5 ms·

Wonder what it'd taste like!

• shagie 4y ago
  That gets to a classic "xkcd what if" - Pile of Viruses https://what-if.xkcd.com/80/ https://what-if.xkcd.com/80/ > What if every virus in the world were collected into one area? How much volume would they take up and what would they look like? And remember that the images have mouse over text.
  • ivraatiems 4y ago
    Haha, this is awesome! Thank you! Here's another question... if I drank a spoonful of HIV, would I get HIV? Would it even survive my stomach acid? I suppose it depends on whether it found its way into my blood, right? Or would mere exposure to the mucous membranes in my mouth be enough? You can't, as far as I know, transfer HIV by kissing, but maybe if there was lots of it?
    • jerf 4y ago
      I don't think anyone can answer that concretely, we've never had any virus at that concentration. In general, yes, stomach acid will neutralize most viruses (stomach viruses require specialized and fascinating adaptations to survive), but when you're talking about consuming by the quadrillions or quintillions (or more) particles that only need on the order of several dozens to get lucky and infect you, only a few of them need a lucky journey to get you. The process of swallowing will still end up with them in your throat, some in your mucus membranes in your mouth, nose, and probably your entire sinus system, etc. I wouldn't take that bet. Rates of success we would normally call "non-infectious" would get you in this case.