Just as Superman gained powers when he arrived on Earth, humans will gain (or lose) powers when they travel to other planets as well. It all has to do with the gravity of the world in question. If the place has less gravity than Earth, we will be stronger. If it has more gravity, we will lose strength.
Let us consider the conditions on our Moon first. Lunar gravity is about 1/5 what we have here. That means your Earthside capabilities will be multiplied by five. If you can lift 100 pounds on good old terra firma, you'll be able to hoist 500 pounds on Luna. Olympic broad jumpers who often best 30 feet here on Earth, will be able to 'fly' distances of 150 feet on the moon.
Connditions on Mars will also increase our powers. The Red Planet's gravity is about 1/3 what it is on Earth. Bench press 150 pounds here? Life 450 pounds there. Leap 25 feet here? Bound 75 feet there.
Let us consider the conditions on our Moon first. Lunar gravity is about 1/5 what we have here. That means your Earthside capabilities will be multiplied by five. If you can lift 100 pounds on good old terra firma, you'll be able to hoist 500 pounds on Luna. Olympic broad jumpers who often best 30 feet here on Earth, will be able to 'fly' distances of 150 feet on the moon.
Connditions on Mars will also increase our powers. The Red Planet's gravity is about 1/3 what it is on Earth. Bench press 150 pounds here? Life 450 pounds there. Leap 25 feet here? Bound 75 feet there.
Of course long term exposure to extraterrestrial conditions will promote accommodation. Muscles used to our stronger gravity will eventually weaken. Our new super powers will not last indefinitely. BUT human children born on Mars, or the Moon will be taller than their Earthly counterparts, because the low gravity will allow our skeletons to expand and lengthen. After only a few generations, new 'species' of humanity will develope.
Martian humans will find Earth's envirinment to be crushing and suffocating, Lunar humans even more so. Even today, astronauts who spend long periods in space exhibit pronounced muscular weakness when they return to Earth. This is one of the obstacles we'll have to overcome when we explore the forth planet. Exercise methods and training systems must be created which will preserve muscular tissue and retard skeletal de-calcification (losing minerals in our bones).
Have we ever faces hurdles like this before? Yes, and we see the proof of it in our very bodies. People living at high altitudes have bigger lungs to take in more oxygen. Groups native long native to colder regions tend to have paler skin promoting vitamin D absorbtion. Adapt or die. We've been there before and as we move off this lily pad humans will continue to evolve and change.
We have met the aliens (some anyway) and they are us.
No comments:
Post a Comment