AN OXFORD doctor is battling the world’s harshest conditions and 24 hours of darkness each day, all in the name of sending men to Mars.

Alexander Kumar, who works at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, is spending a year in Antarctica conducting scientific experiments.

And as the region heads into its winter, the 28-year-old is about to face four months of total darkness in -80c temperatures and freezing winds.

The last plane until November took off last month, leaving him and his 12 colleagues completely alone and stranded for the next nine months.

Last night, he told us from his Concordia base: “This is the closest to living on another planet you can ever get on earth. It’s extreme.

“We are at an altitude of 4,000m so we’ve got a third less oxygen than I would have in Oxford. I’m finding even simple maths more difficult.

“And then there is the temperature and the darkness. It’s going to be pretty tough.”

Dr Kumar, a trainee anaesthetics doctor with the Oxford School of Anaesthesia, is running physiological and psychological experiments for the European Space Agency.

The findings from his research will be used towards planning for a manned mission to Mars.

He is also working as the site’s only doctor. He said: “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.

“On March 29 it will be the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott’s death on his expedition to the South Pole and with him all the way was Dr Edward Wilson.

“He was someone who continued his scientific passion until his absolute last breath and it’s people like that who inspire me.”

Dr Kumar’s journey at the South Pole has taken him to a hut where, nearly 100 years ago to the day, Robert Scott and his team sat trying to survive the terrifying conditions.

Dr Kumar added: “Only last night I stood outside and stared at the sky. We have the closest and clearest view into the sky you can get on earth.

“We are staring right into the Milky Way. And it’s absolutely beautiful.

“A shimmer of green, the Aurora Australis, and the brightest deepest ocean of stars I have ever seen. I think if Scott’s up there, he is smiling back down at us.”

  • Dr Kumar is hosting live video calls to classrooms in the UK. If any Oxford school wants to set up a call to one of its classes, visit alexanderkumar.com