I am wondering what levels of oxygen in the air would sustain life. Right now, I am fairly certain we need both oxygen and nitrogen to survive. Us humans anyway.
We need about 20% oxygen and inhale about 80% nitrogen, though I am uncertain we need it. Certainly you could get up a few percentiles or likewise down and still survive. But what levels are sustainable for any life?
Could an animal survive in 100% oxygen? On the opposite side of the coin could animals survive in 0% oxygen? If not, what levels have been calculated (that you know of) to be safe for life?
And for that matter what would they look like? I mean generally things like air wouldn't matter much as far as evolutionary traits go, but with less air there would be less air pressure, so they would have to adapt to that somehow.
Also, what all does air have in it? Obviously I know the two big ones; oxygen and nitrogen. But what are the rest? And in what percentages do they float through our atmosphere?
Come to think of it, what levels of these particles would we or other life need to survive? I am thinking it wouldn't really matter as life would adapt. Then again I tend to be wrong when it comes to science.
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Then again I tend to be wrong when it comes to science.
Yes.
All you need is oxigen. Divers for example breath a mixture of helium and oxigen, because nitrogen becomes toxic at a certain depth (helium also becomes toxic at a certain depth, tho later than nitrogen). But so does 100% oxigen (at about 1.4-1.6 bar).
2) 0% oxigen? Well most people for about 3 minutes. Tho there are plenty of animals like whales that can hold their breath way longer. But if you count cyanobacteria as animals and not as a plant, then that would be it (those are the guys that shifted the atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria
Very interesting to know. I was actually thinking more along the lines of 15-10% oxygen being the lowest before breathing wouldn't be efficient enough to bring enough oxygen into your body.
Ah, good to know. But then, what levels of other particles mixed with air would be sustainable; what percentages I suppose.
1.) Well yes, fire loves oxygen. But fires also need a delicate balance to survive. Like when you burn in a wood stove with those seal-able fronts; too little air and the flame will eventually flicker out of existence; too much and it will burn hot until eventually, POOF, it's dead too. Ideal conditions are pretty much everywhere, which is why fire is so prevalent. But then in a sealed container more air/oxygen could fill it than normal. Or maybe I'm looking at this wrong.
I was reading an article and 100% air is definitely deadly to us. But would it be deadly for a life form that evolved there somehow? I am growing weary that it would evolve given fires would be very hard to make, but still.
2.) Well, that is 0% oxygen with some other particle in the air. Let's say for the sake of being drastic Cyanide. It is deadly because it binds to something; proteins I think, but would it be if it didn't? Or if you were forced to evolve on a planet with Cyanide laden air would you be able to adapt?
That being said, it seems very unlikely. As most things tend to only be able to hold their breath for so long and live because of the efficiency of their lungs, and not because of a lack of oxygen.
Do we really have that much argon lurking around? Ha!
I found that comical.
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@Hobrow: Go
Ideal conditions are pretty much everywhere, which is why fire is so prevalent. But then in a sealed container more air/oxygen could fill it than normal. Or maybe I'm looking at this wrong.
Don't know what you meant with the last part but if you have ever used a bunsen burner you would know that you can get a hotter blue flame with a better mixture of oxygen, nature seldom does anything perfect.
I was reading an article and 100% air [Oxygen?] is definitely deadly to us. But would it be deadly for a life form that evolved there somehow? I am growing weary that it would evolve given fires would be very hard to make, but still.
The thing with aliens is there's no way of knowing really, all bets are off.
2.) Well, that is 0% oxygen with some other particle in the air. Let's say for the sake of being drastic Cyanide. It is deadly because it binds to something; proteins I think, but would it be if it didn't? Or if you were forced to evolve on a planet with Cyanide laden air would you be able to adapt?
If you suddenly teleported all humans to a planet with cyanide air all would die. We only have small genetic mutations, being immune to cyanide i believe is something too major.
Ah, my bad. I haven't touched a Bunsen burner in years. haha!
Yes, oxygen. I was thinking the same thing as well, as I did do some very through Googling before asking any of these questions. Don't really keep up on the science, and so I was hoping someone would know if alien life could survive in these conditions. Then again, I suppose I knew in the back of my head that you could never really be sure.
Well yes, humans would die. I was thinking more along the lines of alien life, but you already explained why we can never know.
Oh Wikipedia. You know I goggle these thing forever and never find my way to Wikipedia, then I ask the question and start to get assaulted with wiki links.
Makes me wonder if I should just start using Wikipedia instead of Google. ;)
I think all my questions have been answered. Feel free to continue to use the thread for whatever, but I think that we have covered all our bases on this one.
I am largely inactive, but I am still around. Feel free to poke me if you need some help, just be warned that I only really come back if I need help and/or if I'm posting a new map/library.
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I am wondering what levels of oxygen in the air would sustain life. Right now, I am fairly certain we need both oxygen and nitrogen to survive. Us humans anyway.
We need about 20% oxygen and inhale about 80% nitrogen, though I am uncertain we need it. Certainly you could get up a few percentiles or likewise down and still survive. But what levels are sustainable for any life?
Could an animal survive in 100% oxygen? On the opposite side of the coin could animals survive in 0% oxygen? If not, what levels have been calculated (that you know of) to be safe for life?
And for that matter what would they look like? I mean generally things like air wouldn't matter much as far as evolutionary traits go, but with less air there would be less air pressure, so they would have to adapt to that somehow.
Also, what all does air have in it? Obviously I know the two big ones; oxygen and nitrogen. But what are the rest? And in what percentages do they float through our atmosphere?
Come to think of it, what levels of these particles would we or other life need to survive? I am thinking it wouldn't really matter as life would adapt. Then again I tend to be wrong when it comes to science.
@Yaksmanofage: Go
actually we could probably sustain like at 6.667% Oxygen, as there is 1/3rd the available oxygen at the top of mt Everest.
So there you go, BUT the specimen would have to slowly adjust to this.
Yes.
All you need is oxigen. Divers for example breath a mixture of helium and oxigen, because nitrogen becomes toxic at a certain depth (helium also becomes toxic at a certain depth, tho later than nitrogen). But so does 100% oxigen (at about 1.4-1.6 bar).
1) Such an enviroment is only possible in a lab. Not on planets. You might have heard about this thing, it's called fire and it loves oxigen. But in a lab, over a longer period, it would be deadly. (German article: http://www.welt.de/wissenschaft/article889026/Reiner-Sauerstoff-schadet-Herz-und-Hirn.html)
2) 0% oxigen? Well most people for about 3 minutes. Tho there are plenty of animals like whales that can hold their breath way longer. But if you count cyanobacteria as animals and not as a plant, then that would be it (those are the guys that shifted the atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria
Air consits of:
@Taintedwisp: Go
Very interesting to know. I was actually thinking more along the lines of 15-10% oxygen being the lowest before breathing wouldn't be efficient enough to bring enough oxygen into your body.
Obviously it's time to think radically!
@Hobrow: Go
Ah, good to know. But then, what levels of other particles mixed with air would be sustainable; what percentages I suppose.
1.) Well yes, fire loves oxygen. But fires also need a delicate balance to survive. Like when you burn in a wood stove with those seal-able fronts; too little air and the flame will eventually flicker out of existence; too much and it will burn hot until eventually, POOF, it's dead too. Ideal conditions are pretty much everywhere, which is why fire is so prevalent. But then in a sealed container more air/oxygen could fill it than normal. Or maybe I'm looking at this wrong.
I was reading an article and 100% air is definitely deadly to us. But would it be deadly for a life form that evolved there somehow? I am growing weary that it would evolve given fires would be very hard to make, but still.
2.) Well, that is 0% oxygen with some other particle in the air. Let's say for the sake of being drastic Cyanide. It is deadly because it binds to something; proteins I think, but would it be if it didn't? Or if you were forced to evolve on a planet with Cyanide laden air would you be able to adapt?
That being said, it seems very unlikely. As most things tend to only be able to hold their breath for so long and live because of the efficiency of their lungs, and not because of a lack of oxygen.
Do we really have that much argon lurking around? Ha!
I found that comical.
Don't know what you meant with the last part but if you have ever used a bunsen burner you would know that you can get a hotter blue flame with a better mixture of oxygen, nature seldom does anything perfect.
The thing with aliens is there's no way of knowing really, all bets are off.
If you suddenly teleported all humans to a planet with cyanide air all would die. We only have small genetic mutations, being immune to cyanide i believe is something too major.
To sustain life?
0%
Plenty of bacteria don't use oxygen. Some even die if exposed to oxygen.
Anaerobic
@SheogorathSC: Go
Ah, my bad. I haven't touched a Bunsen burner in years. haha!
Yes, oxygen. I was thinking the same thing as well, as I did do some very through Googling before asking any of these questions. Don't really keep up on the science, and so I was hoping someone would know if alien life could survive in these conditions. Then again, I suppose I knew in the back of my head that you could never really be sure.
Well yes, humans would die. I was thinking more along the lines of alien life, but you already explained why we can never know.
@Eiviyn: Go
Oh Wikipedia. You know I goggle these thing forever and never find my way to Wikipedia, then I ask the question and start to get assaulted with wiki links.
Makes me wonder if I should just start using Wikipedia instead of Google. ;)
I think all my questions have been answered. Feel free to continue to use the thread for whatever, but I think that we have covered all our bases on this one.