Like any species, humans have certain boundaries. Under no circumstances will we be able to gain the height of a giraffe or run as fast as a cheetah. And it seems that humanity has already squeezed the maximum possible out of its nature. This is indicated by a large amount of work by French scientists, covering data from the last 120 years. Its results are published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology.
Over the past centuries, humanity has demonstrated impressive and steady progress. Thanks to advances in medicine and hygiene, better nutrition and conditions, each successive generation lives longer, the average representative becomes healthier, larger and stronger. This fuels the most optimistic predictions: in fact, if we continue this growth into the future at the same pace, it will turn out that children already born will be able to live a dizzyingly long time and will reach completely new heights. Alas, biology itself sets a limit for us here.
Jean-François Toussaint, a professor of medicine at the University of Paris Descartes, assembled an authoritative interdisciplinary team, including doctors, geneticists, and anthropologists. They conducted a series of large-scale surveys accumulated since the beginning of the twentieth century. historical data on life expectancy, average height and physical abilities, taking into account the influence of genetic factors and the external environment.
“These traits are no longer growing,” states Professor Toussaint, “despite continued advances in nutrition, medicine and science. This shows that modern society has already allowed the species to reach its own limits. We are the first generation to realize this.”
In fact, according to scientists, if previously people set one record after another for these parameters, in recent years the maximums have practically not increased. In general, humanity has reached a plateau - and the proportion of people who are approaching these indicators is only increasing.
Maximum recorded life expectancy has never exceeded about 120 years, average heights have remained at about 170cm for women and 180cm for men since the 1980s, and even the rate at which sports records are updated has fallen sharply.
Impressive growth in the performance of athletes in various sports disciplines between 1900 and 1980. has long been replaced by a stable plateau.
However, not everyone can achieve this level. Scientists believe that increasingly noticeable environmental changes may force us to “roll back” to our previous size and lifespan. “The decline in human capabilities that we are already seeing today points to changes in the environment, including climate change,” says Professor Toussaint. — Over the past decade, in some African countries, the average height of residents has decreased; this shows that some communities are no longer able to provide adequate nutrition to all children and maintain healthy living conditions for them.”