The human body is surprisingly fragile. We are able to damage it with any little thing, even an unsuccessful fall in the bathroom can turn you into a disabled person for life. But, at the same time, a person is able to withstand really unexpected loads. Moreover, there are daredevils in the world who are ready to risk themselves, just to find out the strength limits of their own bodies. Here are five incredible examples of the inhuman endurance humans are capable of.
Without sleep
Term: 11 days
In 1965, seventeen-year-old Randy Gardner set a world record for being awake for 264.4 hours. This is 11 days and 24 minutes. We do not recommend to anyone to repeat his experience: sleep is necessary for our memory, for the correct functioning of the brain and for an adequate reaction to surrounding events.
Without air
Time: 22 minutes
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Danish free diver Stig Severinsen set an incredible record after spending twenty-two minutes underwater. This, of course, sounds incredible, because the human brain dies after four minutes without oxygen. Severinsen cheated death by breathing pure oxygen for 19 minutes before the swim. Every cell of the diver's body was so oxygenated that he could survive for such a long time.
No food or water
Term: 18 days
In 1979, 18-year-old gangster Andreas Mihavech was forgotten in the basement of a prison cell. Almost three weeks later, he was remembered - it took Andreas fifteen days to recover. Do not repeat such experiments at home: water nourishes our body, lubricates our joints and regulates its temperature.
No gravity
Term: 437.7 days
Swimming in space is fun. At least that is how it looks from the outside. Valery Polyakov, a Russian cosmonaut, had to spend 437.7 days without gravity, which is an absolute record. Why is that bad? Because our body was created to function under the influence of earthly gravity. Without it, muscles very quickly lose both mass and strength.
Without sunlight
Term: years
In 2004, Czech magician Zdenek Zahradka set a world record by spending 10 whole days in a coffin - with a breathing tube, but without food and water. But he did not set the record for being without the sun. In 2012, Russian law enforcement authorities discovered a cult of people living underground, located in the Republic of Tatarstan. Many children of cult members have never seen the sun. Meanwhile, sunlight is an essential source of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium.