By Ryan Tracy
The running narrative about the 33 miners who were in a copper mine in northern Chile since Aug. 5 goes something like this: it's an unprecedented story of heroism and human survival, and never have so many stayed alive so deep under the surface for so long. All that's true, of course, but those miners can still learn much from previous human experience. Famously trapped individuals have felt the shine of the media spotlight before and accrued a certain amount of fame that faded quickly after their stories were told. Others have deprived their bodies of sunlight for much longer than the Chilean men have been trapped, and their stories offer clues as to how the miners can prevent the negative health effects of a discombobulated body clock. And perhaps most important, mine collapses are nothing new: will the Chilean miners be taken care of, and will their story help improve safety in the future? As rescuers begin to haul the group that has come to be known as "the 33" to the surface, here are history's best parallels from which the men can draw guidance.
Above, the third worker pulled from Chile's San Jose mine celebrates his rescue.