Playing Ball in Space

oo7tushar writes "Although most experiments in space seem simple they have profound results. Take this for example, astronauts trying to catch a ball in space. What's so hard about that? Nothing much really, down here on Earth. In space it's a completely different story. Here on earth our eyes see the ball and our brain anticipates it's movement according to gravity. In space the brain continues to anticpate gravity but unlike motion sickness (which is adapted to within days), astronauts continue to anticipate the path of a ball for 15 days (after which they start to show progress). What are the ramifications? The brain must have some sort of internal gravitation model."

Comments

Let's concentrate on real problems

[Hairy_Potter]

Big deal, so playing sports in zero-gravity is going to be hard. Just how many astronauts are going to be interested in sports anyhow?

I'm sure most of you, like me, consider ball games and other sports the opiate of Joe Sixpack, something to keep his tiny monkey brain diverted from the shallow pain of his useless existence, something to talk about with the other Joe Sixpacks during breaks from the assembly line, but totally useless in expanding knowledge and conquering space. Come on, this is slashdot, lets talk about physics and orbital mechanics, and leave the sporty stuff for stupider, more physically fit sorts.

Unless of course, Rob and company are trying to broaden the /. fanbase by cheapening the discourse to bring in Joe and Jane Sixpack. A word to the wise, don't bother, they only use the 'net to surf for porn.