Can virus or bacteria survive a PPO2 over 30?

[Akimbo]

or perspective, a typical human cell is 100 microns, bacterial cell is 3 microns, and a virus is .15 microns.

I'm about as far from a microbiologist as can be imaged, but 0.15 microns can still hold a lot of gas molecules that want to separate when the pressure is reduced. Do it fast enough and you have an explosion at any scale.

For other readers, this illustration might be helpful to visualize these microscopic dimensions.

This illustration can help visualize the relationship between cells and Nitrogen molecules.

Of course cells aren't perfect spheres but the general relationship applies for this purpose.

 

[RyanT]

@Akimbo, thanks, very cool visualization. In order for bubbles to form, we need nuclei to precipitate their formation (in theory). But, I would agree that (even in the absence of nuclei) a rapid drop in pressure (roughly 24 fold) would indeed force gas molecules apart. Perhaps it's possible that this gas expansion could pass through the protein envelope without lysing it. At that kind of pressure drop, I wouldn't think so, but again, I really don't know.

Again, my guess is that the oxidative environment would be do a lot of detriment prior to decompression.

 

[UTscuba]

I'd suck a donkey's behind if I thought it'd give me the gas I needed to survive.

a pony is more common

 

[Bob DBF]

Like someone said sometime, if I were out of gas, I'd suck a donkey's behind if I thought it'd give me the gas I needed to survive.

I am so stealing this!!!

Then use the 2010 original.

Frankly, I'd suck a fart out of a donkey's ass if that's what it took to make it to the surface alive ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

From the thread "S Drill Etiquette", where they were also discussing catching something off a reg. I've always liked the phrase.

 

[lowviz]

it seems likely that the oxidative environment at a PO2 of 30 would be really rough on bacteria and viruses.

It does, but it also seems that they somehow got through that period without much of an issue. A while ago, all of the earth was on EAN 36: Geological history of oxygen - Wikipedia

Then there are these guys: Tardigrade - Wikipedia

 

[wstorms]

I'm a KISS kinda guy. Gas? Go for it, no matter how. No gas? Get the eff out of Dodge one way or another.

Not sure if bringing a donkey on every dive and keeping it alive just in case is really considered KISS. I can imagine there are simpler solutions ;-)

 

[Storker]

From the thread "S Drill Etiquette", where they were also discussing catching something off a reg. I've always liked the phrase.

Thanks for reminding me of who it was that said that, and apologies for not attributing the quote properly.

 

[Storker]

Not sure if bringing a donkey on every dive and keeping it alive just in case is really considered KISS. I can imagine there are simpler solutions ;-)

I'm not bringing a donkey. But if you are, if there's a chance that I could suck a fart out of its arse, and if other gas sources were unavailable...

 

[James79]

a pony is more common

I do believe we now need to refer to Spare Air / sub 13 CF ponies as "Donkeys"!

 

[Bob DBF]

Thanks for reminding me of who it was that said that, and apologies for not attributing the quote properly.

No worries. I was so struck with the humor and honesty of the phrase it stuck with me. Most members weren't on the board, or not interested in the thread at the time and have only heard it second hand. I'm just adding information to the conversation.