It takes a few clicks to get to the supplemental data movie:<p><a href="https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/a_participant_running_on_WoD_from_Horizontal_running_inside_circular_walls_of_Moon_settlements_a_comprehensive_countermeasure_for_low-gravity_deconditioning_/25530021" rel="nofollow">https://rs.figshare.com/articles/media/a_participant_running...</a><p>You'd probably want to switch directions often!
I didn't see any mention of having a spinning surface.<p>A tapered cylinder "gravity gym" with adjustable angled walls, and variable speed spinning, could smoothly create much greater "gravity".<p>Spin gravity would also enable body weight exercises, core exercises, stationary or small area cardio like exercise bikes, VR games, yoga, etc. Even sleeping.<p><i>EDIT: I missed this:</i><p>> but Moon-based centrifuges allowing locomotion inside would pose technical challenges<p>Still think it will be inevitable. Far more useful physically and psychologically. "Spinning surface" is a simple challenge, compared to "low-g health deterioration" and "bored to death of running in circles".<p>Equipment like this might resolve issues with off-world childbearing. Time to "spin up" some space rabbits and see what we get! (Hopefully not tribbles.)<p>Spin areas will surely become ubiquitous in all low gravity colonies.<p>Startup anyone?
> Moon-based centrifuges allowing locomotion inside would pose technical challenges and demand substantial electrical energy.<p>Comments:<p>> would pose technical challenges<p>That's a very funny disadvantage to call out! "Technical challenges" are how you know you are on the moon.<p>A stable rotating system would seem to be one of the simplest possible lunar challenges. If it is implemented within an existing environment shell, it could be quite low tech.<p>> demand substantial electrical energy.<p>Maintaining rotation in low Earth gravity should be a very low energy process. The only energy loss would be friction at the point of rotation, which should be minimal, and some position controlled weights, for maintaining balancing in the context of human movement.<p>But the proposed no-tech solution has a great return on investment, and is realistic for early days, or infrequently inhabited outposts.
Finally I get to be that guy in the comments with a weird about of relevant experience. I built the world's largest hamster wheel in 2012[1], a large rotating circular platform ~6m in diameter.<p>It was a fun and unique experience to run on for a short amount of time, but most people would get dizzy after a few minutes of jogging on it. The curved platform also turned out to be a bit of a tripping hazard. It was more often used as a sort of swing (could this work on the moon?).<p>I'm skeptical that the experience on the moon will be much better, especially since the diameter they're proposing is even smaller.<p>1. <a href="https://sdusd-newsfeed.blogspot.com/2012/09/pt-loma-high-senior-prank-is.html" rel="nofollow">https://sdusd-newsfeed.blogspot.com/2012/09/pt-loma-high-sen...</a>
Is there a reason something like a water rower wouldn’t work on the moon? Possibly with a weighted vest or a weighted seat.<p>Rowing is pretty full body and doesn’t seem that reliant on gravity.
The book "Imperial Earth" by Arthur Clark featured a circular cycle track on a low-gravity spaceship.<p>The main protagonist was trying to train for earth gravity so he cycled around it very fast until he felt 1G
Reminded me of circular wall running in 2001 Space Odyssey more than 50 years ago: <a href="https://youtu.be/1wJQ5UrAsIY" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/1wJQ5UrAsIY</a>
Running around in circles sounds like a great way to fight boredom. Right next to their aptly named Wheel-of-Death device there's an entire room dedicated to paintwatching, which is a bit like birdwatching, or at least so says the promotional material.
>>Long-lasting exposure to low gravity, such as in lunar settlements planned by the ongoing Artemis Program, elicits muscle hypotrophy, bone demineralization, cardio-respiratory and neuro-control deconditioning, against which optimal countermeasures are still to be designed. Rather than training selected muscle groups only, ‘whole-body’ activities such as locomotion seem better candidates,<p>I don't get why whole body locomotion would be the best way to combat muscle hypotrophy and bone demineralisation when that is not the best method on earth.<p>A better approach would be using bands or even moon rocks to lift weights etc.<p>Just set new lunar records for the deadlift, squat etc.
I spent so many years riding bikes in circles on a velodrome. Doesn't seem too different.<p>When I would ride behind a motorbike, at 40+ mph, it was effort to just keep my body from being pushed down into the handlebars. At 50+, my tires would start to skip upwards/outwards.
One question I have that I didn't see addressed in the article: how does the inner ear work in low gravity? I wonder if this might make astronauts unusually dizzy on the moon because of differences in the vestibular system.<p>This article seems like a good survey of the general impact low-g has on the inner ear changes, but I've barely skimmed it: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8595211/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8595211/</a>
Now I envision a multi-story lunar habitat with a 30 foot diameter well that you have to run on to get from one level to the next. At least to get up. Getting down may just involve jumping down.