I learned in biology that we have something called residual volume of air in our lungs. I saw a video on a sub showing the lack of oxygen through a burning fire. There were comments that if you went in that space you will pass out. There were stories about how a Chinese teacher passed out while tying his shoelace but students survived since they were standing up. Most humans can hold their breath for 10 seconds at least. So why is it that when you go into a tiny space with no oxygen but dense co2, you will pass out?
In: Biology
For space in particular, you can’t hold your breath. Your lungs and throat are not able to hold on to much more than a 10th of an atmosphere of overpressure. And at that pressure, the gas exchange mechanism that normally gets oxygen from the lungs into the blood will work the other way.
Latest Answers