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Why are we 1-2.5m tall?

  • 28-04-2010 01:38AM
    #1
    swe_fi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭


    Fairly straightforward question...Why is the human race, adult specimen roughly (min) 1m - 2.5m tall (max)? I know there are other extremes but in general.

    Why are we not like 2 cm short or like 42m tall?

    I have been thinking about this a lot, with all the bull about global warming, oil running out bla bla...If we were like megashort, it would have last much longer, because everything would be much smaller (airplanes, cars, clothes, medicine, well anything), relative to the earth of course.

    My guess would be it is linked to gravitational pull, or the strength of the centrifugal/petal force or whatever it is called, or is there any other reason?

    Could it be the case that there is actually very very small people in a city/town somewhere and they don't know we are here? If there were mega big ones we would have seen them of course.


«13

Comments

  • #2
    Agent Smith
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 21,505 Mod ✭✭✭✭Agent Smith


    swe_fi wrote: »
    Fairly straightforward question...Why is the human race, adult specimen roughly (min) 1m - 2.5m tall (max)? I know there are other extremes but in general.

    Why are we not like 2 cm short or like 42m tall?

    I have been thinking about this a lot, with all the bull about global warming, oil running out bla bla...If we were like megashort, it would have last much longer, because everything would be much smaller (airplanes, cars, clothes, medicine, well anything), relative to the earth of course.

    My guess would be it is linked to gravitational pull, or the strength of the centrifugal/petal force or whatever it is called, or is there any other reason?

    Could it be the case that there is actually very very small people in a city/town somewhere and they don't know we are here? If there were mega big ones we would have seen them of course.



    Gravity tbh


  • #3
    Nemanja91
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,814 ✭✭✭Nemanja91


    gravity


  • #4
    we'llallhavetea_old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭we'llallhavetea_old


    pass that joint over here


  • #5
    FearDark
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,425 ✭✭✭FearDark


    Wow, what a Karl Pilkington kind of question!


  • #6
    m@cc@
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,526 ✭✭✭m@cc@


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species


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  • #7
    Hank_Jones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,783 ✭✭✭Hank_Jones


    Evolution vs God thread or what?


  • #8
    m@cc@
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,526 ✭✭✭m@cc@


    FearDark wrote: »
    Wow, what a Karl Pilkington kind of question!

    It were rubbish, wern it?


  • #9
    BrianSlipknot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60 ✭✭BrianSlipknot


    Somebody give this guy an award!

    Hilarious question, to which i cant answer!

    Evolution probably?! :confused:


  • #10
    Doc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,670 ✭✭✭Doc


    swe_fi wrote: »
    Fairly straightforward question...Why is the human race, adult specimen roughly (min) 1m - 2.5m tall (max)? I know there are other extremes but in general.

    Why are we not like 2 cm short or like 42m tall?

    I have been thinking about this a lot, with all the bull about global warming, oil running out bla bla...If we were like megashort, it would have last much longer, because everything would be much smaller (airplanes, cars, clothes, medicine, well anything), relative to the earth of course.

    My guess would be it is linked to gravitational pull, or the strength of the centrifugal/petal force or whatever it is called, or is there any other reason?

    Could it be the case that there is actually very very small people in a city/town somewhere and they don't know we are here? If there were mega big ones we would have seen them of course.

    Predators would have found it easier to kill us if we were smaller and we would have found it more difficult to hunt other animals.


  • #11
    epgc3fyqirnbsx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,228 ✭✭✭epgc3fyqirnbsx


    Because thats long enough for your legs to reach the ground ya eejit


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  • #12
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    Quoth the zombie.. 'BRAAAAINS'

    As in we need to be this size in order to accommodate our sizeable grey matter.

    Insects can never be as clever as us with their tiny brains despite what horror movies might let you think.

    Also, what are you smoking? I want some.


  • #13
    The_Minister
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,255 ✭✭✭✭The_Minister


    If we were short (really short), we wouldn't have as large brains as we do, and so would not be the dominant intelligence on this planet.

    Even if we could think at our current level, our ability to manipulate our environment would be seriously reduced, and we would quickly fall down the foodchain (We can literally level mountains at the moment), or be struck down by negative environmental factors.

    Technologically we would be screwed - can you imagine trying to smelt iron when you are only a few inches high?


  • #14
    epgc3fyqirnbsx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,228 ✭✭✭epgc3fyqirnbsx


    The_Minister wrote: »
    If we were short (really short), we wouldn't have as large brains as we do, and so would not be the dominant intelligence on this planet.

    Even if we could think at our current level, our ability to manipulate our environment would be seriously reduced, and we would quickly fall down the foodchain (We can literally level mountains at the moment), or be struck down by negative environmental factors.

    Technologically we would be screwed - can you imagine trying to smelt iron when you are only a few inches high?

    Thats why the hobbits had to rely on the elves


  • #15
    The_Minister
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,255 ✭✭✭✭The_Minister


    As to why we aren't really big - we don't really need to be.

    Our species can, using intellect, take on species many times more physically equipped for killing than we are. We wiped out ten foot tall sloths for instance.
    Therefore, we don't need size for fighting, but the larger you are, the more energy you use to keep your body going, the larger chance that you might starve if conditions change.

    Also, in cold climates, bigger is much better in terms of survival due to surface area/heat loss etc. But we evolved in Africa, from primates, which lived in trees, and so size could be a disadvantage (but not always)

    Finally, we are bipedal. Therefore there is a limited size our body shape can support without collapsing.

    Thats all off the top of my head.


  • #16
    bleg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,847 ✭✭✭bleg


    I'm 10 inches


  • #17
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 99,589 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    we are long distance hunters from the plains of Africa

    standing tall we can see further, and long legs allow us to chase down gazelles and stuff


  • #18
    swe_fi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭swe_fi


    The brain thing is interesting, that we would not be as smart and not have evolved as much , but in terms of falling down the food chain, I don't think we would have because the animals would probably be relative in size to us or even if they were not they would find it harder to find us. Maybe our small brains would have prevented us from making spears, bows and other stuff . If they were big, they would probably crush us & our huts by mistake quite often though.


  • #19
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    bleg wrote: »
    I'm 10 inches

    Quit your boasting, boyo.


  • #20
    The_Minister
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,255 ✭✭✭✭The_Minister


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    we are long distance hunters from the plains of Africa

    standing tall we can see further, and long legs allow us to chase down gazelles and stuff

    D'oh!

    Forgot the main reason.


  • #21
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    we are long distance hunters from the plains of Africa

    Try explaining that one to a Dublin taxi driver.

    "Ye Bleeeedin' whaaa?"


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  • #22
    opinion guy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,000 ✭✭✭✭opinion guy


    Temple_Grandin wrote: »
    Quoth the zombie.. 'BRAAAAINS'

    As in we need to be this size in order to accommodate our sizeable grey matter.

    Insects can never be as clever as us with their tiny brains despite what horror movies might let you think.

    Also, what are you smoking? I want some.
    The_Minister wrote: »
    If we were short (really short), we wouldn't have as large brains as we do, and so would not be the dominant intelligence on this planet.

    Even if we could think at our current level, our ability to manipulate our environment would be seriously reduced, and we would quickly fall down the foodchain (We can literally level mountains at the moment), or be struck down by negative environmental factors.

    Technologically we would be screwed - can you imagine trying to smelt iron when you are only a few inches high?


    Brains huh ? What about them hobbit people they discovered in the phillipines. They had small brains and were smart:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_floresiensis#Small_brains

    The_Minister wrote: »
    We wiped out ten foot tall sloths for instance.

    How hard can be it to kill a creature that barely moves ?


    Anyhow our height is still changing. The "western diet" is associated with increased stature so people from traditiionally short countries like Japan are gettign taller the more western food they eat. Supposebly. Dutch are the tallest. which is weird cause they have no mountains to climb :P


  • #23
    Dave!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,856 ✭✭✭✭Dave!


    That's just how we evolved

    Why are ants so small? Why are elephants so big?

    There's evolutionary reasons for them I'm sure, but ultimately the answer is: because that's the way we evolved, and evolution doesn't make conscious choices


  • #24
    shuvly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 527 ✭✭✭shuvly


    bleg wrote: »
    I'm 10 inches
    ...tall...go you!


  • #25
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,351 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    Doc wrote: »
    Predators would have found it easier to kill us if we were smaller and we would have found it more difficult to hunt other animals.

    And they're all ready pretty damn good at it as it is.

    http://dietrichthrall.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/predator.jpg


  • #26
    epgc3fyqirnbsx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,228 ✭✭✭epgc3fyqirnbsx


    Aren't there forst people in New Guinea (feel very free to correct me) who are pretty tiny because it's easier for forest life.
    Equally, you see the Masai in Africa who are plain hunters who are very tall perhaps for the reason of viewing prey as has been said

    But then you have the ridicolously well built Maoris and Samoans and I dont know why that is
    Even in Ireland, you can view some of the very old buildings that have tiny doors which I was told by teachers and tour guides was for the reson that they weren't as well fed and strong as us, and so hadn't the opportunity to grow tall (though I would have thought it was for heat retention)
    I know nothing really, perhaps we have a graduate with some spare time (lol) who could shed some light?


  • #27
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Ace Zealous Sludge wrote: »
    Aren't there forst people in New Guinea (feel very free to correct me) who are pretty tiny because it's easier for forest life.

    I know nothing really, perhaps we have a graduate with some spare time (lol) who could shed some light?

    I can - I spent many years living in New Guinea, getting to know the Fugawe tribe. They spent a lot of their time, wandering through the long grassed plains, hopping up in the air, shouting "Fugawe", as they travelled, seemingly randomly, throughout the land.

    One day, I asked their chief, why they shouted "Fugawe" as they jumped up & down through the long grasses, to which he replied, "It's short for 'Where the f*ck are we?' ".


  • #28
    epgc3fyqirnbsx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,228 ✭✭✭epgc3fyqirnbsx


    starbelgrade wrote: »
    I can - I spent many years living in New Guinea, getting to know the Fugawe tribe. They spent a lot of their time, wandering through the long grassed plains, hopping up in the air, shouting "Fugawe", as they travelled, seemingly randomly, throughout the land.

    One day, I asked their chief, why they shouted "Fugawe" as they jumped up & down through the long grasses, to which he replied, "It's short for 'Where the f*ck are we?' ".

    are you for real?
    Is this like the origins of the word kangaroo?
    Where an explorer of Australia asked his Aboriginal guide what that animal was, and the answer he got was 'kangaroo' which he then documented, and subsequently turned out to mean 'I dont know...' . But think thats a legend


  • #29
    CathalDublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,185 ✭✭✭CathalDublin


    Cause if we were any bigger than 2.5m we'd need bigger ceilings!


  • #30
    Zillah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    It's pretty complicated. Larger bodies require more energy, are more cumbersome, harder to hide and sneak, longer time spent in the womb, slower to mature, more prone to anatomical problems etc. Being smaller also has problems, less heat conservation, less body strength and lower top speed makes for worse combat as a or against a predator etc.

    It's basically a constant balancing game between all of these factors, and so far they have balanced out this way.


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  • #31
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    Ace Zealous Sludge wrote: »
    are you for real?

    Yes, I was a tribes documentarist, just before I took up animal portrait photography, as displayed in the Killer Pussy thread..

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=65601571#post65601571


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