15 Questions
What was Michel Siffre's goal during his two-month isolation in the subterranean cave?
To discover how the natural rhythms of human life would be affected by living 'beyond time'
What did Michel Siffre discover in 1961 that influenced his decision to stay in the underground cave for two months?
An underground glacier in the Alps
What field of study did Michel Siffre's work help to establish?
Human chronobiology
In what year did Michel Siffre return to a cave in Texas for a six-month isolation?
1972
How many underground time isolation experiments did Michel Siffre organize after his initial two-month isolation?
Over a dozen
What was Michel Siffre's profession when he decided to live in isolation in a cave?
Geologist
For how long did Michel Siffre live in isolation during his 1962 experiment?
63 days
What was Michel Siffre's primary goal in living in total isolation?
To discover how natural rhythms of human life are affected without time cues
In what year did Michel Siffre return to a cave for another time isolation experiment after his initial 1962 study?
1972
Who interviewed Michel Siffre about his time isolation experiments?
Joshua Foer
What was Michel Siffre's goal during his time in the subterranean cave?
To discover how the natural rhythms of human life would be affected by living 'beyond time.'
What field of study did Michel Siffre's work help to establish?
Human chronobiology
Where did Michel Siffre discover an underground glacier in 1961?
In the Alps, about seventy kilometers from Nice
How long did Michel Siffre initially plan to stay underground when he discovered the underground glacier?
Fifteen days
What did Michel Siffre's work involve in 1972?
Returning to a cave in Texas for a six-month spell of isolation
Study Notes
Michel Siffre's Underground Experiments
- In 1962, Michel Siffre, a 23-year-old French speleologist, spent 63 days living in total isolation in a subterranean cave without access to a clock, calendar, or sunlight.
- Siffre's goal was to discover how the natural rhythms of human life would be affected by living "beyond time," eating and sleeping only when his body told him to.
Background and Motivation
- Michel Siffre was a geologist by training.
- In 1961, Siffre discovered an underground glacier in the Alps, 70 kilometers from Nice, which led to his idea of preparing a geological expedition.
Later Experiments and Contributions
- Over the next decade, Siffre organized over a dozen other underground time isolation experiments.
- Siffre returned to a cave in Texas in 1972 for a six-month spell.
- His work helped found the field of human chronobiology.
Test your knowledge about the groundbreaking underground time isolation experiments conducted by French speleologist Michel Siffre in the 1960s. Explore the impact of living without access to time indicators and the natural rhythms of human life.
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