A man who lived underwater for 100 days has revealed the bizarre effect it had on his body.
Dr. Joseph Dituri, a 57-year-old biomedical engineer and retired U.S. naval officer, went on a 100-day underwater mission on June 9, 2023, where he made some startling discoveries.
The mission, named Project Neptune 100, saw Dituri be confined in Jules' Undersea Lodge, a steel-and-glass habitat situated 30 feet beneath a lagoon in Key Largo, Florida, to investigate the physiological and psychological effects of prolonged exposure to such an extreme environment.
And the effects that the process had on his body was shocking.
According to the Marine Resources Development Foundation, which organized the event, Project Neptune aimed to "[combine] a long-term study of the physiological and psychological effects of compression on the human body and use the uniqueness of the mission and location to bring more awareness of current marine research and the importance of conservation of our ocean’s resources and processes."
A press release from the University of South Florida said a project of this nature had the potential to discover how to help humans live longer.
Dituri believed that the increased pressure of the environment had the potential to help humans live longer and prevent diseases associated with aging.
After the 100-day stint, which he now holds a Guinness World Record for, he discovered some bizarre things that had happened to his body during the time he spent underwater.
One of the major changes Dituri experienced while underwater was that the pressure caused him to shrink half an inch, according to the press release. He was initially measured at six foot one inches before entering the steel pod and came back at approximately six foot tall.
Other preliminary findings included a drastic improvement in his sleep, cholesterol levels, and inflammation levels.
He also noted: “It takes 200 days to travel to Mars. Our astronauts will have to travel in an environment similar to the one I’m in now – the confined area will limit their options for food, how far they can see, and how they can exercise. They will experience muscle loss, bone loss, and vision problems.
"This research could help us better prepare our astronauts to ensure they arrive healthy and strong enough to explore the planet," he noted.
When he resurfaced in June 2023, Dituri also claimed that much of his health had improved, including a striking change to his telomeres - the structures on chromosomes that are often linked to extending life.
He told WKMG News in Orlando: "I'm 56 now. My extrinsic [biological] age was 44. When I got out of the water, my extrinsic age was 34.
"So, my telomeres lengthened. I actually got younger when I was under the water."
He claimed that blood tests also showed a 50 percent reduction in every inflammatory marker in his body.
In addition to the research associated with human living, it was reported that the 57-year-old also collaborated with experts on how to protect, preserve, and rejuvenate the marine environment.
"It’s really not about the record," Dituri said at the time. "If we can get people excited about science, that would be a great success to me."
University Professor Robert Frisina, chair of the Department of Medical Engineering spoke of the researcher's amazing achievement, stating: "Dr. Dituri’s amazing accomplishment is a great testimony to significant advances in knowledge and translational research that we are making here at USF in the area of bariatric medicine.
"Much important data has been collected over the past 100 days, that will eventually find its way to key preventative and curative clinical procedures," she added.
.jpg_BU8s2y?tr=h-40)
.jpg_Nw0Ber?tr=h-184)
