Study participants run around a circular wall on bungee cords to simulate weight loss on the moon
Alberto E. Minetti et al.
Future lunar settlers could exercise by running around inside a circular wall, and just a few laps a day could counteract some of the negative effects of the moon's reduced gravity. .
The moon's gravitational pull is about one-sixth that of Earth's. This means that lunar astronauts' bodies can support far less weight, and their muscles may atrophy and their bones become less dense after a prolonged stay. Microgravity conditions also affect the flow of blood around the body, negatively impacting the cardiovascular system.
Inspired by the stunt “Wall of Death” performed by motorcycle riders, Gaspare Pavey Professors at the University of Milan in Italy have devised a new way for lunar settlers to combat these negative effects.
A high-speed bike can ride along a circular wall without slipping, thanks to a combination of friction and centripetal force. Pavey says humans can't run that fast on Earth. “But we wanted to see if it was possible on the moon.”
Team members employed an amusement park wall of death that is approximately 30 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. They separately attached two volunteers to high poles on the wall with bungee cords to support their weight. This makes it functionally 83 percent lighter, which is equivalent to its weight on the moon.
Both runners were able to complete several laps around the wall at a speed of approximately 6 meters per second.
The force experienced by the volunteers while in contact with the wall was as large as gravity on Earth. “What we're replicating by running horizontally over a vertical wall is a kind of artificial gravity,” Pavey says.
On the moon, he says, it will be powerful enough to counter the main problems of low gravity, such as decreased bone density and cardiovascular health. “Running twice a day for a few minutes at a time is enough.”
The exercise could also help astronauts prepare for return to Earth, he says.
“From an experimental design and scientific analysis perspective, this study appears robust, important and relevant,” he says. Iran Kelman At University College London. “Especially given the limited space of lunar habitats, this experiment is a valuable and necessary contribution to understanding time- and cost-effective ways to keep lunar residents healthy.”
topic:
Source: www.newscientist.com
