MGP+Hyun+Woo

= Limits of Human Strength =

What gives us the ability to accomplish normally impossible feats?


**Preface**
Superman, the Incredible Hulk, Hercules: there are innumerable identities in the world that are all characterized by a single trait: superhuman strength. They portray the very obsession of modern-day societies with sculpted figures adorned with shiny, bulging muscles. Most people, however, would ponder about what fueled such societal infatuation, but in my case, I began to wonder about how it was possible; how these super people possessed stupendous strength.

The overarching norm, set upon nearly all media-affected regions of the globe, connect masculinity with strength and aggressiveness. A direct offspring of this cultural trend is bodybuilding, an intense form of body modification in which muscles are augmented to extraordinary capacities through extreme training. As I observed what some may call freakish practices, I became interested in just what enabled us to push our bodies to their limits. From squash to weight lifting, I have learned from my own experience that there is no real set limit that I have been faced with as of yet. Through constant practices, my body has been able to endure increasingly physical demands. So, as I realized that this question I had took me into account as well, I thought, "//What gives us the ability to accomplish normally impossible feats//?" Through basic research, I had already set foot on a previously unknown realm of __//adrenaline//__ and __//noradrenaline//__.

Research Genre

 * Introduction**

My Genre #1, which will be in research format, will focus on the sudden explosion of superhuman strength. I will dwell into the most basic procedures that take within our bodies and connect them to the overall result -- the dramatic increase in bodily strength in a blink of an eye. Furthermore, because this is a factual genre, I will answer typical questions that may arise from the reader with respect to the Five W's.

By researching the intricate happenings within the body and the result of obtaining herculean strength for a brief moment of time, I have come to understand that two hormones are the key to what ignites our hidden stockpile of tremendous strength. As it seems that I have already answered a huge chunk of my key research question, I am planning to have my future genres be more creative and entertaining.

 //In 1983, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Angela Cavallo lifted a 1964 Chevrolet Impala from her son, Tony, after it fell off the jacks that had held it up while he worked beneath the car. Mrs. Cavallo lifted the car high enough and long enough for two neighbors to place the jacks and pull Tony from beneath the car //  (Clark) .   How on earth did Mrs. Cavallo, a typical mom, haul a tremendous load of 1,500 kilograms? What in the world gave her such extraordinary power which simply overshadows that of a professional weight lifter? Is this incredible strength present within all of us? The answer lies in just two hormones, each which drastically alter the capabilities of our bodies. They are known as //__adrenaline__// and __//noradrenaline//__.   Practically every individual can come to possess incredible strength. Age and gender do not necessarily affect our ability to tap into hidden sources of power, as this incredible ability of ours is what renders us human beings. To harness this enormous strength that is stored away in our bodies, the body produces two chemical agents -- adrenaline and noradrenaline -- to alter certain regions beforehand. These two agents, milestones in our understanding of the limits of human strength, are what can turn ordinary people into Herculean beings.   //Marie “Bootsy” Payton was cutting her lawn in High Island, Texas, when her riding lawn mower got away from her. Payton’s young granddaughter, Evie, tried to stop the mower, but was knocked underneath the still-running machine. Payton reached the mower and easily tossed it off her granddaughter, limiting Evie’s injuries to four severed toes. Curious, Payton later tried to lift the mower again and found she couldn’t move it //  (Clark) . <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Much like our autonomous smooth muscles, adrenaline and noradrenaline are not released according to our will; they are injected into our bodies' circulation only under special circumstances. These circumstances include perilous situations in which the human mind is bombarded with severe stress and fear, triggering a fight-or-flight response ( Does "Fight or Flight" Need Updating?) and subsequently producing an adrenaline rush<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. Hence, unless we face high stress yielding situations according to our wills, instantly gaining dramatic boosts of physical strength with a snap of our fingers is simply impossible. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">
 * The Cause of Superhuman Strength**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, now that we understand the causes and effects, what is the exact process that takes place within us? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">When we are faced with a sense of danger, the //__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">stressor __//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> -- the certain factor that our mind categorizes to be dangerous -- stimulates the //__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">hypothalamus __//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">, a region of the brain responsible for altering the balance between states of stress and relaxation. The alerted hypothalamus releases a chemical signal that consequently triggers the //__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">adrenal glands __//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> -- right above the kidney -- thereby dispatching two hormones: __//adrenaline//__ and __//noradrenaline//__.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Both __//adrenaline//__ and __//noradrenaline//__ -- also called epinephrine and norepinephrine -- are released from the interior region of the adrenal glands, called the adrenal medulla. As soon as the hormones are released, they immediately facilitate the movement of red blood cells. With increased respiration and heart rates, more oxygen is supplied to our muscles. Moreover, the constriction of blood vessels and the consequent rise in blood pressure take place as well, thus allowing muscle tissues to contract far more than when our bodies are in a stable condition ( epinephrine and norepinephrine (hormone) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia)<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

To meet the raised usages of energy, the hormones also accelerate our livers' ability to convert glycogen -- a prominent fuel source of the human body -- into glucose, the fuel itself. The sudden increase of glucose, or sugar, in our blood stream thus sustains and prolongs the overuse of our muscles.

All the while the various regions of our bodies are altered to help confront danger, numerous parts are neglected and powered down as well. The digestive systems, composed of the stomachs and gastrointestinal tracts, are slowed down as the flow of blood becomes more concentrated within the muscles. If ever under such risky situations where you are experiencing an adrenaline rush and ready to fight or flight, try to spit (it is highly unlikely that you will remember to do so, but try your best). To your amazement, you won't be able to as your digestive system directly contributes to the flow of your saliva, and therefore your mouth will be dead dry!

Not to mention, it is quite important to understand that although the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline upon the human body are uncontested, the varying degrees of performance, such as an average housewife lifting up an entire car, are currently controversial. As of yet, the medical society has not recognized the instantaneous gain of freakish strength that topples record charts because such instances are rare and cannot be replicated in contained environments. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Here is an example of a detailed fight-or-flight response. In this case, there is no other option but to face the danger head-on.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> - Clark, Josh. ““HowStuffWorks” How can adrenaline help you lift a 3,500-pound car?”.” Howstuffworks “Health”. 30 Aug. 2009 <<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">[|http://heath.howstuffworks.com/adrenaline-strength.htm] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> >. - "Does "Fight or Flight" Need Updating?" Psychosomatics. 24 Oct. 2009 <[|http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/45/5/448] >.
 * Research Genre Sources**

- "YouTube - I Was Superhuman." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.. 8 Sep. 2009 <[|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=law9Yv5vtX0&feature=channel] >.

- "Noradrenaline Drugs, Ephedrine Sulfate, Noradrenaline Drugs Suppliers, Ephedrine Sulfate Injection." Pharmaceutical & Drug Manufacturers. 23 Oct. 2009 <http://www.pharmaceutical-drug-manufacturers.com/pharmaceutical-drugs/noradrenaline.html>.

- "Norepinephrine, What is Norepinephrine? About its Science, Chemistry and Structure." Chemistry, Structures & 3D Molecules @ 3Dchem.com - Home. 23 Oct. 2009 <http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=288#>.

- "epinephrine and norepinephrine (hormone) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 23 Oct. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/190049/epinephrine>.

Genre #2

 * Introduction**

I have written my Genre #2 as a third person narrative. Since my Genre #1 was very factual, I realized that the overall presentation of my project would be more entertaining if I introduced a less factual and more captivating piece of writing. My Genre #2 will feature a protagonist who faces a high stress inducing situation. The fight-or-flight response will be incorporated and so will the basic effects of an adrenaline rush.

By writing a creative piece, I was able to introduce various other elements that further enriched the story line. I had also taken this opportunity to practice slipping in themes, which was new to me and, quite frankly, fun. Because the Research Genre was all about the facts and numbers, when I began writing my Genre #2 as a third person narrative, I was able to see the true direness of a situation in which a person's body will activate adrenaline and noradrenaline to counter danger. Like a blow to the head, the realization also helped me understand that so little of the human body and its extreme conditions is understood as of now and to pinpoint a specific limit to human strength would be downright foolish.


 * The Crack**

George wasn’t the best of climbers, but he still enjoyed the thrill and the fact that every choice he made all added up to his ultimate goal of conquering the cold, gray behemoth. To George, life was a one chance deal, and he vowed to live it to the fullest.

The shadowy walls were composed of brittle granite. George sensed that the gray stones, draped with black strings, had an eerie feeling to them. Maybe it was the wind that was rattling his gear, maybe the winding path he was taking to secure his unwelcome presence on the unmoving slab. Before he knew it, his hands had gone numb and clung to the stones. He tried to navigate out of this sticky situation, having barely reached out to probe an alternative route when he heard it. It was indistinguishable from the howling wind, but his senses, trained along with his nimbleness, had picked up the silent ting. Reflexes kicked in as muscles tensed within George’s body for an escaping maneuver. As he began to reassess the situation, he noticed that the previously looming shadow had now engulfed him. Then, he heard a distant crack.

George tumbled. When he came in contact with solid ground again, he was crushed between two fronts as the unrelenting fangs of solid granite dug deep into his ribs. Light had briefly gone from his eyes, and when it came back, he was inches away from a rocky end. George's arms were located where they were before, but only now, they were supporting an enormous, ceaseless pressure. His entire body, from the tips of his hairs to the toenails of his feet, was paralyzed. A standard observe-and-react that was typical of George now seemed like a far cry as instinct took over while he fought. He fought what moments before had been seen as a potential haven. He fought what now had become as lethal as poison itself, ready to have its clear tears injected. As the tiniest piece of reason came back to him, it became evident to George that the entire wall had come off, along with his body glued to it. His back was gradually being punctured as the jagged edges of dark rock continued to bore into him. It was only time that prolonged his sudden standoff with death. Then it dawned on him. An unfamiliar idea that was not yet thought about. But even so, his self was chiseled from it. Life meant the coming of what was known as death, and death, now, was as real as a venomous black widow, posed for the finishing plunge. With an entirely new sense of urgency and panic, George began to push. Blood rose to fill up his face to a deep crimson red. Streaks of blue surfaced, crisscrossing his entire body. Veins bulged out from his biceps; triceps became white hot. Shoulders were popped. His neck was taut, as if invisible threads were choking him. He could not stop, though. It was now; his entire life had shrunk, twisted and distorted, to fit into this moment of time. George was in front of the steering wheel, and he heaved. The internal structures of his body struck into consciousness. He saw the workings of bodily mechanisms, invisible to the eye, busy at work, changing the order of his organs. His heart jack hammered, and George heaved. His pupils dilated and lost focus, and George heaved (<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Human Body: Pushing the Limits: Discovery Channel).

The sky was gray, and the silhouette of an eagle was visible. The bird was white, contrasting strongly from the monotonous rain clouds. Drops began to fall: at first small, then soon escalating to a downpour. The bird dove down, eying the darkening landscape with its penetrating eyes, and settled beneath an untouched cliff. Droplets changed the gray slabs into a single darkness. A drop found its way through an open crevasse and soaked the brim of the eagle’s wing. Its eyes did not turn, however, as it was looking downwards, focused intently on a murky figure. The bird flexed its talons. The sculpture began to crack.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> - “Human Body: Pushing the Limits: Discovery Channel.” Discovery Channel: Science, History, Space, Tech, Sharks, News. 30 Aug. 2009 < <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">>.
 * Genre #2 Sources**

Genre #3

 * Genre #3 Introduction**

To further lighten up the mood of my Multi-Genre Project, I have decided that for my Genre #3, I will interview various classmates on whether or not they have experienced any sort of highly stressful situations and whether they experienced a sudden boom of overwhelming energy.

As I interviewed my fellow classmates, I came to notice that even though certain situations seemed not as perilous as some examples I have come across, certain individuals were more prone to triggering a flight-or-fight response. It was also quite interesting as I found that the general pattern was that my classmates never stood their ground and instead fled. However, certain dangers, such as an earthquake, cannot be fought against, and the wise (and sane) decision would be to run away.


 * Personal Fight-or-Flight Experiences: The Interview**

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Epilogue
"//What gives us the ability to accomplish normally impossible feats//?" I now asked myself, and I can proudly say that I know my adrenaline and noradrenaline by heart. Through the Multi-Genre Project, I learned about the value of planning ahead and also about the importance of basic researching skills, including the proper utilization of note cards. Although I did groan to myself when I first heard of the project, I was foolish to do so. The project became something I could actually benefit from, for I was able to choose a topic of my liking. By selecting and researching the causes of herculean strength, I gained a glimpse of terms that come up quite often in my dad's profession as a cardiologist. But what I take to be the most important information that I have learned is the entire topic of human strength. By immersing myself into a world that was discovered through centuries of research and ground-breaking innovations, I was amazed by how much information there was to be absorbed and analyzed. The human body especially fascinated me with its unfathomable capabilities. As I have looked at my project with never-ending awe and passion, I hope that those people who do come across this wiki will also share the same enthusiasm for just how much we don't know about the very bodies that we use everyday!