Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Semaphore on 22/09/2016 20:26:31
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Gravity on Mars is only 38% of that on Earth. We know that there are substantial health risks attached to living in zero gravity, so would there be any adverse effects for people living on Mars?
(Quite aside from issues of atmosphere, temperature and radiation, plus the indigenous population.)
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I think it would be very little of a problem although more than that from the indigenous population
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People living on Mars might grow taller and lose some bone mineralisation compared with their earthling forebears, but that would simply be an optimisation to the conditions of Mars. The principal health risk of low g is on return to Earth, where you need stronger bones to stay upright and the heart has to work harder.
One surprising possibility however is early dementia. It seems that cerebrospinal fluid normally flows around the brain and removes some aggressive antibodies that attack bits of the brain if not extracted. The outflow is probably assisted by gravity. It's still a bit speculative but there have been some remarkable cases of anomalous early dementia in men with neck trauma, that have recovered after vertebral manipulation to restore the flow. http://www.fonar.com/news/050515.htm