The term “gonzo science writer” is apt when applied to author Mary Roach, who has made a name for herself by writing funny and fascinating explorations of human corpses, the science of sex, and the mysteries of the great beyond. Her newest endeavor, Packing for Mars, tackles the mundanities of an astronaut’s life on the road—er, in space—such as bodily functions, culinary quirks, and workplace personality conflicts. (As if anything about floating in zero gravity a gajillion miles from Earth is mundane.) Roach meticulously delves into the research behind astronaut selection, machinery testing, and the psychology of living in cramped quarters for extended periods under unusual circumstances. Turns out the weakest link in the chain of technology that would allow exploration to faraway places like Mars may be the limitations of the human body and mind. Roach’s insights are surely just as wryly humorous and enlightening in person—if not more so—so be sure to catch her at UW’s bookstore on the Ave this evening. more ›

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