Claim: Scientists have created an "Aquaman Crystal" which will allow anyone to breathe underwater.
MIXTURE:
TRUE: Scientists in Denmark have synthesized a compound that could one day lead to the elimination of scuba tanks. | |
FALSE: Technology to enable underwater breathing is currently available. |
Example: [Collected via e-mail, October 2014]
Is this true? Scientists Have Created Crystals That Make Breathing Underwater a Reality.
Origins: Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark created a bit of a stir when they announced that a newly synthesized crystalline material could store oxygen in high concentrations.
But just how concentrated are we talking here? The original version of the report, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemical Science in October 2014, stated that a spoonful of material was enough to absorb all of the oxygen in a room.
Can you imagine the possibilities? The Internet did, and soon the web was full of rumors about a miracle crystal that would allow anyone to breathe underwater. But that isn't exactly true. While the Aquaman Crystal can store a high concentration of oxygen, it would take about 10 liters of compound to suck up all of the oxygen in an average size room.
A representative for Syddansk University issued a statement regarding the compound's efficiency.
"I am just updating our story on our website, because it turns out that Prf McKenzie made a calculation error. Pls note that it is not a SPOONFUL of this stuff, that we need to rid a room of oxygen. It is a bucket (10 litres). We apologize."
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have developed a compound that could, one day, make it possible for scuba divers to ditch their tanks. Unfortunately, that day is not today.
Mckenzie said:
When the material is saturated with oxygen, it can be compared to an oxygen tank containing pure oxygen under
Last updated: 7 October 2014