Humans have superpower?

By Lee Seung-joon

There have been a few cases in which humans have displayed superpowers. Now researchers are looking into the scientific basis for these.

Tony Cavallo in the United States was repairing a 1964 Chevrolet Impala sedan from underneath. The 1.9-ton vehicle was propped up by jacks, but it fell. When his mother, Angela, saw his son stuck under the car, she lifted it up long enough for two neighbors to replace the jacks and pull Tony out. She is reported to have used “hysterical strength.”

According to medical experts, when human beings face extreme psychological stress, their body undergoes an amazing change. The stress stimulates the adrenal glands, which release adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones that raise heart rate, dilate the pupils and allow muscles to contract. As the heart rate is increased, more oxygen is carried to muscles by the blood and it allows muscles to function at elevated levels. In addition, when adrenaline is triggered, energy-rich molecules fuel muscles for extraordinary action. All these chemical reactions ultimately lead to hysterical strength.

Dr. William J. Kraemer, the professor at the University of Connecticut, said that when humans are under extreme stress, they can use 5-15% more muscle strength than normal.

According to a research by Vladimir Zatsiorsky at Penn. State University, ordinary people can produce about two thirds of their maximal strength in general. Zatsiorsky says that humans do not use the capacity of their muscle to the full and there are also limits even in hysterical strength. He says that only people with lots of muscle like Brian Shaw, the runner-up at World’s Strongest Man Competition in 2010, would be able to pull an airplane no matter how much adrenaline kicks into play.


http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2011/10/325_96162.html