5 ms·
It's a shame xenon is an anesthetic. If it did not have that effect, one could pressure xenon until it was the same density as the body. It would still be a g
by pfdietz 2y ago
It's a shame xenon is an anesthetic. If it did not have that effect, one could pressure xenon until it was the same density as the body. It would still be a gas, and one could include some oxygen in it so one wouldn't suffocate (although breathing could be more laborious, perhaps require mechanical support).
Suspended in this gas, one could be subjected to much higher acceleration without injury, up the point that density differences in the body become important.
- golergka 2y agoIf you mean to use it for space travel, may be xenon being an anaesthetic is a feature, not a bug?
- cess11 2y agoIt's a potent dissociative, you'll black out before you reach concentrations required for this purpose.
- BizarroLand 2y agoI suppose that if we ever develop some sort of hypersleep/suspended animation or whatever we want to call it then being dissociated by a noble gas before the system kicks in might be a good idea.
- golergka 2y agoYou're in a rocket on top of thousands of tons of explosives, everything runs automatically, there's terrifying noise all around and you don't control anything. Blacking out in dissociative euphoria still sounds like a feature, not a bug to me.
- rhelz 2y agochuckle maybe for the jaded frequent flyer, but if I go up in a rocket I wanna experience everything, even a blow up if it happens.
- indoordin0saur 2y agoSounds like you don't like a good time :-P
- mathsmath 2y agoI had a similar experience recently. Massive turbulence on a commercial flight low over the continental divide flying into Denver. I personally witnessed 3 people vomiting, but I was all smiles the whole time. I am in small planes a lot, so kind of enjoy the bumps when it’s someone else’s job to fly now.
- cess11 2y agoWhy would there be noise and explosives? Personally I'd prefer to not be put in a coma in such an environment.
- NoMoreNicksLeft 2y agoWhat acceleration would be survivable in such a system? And wouldn't that cause the oxygen to pool and not be readily available for breathing?
- saagarjha 2y agoThis would require at least 150 atmospheres of pressure: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=%281+g%2Fcm%5E3%29%2F%28xenon+molar+mass%29*%28ideal+gas+constant%29*%2820+celsius%29 https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=%281+g%2Fcm%5E3%29%2F%2.... You’re definitely well into the “would quickly kill a human” territory.
- indoordin0saur 2y agoCould you achieve this same effect suspended in a tank of water with a breathing mask?
- pfdietz 2y agoTo some extent, but there would still be a large density difference between tissue and the air in the lungs. Perfluorocarbon breathing liquids could be used.