Most of my Medical Mondays discuss how to maim, kill, drug, and generally abuse the human body for the sake of good fiction. But let's celebrate some of the positives, shall we? Humans are pretty strong and the truth is that in many cases, we're hard to kill.
I found this fascinating test on human limits on the National Geographic website. Want to learn a bit more about that body of yours and test how much you know? Check it out!
And here's another article about free diving and the intersection of culture and human physiology. If you're too busy to read the article, just watch the video on the link. It's an incredible video. Totally surreal. I tried to hold my breath while watching the guy diving, and I barely lasted 30 seconds!
To quote the writer on this piece:
"Life as an amphibious human can appear so alien that it’s stranger than science fiction, but painfully beautiful to watch."
I'm skipping Friday and next Monday because of my crazy schedule. Stay tuned for Wednesday's post. I'm interviewing Samuel Park about his stunning debut, This Hurts My Heart, and Sarah will be posting for our Sisterhood series. Happy Monday everyone!
44 comments:
These look like fascinating articles! I'll come back later when I'm procrastinating ... er ... when I have some free time and check them out!
I'm not all that good at holding my breath, either. Good luck with your crazy schedule!
You're always such a busy woman ;) That's a good thing!
Useful and interesting, as always! Looking forward to that interview on Wednesday.
I got 2 correct on that quiz. I think I'm doomed to die an early death now. I was usually one above or below the correct answer, but that's still pretty pathetic when there's only 4 answers.
My daughter's a swimmer and can really hold her breath. Not me.
I know I couldn't hold my breath for very long! I'm taking off this Wednesday so understand the need for some down time to get caught up on things.
My husband loves to dive shipwrecks. That is otherworldly to me.
Happy Monday to you! Will check this out, thanks. :) Look forward to Samuel's interview.
Yay for the human body! I think it's most fragile and equally amazing and resilient. I guess so long as we treat it with care and tlc, it'll perform brilliantly! Take care
x
I can't hold my breath for long either--just the thought of it makes me a little anxious!
The human body is pretty cool. My hubby just read a book on running and how these great runners in these tribes in other countries run great distances with just sandals. They have no injuries like we in America who buy all these expensive shoes. The thinking is that we're not letting our feet naturally conform to running by wearing these special shoes. It's kind of interesting to think about it.
I remember when I was a kid - I was a strong, regular swimmer and I played a wind instrument. I could stay under water for such a long time. Now? Not long at all! The body is an amazing machine!
Wow, what a great set of questions and answers. (I spent at least as much time perusing your drawing--cool). Personally, I can't handle the amphibious stuff, water is too scary. :)
Amazing what people learn to do and train their bodies to do. I am not a good swimmer or runner, but I admire those who are.
That is an interesting quote to think on
People are rather versatile, aren't we? Love your series. I don't get to comment nearly as much as I would like, but I do stop by to see what medical advice you have for us. Thanks for keeping this up! :)
The human body is absolutely astounding. I'm a runner and just thinking of the balance of my lungs pumping, my muscles working, and my bones taking the impact is amazing. I can't hold my breath for very long, though!
Yay for the human body being fairly hard to kill! Thank goodness. :) Good luck with all you have going on this week!
Going to check these links out later. Thanks for the info! :)
omg, OK. I made it 50 seconds holding my breath, but my brain panicked and made me gasp. Clearly, I'dve drown--unlike Sulbin.
This is amazing. I wonder if being that skinny helps... :D
I did that Nat'l Geographic thing and basically got them all wrong. Fun stuff! ;p <3
Goodness it's amazing what there is on the Internet these days. i'm sure i wouldn't survive long as I suffer from Raynauds and am a shallow breather. :O0!
I've read a few autobios of people who have survived the most appalling attacks/injurires.
Yeah, I can't hold my breath for nothin'. Not even a skunk. Ew.
Nice post!
Fascinating as always! Thanks.
Thanks for the links, will check them out.
cheers,
mood
Moody Writing
@mooderino
The Funnily Enough
Thanks for sharing the articles, Lydia! I love reading about things like this. :) Catch you next Wednesday!
Awesome, thanks for the articles Lydia! Hopping on over to look at them. I used to be able to hold my breath much longer when I was a lifeguard. I'm still okay at it, but definitely not as good as I was back then!
Good luck with the crazy schedule. We all seem to be suffering from that condition. Ugh. I know I couldn't hold my breath that long.
Okay, so I just held my breath for all of 14 seconds before I freaked out.
FOURTEEN SECONDS.
If that isn't pathetic, I don't know what is.
Yeah. . The human body is amazing, I forget how resilient it is! And good gravy, I can not hold my breath long at all! I never realized!
Just the words "free" and "diving" freak me out to no end!
All fascinating articles, thanks for the links Lydia.
Your Medical Monday's are always so interesting!
What fun :)
.....dhole
Thanks for these fascinating links, will have to check them out.
The human body is really amazing. My son showed me a documentary about the human body and how it at times can show real superhuman strength. That was cool.
Great twist on your Medical Mondays. The human body is truly amazing and is capable of doing amazing things. Wish flying was one of them.
Wow - I did terrible on that test! The human body really is fascinating - I can't imagine anyone holding their breath for 11 minutes!
Great test. Good thing I'm not a doctor - I missed half. And 30 seconds is a long time - I barely made it, too.
It's nice having something on the positive side.
Thanks for these fab links! The human body is amazing really, when we think about it. Our skin is incredible - waterproof, changing colour with the temperature to protect us, strong, ever changing, supple, stretching and tightening according to the situation. And that's just one part of us. So many things to marvel at!
Jai
Hmmm... I did pretty badly on that quiz. Maybe because I answered for myself and not the average human being? (Yes, I'm a total weenie). ;)
I was totally mesmerized by the video. We're studying the respiratory system in my class so I'm going to share this with my class tomorrow. They'll love it.
I only managed 4 on the quiz. Thank goodness my body works without me having to know how :-)
It's amazing what humans can subject themselves to. The record for holding breath is 19 minutes in cold water. I can barely do it for one.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/7242852/Swiss-freediver-breaks-world-record-for-holding-breath-underwater.html
The Geek Twins
@thegeektwins
@mauricem1972
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