Somehow, I'm not surprised to find out that virtually every sci-fi sequence involving vacuum has been completely debunked. The Hitchhiker's Guide, for example. (In fact, holding your breath actually almost guarantees death!) Even the paragon of "realistic" sci-fi, 2001, is discredited. About the only shows that got it close to right were Firefly and Galactica. Farscape *kinda* got it right, except for the timing (unless you make the case that the scene was in super-slow-mo).
The most interesting part? You don't freeze in a vacuum, because heat doesn't leave your body very quickly without air or water to act as a transfer mechanism.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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quote:For about ten full seconds� a long time to be loitering in space without protection� an average human would be rather uncomfortable, but they would still have their wits about them. Depending on the nature of the decompression, this may give a victim sufficient time to take measures to save their own life.
Just enough time to kiss your ass goodbye.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:The first effect is the expansion of gases within the lungs and digestive tract due to the reduction of external pressure.
The first part I could guess, but the second part about the digestive tract I hadn't thought about! Could make for an interesting scene in a realistic movie...
Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:The first part I could guess, but the second part about the digestive tract I hadn't thought about! Could make for an interesting scene in a realistic movie...
Begins after 1:10, do watch. For the record (and the faint of heart), it's a clip from "Man behind the sun", the movie about unit 731, the biological experiments facility located in japanese-occupied China during WW2.
[ November 28, 2006, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Nim ]
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WizArtist II
"How can you have a yellow alert in Spacedock? "
Member # 1425
posted
dang. There is not a level of Hell deep enough for someone like that.
-------------------- There are 10 types of people in the world...those that understand Binary and those that don't.
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![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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