Artificial gills for humans could become a reality

POSTED BY: 1KIKI
UPDATED: Thursday, January 9, 2020 06:18
VIEWED: 1320
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1KIKI

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 1:08 PM

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/amphibio-underwater-breathing/in
dex.html

Artificial gills for humans could become a reality

There is just one little problem, and that's hydrostatic pressure. It squeezes the rib cage and abdomen (the whole body in fact, but for this point all that's important is the rib cage and abdomen). The human body isn't designed to expand the rib cage or lower the diaphragm by exerting a muscular force against an external pressure. If you go deep enough - and it only takes about 34' to double the external pressure from one atmosphere to two - you simply can't mechanically breathe. That's why there are pressure reducing / balancing valves on a scuba (for example), to reduce the pressure of the breathing mixture inside the tank to be the same as the external water pressure. When the pressure of the breathing air balances the external pressure of the water, people can mechanically breathe.

6IXSTRINGJACK

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 6:26 PM

Oh geez... you mean actual literal gills...?

I thought this was about re breathers that despite being debunked thoroughly seem to pop up from time to time on places like Kickstarter and GoFundMe and rake in the cash before screwing everybody over.

Do Right, Be Right. :)

1KIKI

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 11:53 PM

Rebreathers ... so yesterday! If these gills could be made to work - for example, not getting crushed by water pressure, allowing a proper gas mixture to pass through, and having it pass through at the hydrostatic water pressure so it would be mechanically breathable - that would be sweet!

SIGNYM

Thursday, January 9, 2020 1:03 AM

On a larger scale, they could be used to oxygenate underwater living spaces. Or, if you want to think about military applications ...

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Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

Happy New Year, WISHY. I edited out your psychopathic screed!

6IXSTRINGJACK

Thursday, January 9, 2020 6:18 AM

They'd be great to have if I'm still living in this house the next time it floods.

Do Right, Be Right. :)