Why fish are better at breathing than you are - Dan Kwartler

TED-Ed2 minutes read

Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019, showcasing the extraordinary oxygen intake capacity of elite runners compared to non-runners. Fish utilize gill covers to efficiently extract oxygen from water, highlighting the remarkable breathing abilities of underwater creatures.

Insights

  • Elite runners like Eliud Kipchoge can absorb twice as much oxygen as non-runners, a key factor in their extraordinary marathon performance.
  • Fish utilize gills with covers to create a pressure differential for efficient oxygen absorption, showcasing a highly effective underwater breathing technique.

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Recent questions

  • How fast did Eliud Kipchoge complete the Vienna marathon?

    1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds

  • What unique ability do elite runners like Kipchoge possess?

    Ability to take in twice as much oxygen

  • How do fish primarily extract oxygen from water?

    Through gills

  • What role do gill covers play in the breathing process of fish?

    Creating a pressure differential

  • What technique do fish use for efficient gas exchange underwater?

    Gill covers creating pressure differential

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Summary

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Elite Runners and Fish: Oxygen Efficiency Secrets

  • In 2019, Eliud Kipchoge made history by completing a Vienna marathon in an unprecedented time of one hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds, breaking the two-hour barrier that was previously considered unattainable by most runners.
  • Recent studies have shown that elite runners, like Kipchoge, possess the remarkable ability to take in twice as much oxygen as non-runners, a crucial factor contributing to their exceptional performance in marathons.
  • Fish, known for their exceptional breathing abilities, primarily use gills to extract oxygen from water, with gill covers playing a vital role in the process by creating a pressure differential that pulls water through the gills, allowing for efficient gas exchange and absorption of oxygen, a technique that is remarkably efficient underwater.
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