00:00 It's a hard reality to imagine and a tough question to ask, but could humans live underground
00:06 to survive climate change?
00:08 Science Alert says July 2023 might go down in history as the moment when humanity finally
00:14 grasped the horrific consequences of our fossil fuel addiction.
00:18 Coming to terms with the fact we are living in a world that will increasingly face extreme
00:23 weather events leads us to think about underground living.
00:26 Of course, in some places around the world like India and Australia, people are already
00:31 doing it.
00:32 The site notes, "The advantages of being surrounded by masses of rock and soil that
00:37 absorb and hold heat are huge.
00:40 It offers far more stable temperatures without a need to rely on energy-intensive air conditioning
00:46 or heating."
00:47 But the reality is we humans are not made for it.
00:51 Most people will be fine going underground for brief periods of time, but biologically
00:55 and physiologically, our bodies are just not designed for life underground.
01:00 Those unexposed to daylight for long periods of time can sleep for up to 30 hours at a
01:06 time.
01:07 Disruptions to their circadian rhythm can cause a range of health problems.
01:11 For underground environments to be acceptable to people, they must be safe and secure, have
01:16 natural light, good ventilation, and provide a sense of connection with the world above.
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