Science has eliminated the need to breathe

Dan Seitz Contributing Writer, Tech

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This is how incredibly advanced medical technology has gotten: Can’t breathe? Here, have some nanoparticles that will oxygenate your blood while we figure out what’s going on.

Yes, science has figured out how to take breathing out of the equation in medical situations. How the hell is that even possible? The short answer: fat.

Essentially, oxygen gas is trapped in fat. This is suspended in a solution, and injected into your bloodstream. The fat dissolves and the oxygen is released, re-oxygenating your blood and giving emergency crews and medical personnel fifteen to thirty minutes to work on whatever’s keeping you from breathing.

To say this is a major breakthrough is a bit like saying Los Angeles Kings fans were excited to nail the Stanley Cup. This is huge because it’s portable, it’s easy to use, and it means that people with pulmonary problems will survive at a much higher rate.

Furthermore, this technology can be adapted. Imagine getting an injection and staying underwater for twenty minutes. Imagine injecting this into a vein and then walking out of a burning building with no effects from smoke inhalation. That’s now possible thanks to this technology, and that’s just the start. See, this is why science is awesome.

Scientists Invent Particles That Will Let You Live Without Breathing [Gizmodo]