Gravity takes its toll
![[Pat Rawlings ©, used with permission] Humans probably age faster on a heavier planet](inevitabledescent.jpg) Q: Do you age quicker on heavier planets? -William H., Albuquerque, New Mexico
A: "Without doing a study, we think the added stress on the body would cause an Earth human to
age faster in that [more massive] environment," says Ron Koczor of NASA.
[Pat Rawlings ©, used with permission] Humans probably age faster on a heavier planet
Too much gravity can kill people. High-performance jet pilots can take about 5 to 7 g's (5 to 7 times
the force of gravity on Earth) before they pass out. People could probably adapt to about 2 g's says
Koczar. That, by the way, rules out planets in our solar system. The lightest solar-system planet
heavier than Earth is Uranus but it's about 15 times more massive. We'd never survive there.
Our body systems evolved, of course, on Earth. They would have to work much harder on a 2-g planet. The heart and lungs would
struggle and probably wear out faster. So would the other body organs. However, if life evolved on a heavier planet in another star
system, it would no doubt adapt to that gravity as we have to ours.
"...[human-like beings] on a larger planet might expect to enjoy as long a life as we Earth humans do," says Koczor.
(Answered by April Holladay, science correspondent, Mar. 27, 2002)
Further Surfing:
NASA: Gravity hurts (so good)
USATODAY.com: Mice in space test osteoporosis drug
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