[email removed] (John Phelps) says
> One of the weird things was that the fluid that was pumped into
>you was a fluorocarbon mix, and it filled up your lungs and every thing. I
>guess you basically "died" to some degree??
Actually, the fluorocarbon mixture was based on current technology
as a replacement for air. The mixture is used to carry oxygen and CO2
into/out of the lung. I know they've kept rats alive for periods of time
using this technique, and I think they'v e even done dogs, as well. The
research has lots of implications for things like smoke inhalation injury,
since the fluorocarbon mix allows a higher O2 concentration to pass the
membrane (I think, it's been a while since I've read anything about it)
allowing the damaged lung tissure a chance to heal without drying up and
scarring. The advantage in the tanks in _The Forever War_ was that this
equilibrated the pressure inside and out, without having nasty things like
N2 dissolving in the bloodstream. Even helium will cause the bends at such
pressures. The book describes that the people in the ship as sedated
during transit, as this kind of treatment would produce some SERIOUS
claustrophobia and sensory deprivation while under way.
This would, though, make a neat premise for a really alien
world...fluorocarbons instead of nitrogen as the major component of the
atmosphere. This'd be a gas giant that humans could nonetheless walk
around on with no pressure gear. Heck, we could probably fly by
strapping on wings and flapping. :-) It would be LOTS of fun, from a
sadistic GM viewpoint (is there ANY other?): crash your party on the
planet, tell em their pressure gear failed. Then wait till they're
halfway through rolling up new characters to say "Oh, yeah, I forgot.
You're all still alive!" <GRIN> The inhabitants of this planet probably
couldn't survive outside of the atmosphere, though.
Bruce Johnson
The University of Arizona
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