3 ms·

Are the bone density problems actually a problem if you never plan to return to Earth?

devrandomguy 9y ago
Well, your constant mass means that you will still have the same inertia when playing sports. I would expect pairs of fractured skulls, pairs of broken shins in soccer players, etc. Wow, soccer would be epic in low G!
- finnh 9y ago
  Maybe ... you can't run much faster, so i'd imagine it would be like ultimate aerobee[0] - i.e., minutes-long chases of errant balls with no other player within hundreds of yards. [0] is this a thing?
  - aidenn0 9y ago
    I've always dreamed of finding a field big enough and 10 people willing to play ultimate aerobee. If we can find 8 other people like us, want to rent a polo field?
  - devrandomguy 9y ago
    That would be lame. Maybe, try massive multiplayer soccer, with an average of 1 player per square decameter? Now the captain's most important quality is management skills, and they might need a handful of squad leaders. I guess this isn't soccer anymore, but whatevs.
jerf 9y ago
We don't know. If the bones are "adapting" to a lower gravity, and stop getting weaker at some point, then it may be OK. If the bones are losing strength all the time, then it may not be. And, of course, bones are not monolithic atomic objects but complex living things. Different parts of them may be described by either of those two cases, or others.
- jcriddle4 9y ago
  Also I haven't seen any data on what happens if you break a bone in low or zero gravity. Would it even heal?
justin66 9y ago
If you don't plan to return to Earth, the whole thing could conceivably be a win. Less bone density but considerably less wear on the joints. It's anyone's guess at this point, but it'll be interesting to find out...
elihu 9y ago
One of the interesting arguments for colonization of Mars is that it could be a good place for old people with serious joint problems. There are likely quite a few people who would be in wheelchairs on Earth but could walk around just fine on Mars. It sounds terrible to suggest sending your elderly relatives to an old folks home on Mars, though.

Well, your constant mass means that you will still have the same inertia when playing sports. I would expect pairs of fractured skulls, pairs of broken shins in soccer players, etc. Wow, soccer would be epic in low G!

finnh 9y ago
Maybe ... you can't run much faster, so i'd imagine it would be like ultimate aerobee[0] - i.e., minutes-long chases of errant balls with no other player within hundreds of yards. [0] is this a thing?
- aidenn0 9y ago
  I've always dreamed of finding a field big enough and 10 people willing to play ultimate aerobee. If we can find 8 other people like us, want to rent a polo field?
- devrandomguy 9y ago
  That would be lame. Maybe, try massive multiplayer soccer, with an average of 1 player per square decameter? Now the captain's most important quality is management skills, and they might need a handful of squad leaders. I guess this isn't soccer anymore, but whatevs.

jerf 9y ago

We don't know. If the bones are "adapting" to a lower gravity, and stop getting weaker at some point, then it may be OK. If the bones are losing strength all the time, then it may not be. And, of course, bones are not monolithic atomic objects but complex living things. Different parts of them may be described by either of those two cases, or others.

jcriddle4 9y ago
Also I haven't seen any data on what happens if you break a bone in low or zero gravity. Would it even heal?

justin66 9y ago

If you don't plan to return to Earth, the whole thing could conceivably be a win. Less bone density but considerably less wear on the joints. It's anyone's guess at this point, but it'll be interesting to find out...

elihu 9y ago

One of the interesting arguments for colonization of Mars is that it could be a good place for old people with serious joint problems. There are likely quite a few people who would be in wheelchairs on Earth but could walk around just fine on Mars. It sounds terrible to suggest sending your elderly relatives to an old folks home on Mars, though.