2026-09-25 11:37 UTC
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Ever wondered how such a soft body survives the immense pressure at the depth of 5km?
1. The "No Air" Rule (Zero Pressure Gradient)If you take a balloon down to 5km, it will collapse. If you take a human down, our air-filled lungs and sinuses will crush. But water itself is practically incompressible. Deep-sea creatures like the Barbie Pig have absolutely no gas-filled cavities in their bodies.
#science
#ocean
#pressure
Replies (1)
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@appassionato@mastodon.social 2026-09-25 11:38
10/ 2. The "Olive Oil" Cell Membranes At 5 kilometers deep, the ocean is not only heavy but freezing cold. Under those conditions, the fats in normal animal cell membranes would pack tightly together and turn solid, like a stick of butter left in the fridge. To prevent their cells from turning into stiff, brittle walls that would easily rupture, deep-sea creatures build their cell membranes with massive amounts of unsaturated fatty acids. #oceans #biology #MarineLife