- Scientists say running the ‘Wall of Death’ can keep people in the shape of the moon
- Horizontal running generates enough impact to keep bones healthy
Carnival shows may be an unlikely source of scientific inspiration, but some researchers say they may hold the key to future lunar colonies.
To keep the residence of a future moon base fit and healthy, scientists from the University of Milan recommend a daily jog around the “Wall of Death”.
You might be more familiar with these creepily named structures like the circular walls ridden around by daredevils on motorcycles.
However, researchers found that running horizontally around a wall can generate enough artificial gravity to keep bones and muscles healthy.
They even suggest that the lunar settlement could be circular so that the inhabitants could run around the walls of their own homes.
When people spend long periods of time in low gravity, their muscles and bones begin to weaken from disuse.
For extended periods, this can lead to serious health problems and prevent astronauts from working.
Lead researcher Alberto Minetti, Professor of Physiology at the University of Milan, told MailOnline: Low gravity de-conditions many important functions of the body, leading to loss of muscle mass, loss of bone density, impairment of cardiovascular efficiency, [and] deconditioning neural control.’
Current astronauts on the ISS use resistance machines to simulate weight so they can prevent the worsening effects of weightlessness.
But as NASA gets serious about sending humans to the moon with the Artemis missions, the hunt is on for a better solution.
All the way back in 1968, Stanley Kubrick’s epic 2001: A Space Odyssey imagined that astronauts could run around inside a rotating space station.
Using a rented wall of death, several bungee cords and a 36-meter (118-foot) wall, the researchers tested whether astronauts could train in much the same way.
On Earth, no human can run fast enough to stay horizontal on the Wall of Death like a motorcyclist.
But with the elastic bands holding 83 percent of their weight to simulate the moon’s gravity, the participants were able to start running unaided in just five to eight attempts.
The two test subjects were able to run at speeds of up to 14.5 miles per hour (23 km/h) for several laps of the 30-meter (98-foot) lap.
Critically, the researchers found that each step on the wall generated a shock of about two to three times the participant’s body weight.
This is the equivalent force generated by a slow run or a fast run back to Earth.
It’s also strong enough to prevent the body from absorbing calcium from the bones, something that weakens the body over time.
Dr. Minnetti says that running for just two to three minutes every 12 hours should be enough to correct any deterioration.
While the Kubrick wheel-like Space Station 1 generates artificial gravity by spinning, this solution allows astronauts to create their own simulated gravity equivalent to about 60 to 70 percent of that Earth.
While giant spinning structures could work, the researchers behind this recent paper point out that building a massive centrifuge on the moon would be too expensive.
In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, the authors write: “Moon-based centrifuges capable of moving inside would pose technical challenges and require significant electrical power.
“Therefore, time- and cost-effective ways to emulate Earth’s motion on the Moon are needed.”
In fact, researchers suggest that this could be the cheapest option for building exercise facilities on the Moon, since treadmills could be built right into astronauts’ homes.
Dr. Minnetti also points out that running vertically is not practical or efficient on the moon.
He says: “You end up in contact with the ground for a very small part of the locomotor cycle, so you keep jumping high instead of running.
“You need high speed to get a restorative boost for all functions… so the only way is to generate much higher artificial lateral gravity by running horizontally along the circular trajectory of the inner walls of the Wall of Death.”
Instead of transporting or building expensive custom-made equipment, a moon base could simply use circular living areas that residents could run laps around.
This will not only reduce costs, but will eliminate the need for additional electricity use that equipment can bring.
Dr. Minnetti says this could be made of “regoliths and lunar rocks, plus water found near the lunar poles.
“They will probably use a 3D concrete printer to build circular settlements where astronauts have to live, have fun, have fun, sleep, eat and run.”
Professor Maria Stokes, an expert in neuromusculoskeletal rehabilitation at the University of Southampton, told The Guardian: “A horizontal moving cylinder certainly promises to be a useful countermeasure to prevent deconditioning in the reduced gravity of the Moon.”
However, Professor Stokes also points out that astronauts will still need specific training in daily life and work skills to stay in top condition.
