Maximum Human Size: Physical and Conceptual Limits

Historical and Current Height Trends

• Average Increase: People today are about 10 cm (4 inches) taller than 150 years ago.
• Contributions: Better nutrition and medical care.
• Genetic Blueprints: Plans for maximum healthy size.

Maximum Human Height

• Natural Limit: Rarely exceed 7 feet 6 inches.
• Endocrine Disorders: Can cause abnormal growth (e.g., Igor Vovkovinskiy - 7'8", Sultan Kösen - 8'3").
• Historical Record: Robert Wadlow - 8'11" (tallest ever recorded).

Biological and Physical Constraints

• Square-Cube Law: Volume increases faster than surface area with size.
  • Example: 10x larger cube => 100x surface area, 1000x volume.
  • Implications for Humans: Larger humans would require disproportionately thick bones/skeletal support.
• Organ Function: Heart and other organs would fail to scale proportionately.

Comparisons to Animals

• Giraffatitan: Weighed 20,000-30,000 kg (largest land animal with complete skeleton).
• Blue Whale: 177,000 kg (largest/heaviest known animal).
• Buoyancy Limits: Larger animals need more buoyancy than air can provide.

Hypothetical Human Growth on Mars

• Gravity Effects: Lower gravity could lead to taller humans.
• Trade-offs: Weaker muscles and bones not suitable for Earth conditions.

Physical Limits

• Upper Height Estimates: Around 7 feet for average human.
• Functional Limits: Difficulty in movement and life expectancy at 9 feet and above.

Conceptualizing Human Size Beyond Physical Boundaries

Sound

• Shout Range: Human shout (~88 decibels) can travel ~5 km (3 miles).
• Horizon: Furthest visible distance on Earth ~5 km.

Visibility

• Angular Size: Smallest angular size visible with naked eye ~1 arc minute (1/60th degree).
• Perfect Conditions: Maximum visible distance ~10-15 km.

Smell

• Animal Sense of Smell: Bloodhound vs Silvertip grizzly ~30 km scent tracing.

Emission and Radiation

• Body Light Emission: Emits infrared and some visible light (1,000 times fainter than visible threshold).
• Photon Travel: Light emitted by the body can travel indefinitely.

Interconnecting Aspects of Size

• Limits by Environment: Earth’s atmosphere limits sound and scent size.
• Light Emissions: Can extend beyond observable universe, theoretically making you endlessly large.

Conclusion

• Physical: Height constrained by biology and physics.
• Conceptual: Impact extends via sound, scent, and light but bound by medium constraints.
• Photonic Imprint: Light emissions spread infinitely, contributing to a form of 'immortality'.

As always, thanks for watching.