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"A planet created for humans" is the mental image that Man has of Earth, but what would be the mental image if in a distant future Man were to inhabit the Moon? A good riddle for Alice, and a challenge for anthropologists, biologists, physicians, and space engineers. Besides, why should we not populate the Moon? The Moon is probably a piece of Earth, or at least is of a similar nature 1, it stays in the same place in the Solar System since both globes have a common center of gravity within the Earth's surface. Nevertheless, it seems to be wholly unwelcoming and hostile. Probably because we are not adapted to live there! Travelling beyond the Earth's atmosphere is a relatively new feat for mankind; however, the relationship between humans and other planets has a much longer history. While a student, Johannes Kepler devoted one of his dissertations to the question: "How would phenomena occurring in heaven appear to an observer on the Moon?" The thesis submitted by Kepler at the Tübingen University, in 1593, contained some of the major questions regarding Man's exploitation of Moon and Space. Questions we shall attempt to answer in the optics of Anthropology and Ergonomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the "L'Italia si Misura" study, which examined the variability of anthropometric Italian adults in the late twentieth century, as well as their gender, age and geographic area differences. Also cited are the works in Anthropology of such organizations as the International Ergonomics Society, the Italian Ergonomics Association, and the Italian Society of Ergonomics. Also cited is the establishment of anthropometric databases to standardize the study of anthropology.

The article presents the Mars Habitability Project pilot study which investigated the sensory perception and creativity of a crew of planetary exploration missions. The study was conducted during the Euro-Moon-Mars Campaign at the Mars Research Station (MDRS) in Utah in February-April 2010. Also cited is the proposal by paleontologist S. J. Gould on the topic.

The article presents the study which examined the differences of the earthly gravitation condition and microgravity in the perception of sound/rhythm by a gymnast in microgravity conditions. The "ZEROgYMN Experiencing the Rhythmic Gymnastics in Microgravity Conditions" experiment was conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA) at the Turin University School of Motor Sciences (SUISM) in Italy.

A high incidence of spinal disorders is observed in professional drivers; in particular, back and neck pain result in high rates of morbidity and low retirement age. A sample of 77 drivers, of rubbish-collection vehicles who sit in a standard posture and of road-washing vehicles, who drive with the neck and trunk flexed, bent and twisted, was studied using RULA, a method for the evaluation of the exposure to risk factors associated with work-related upper-limb disorders. Results showed a significant association between trunk and neck scores and all self-reported pains, aches or discomforts in the trunk or neck regions in all subjects. In particular, the neck score was significant in both postures, reflecting high loading of the neck. Significantly different posture scores were also recorded for drivers using an adjustable vs. a non-adjustable seat.In this first RULA study of the working posture of professional truck drivers, the method proved to be a suitable tool for the rapid evaluation of the loading of neck and trunk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]