The Biosub: a Fortnight Beneath the Waves

Lloyd Godson, winner of a $40,000 competition organized by Australian Geographic magazine, ended up living for 12 days in a 10'-long "biosub" cabin nailed to the bottom of a lake. A marvel of science, the submersible was powered by an exercise bike (supplemented by surface-side solar panels), and featured an algae-infused "BioCoil" to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

Food and drinking water was delivered regularly through an airlock by divers (meals included homemade lasagna and BBQ salmon), while a high-tech toilet recycled waste. Alas, the cabin offered only a windowless gloom: Godson passed his time chatting online with schoolkids about the experience, using the underwater hut's WiFi connection.

"It starts to play on your mind a bit after 12 days obviously. You start to get a bit of cabin fever, but you know I handled it surprisingly well. I thought it was going to drive me a bit more nuts than it did."

It's hardly SeaLab 2021, but you gotta start somewhere, eh?

Australian emerges after two weeks in underwater box [London Daily Telegraph via BoingBoing]