations of complex subjects. There's something to be said for a discussion of quantum mechanics which states, "For those readers who find the maths difficult, our advice is to skip over the equations without worrying too much . . . The maths is included mainly because it allows us to really explain why things are the way they are."

And can I mention how much I like the British "maths"?

I started The Quantum Universe and intend to finish it, but it's rather dense--as in, I have a hard time watching sitcoms AND reading it at the same time.

Besides which, Mary Roach is a bit more my style. Because, yes, people and chimps in space are absolutely enchanting. However, there is no real need to make comparisons. Mary Roach and Brian Cox are two sides of a coin that says, "Science is great! People can understand it! Even you!!"

What Packing for Mars brings home is how much any endeavor, like going into space, involves a plethora of human problems. For one, there's an entire chapter on vomiting.

One of the most touching examples of how human beings are part of the science equation is Roach's reaction to Devon Island, a place scientists and astronauts go to prepare for the moon. She keeps gawking and reports: "Concerned mission planners built gawp time into the minute-by-minute schedules. 'We're allowed two quick looks out the window,' Gene Cernan reminded Harrison Schmitt as they prepared to descend to the moon's surface during Apollo 17."

Roach also makes clear how much early astronauts and their scientists didn't know about what would happen to them once they entered space. Actually, the astronauts were less worried about the weirdness of space (and proved to be correct) than the scientists who worried that a lack of gravity would completely deform the human form--hence the chimps. We are so blithe about our supposed knowledge now, we forget how worried (and dumb) humans can be about the unknown.

And I have to add that Roach's chapter about whether mammals can give birth in space does give credence to the complication that something about space--whether it be radiation or the inability of a female to properly contract--could prove extremely problematic for long space trips.

I enjoy many of Mary Roach's books. Here's a list:

Grunt
My Planet
Gulp
Bonk
Spook
Stiff