Astronauts 'Wall of Death' Tested By Scientists For Exercise Sessions On The Moon
Scientists at the State University of Milan have found a way to help astronauts keep fit on the Moon - running across a “Wall of Death” fairground attraction. When astronauts return to The Moon as part of NASA's Artemis program they will face numerous challenges - one of which will be keeping fit. Living in microgravity conditions on the Moon poses significant threats to human health, including muscle weakening, bone density loss, and circulation issues. Unlike on Earth, where running horizontally on a vertical wall is physically impossible due to gravity, the reduced lunar gravity—only 1/6th of Earth's—makes it feasible. The team recreated lunar gravitational conditions using a cylindrical structure, a "Wall of Death", rented from an amusement park. This is usually used by motorcyclists performing gravity-defying stunts. Volunteers, suspended from a telescopic arm with elastic bands, were able to run horizontally on the vertical wall at speeds of 19 to 22 km/h, simulating the experience of running on the Moon. The proposed training regimen suggests two short sessions per day, utilising the walls of circular living modules planned for lunar habitats. With further research and implementation, it promises to ensure the health and well-being of future lunar settlers as humanity ventures once more to the Moon.
2024-05-04T05:45:10Z
Deadly diseases you thought were gone...but aren't
The rise in anti-vaccination has unsurprisingly led to a resurgence of many ancient diseases, including the 2019 measles outbreak in the US. Measles is among the most contagious of infectious diseases, reportedly killing almost 110,000 people globally in 2017, most of them being young children. A more recent risk to young children is the recent unexplained outbreak of hepatitis occurring in countries all over the world. Researchers are puzzled by the sudden prevalence of the serious liver disease among young children that has been recorded in North America, the UK, Japan, and Europe. So far, there have been more than 200 cases which have resulted in 17 liver transplants and one death. The World Health Organization is calling the illness “acute hepatitis of unknown origin," as none of the victims have tested positive for any of the previously identified forms of Hepatitis, suggesting the illness is a new development. According to WHO, 70 of the confirmed cases also tested positive for a strain of the adenovirus. Adenovirus can cause cold-like symptoms and diarrhea, but has the potential to affect the liver too. The first cases of the outbreak were recorded in the UK and the disease has so far affected children ages 0-16. Click through to see which other diseases are making a terrifying comeback.
2024-05-03T11:07:42Z