Maurizio Montalbini

Maurizio Montalbini (4 September 1953 – 19 September 2009) was an Italian sociologist and caver who had lived in complete isolation in an underground chamber multiple times since 1986.

Early life, family and education

Montalbini was born at Senigallia, Italy, from Ancona.

Career Although primarily known for his cave experiments, Montalbini's work in sociology involved working with drug addicts. He later treated insomniatic patients with Under-Therapy, a method he developed. An Ancona interior designer Stefania Follini heard of his exploits and decided to attempt it herself; NASA sponsored her stay in a cave in New Mexico. Both Follini and Montalbini found that time passed quickly underground. Montalbini also worked with "NASA and top universities." It was his longest stay underground at 366 days. in the Apennines, where he and his team built his 10 square metre Underlab base. He expressed an intention to spend three years there. He planned for it to be his final experiment and hoped it would provide valuable insight into the natural cycles of the body. However, he emerged in 2007 after 235 days.

Personal life and demise

He was married. He and his wife had no children.