Bodily gases in strange places

[bare]

Or…things I’ve always wondered about. Bar discussion the other day enlightened me to the supposed fact that you are unable to burp in outer space but that one can fart quite proudly. That revelation led to my query: If you can’t rid yourself of burp gas will it turn into fart gas to escape? I would have thought they were two different gases, not only by their obvious odor, but because they are produced in different but connected organs. Whatcha think?

My other question maybe could be answered by a diver. What would happen if you drank a carbonated beverage just prior to a deep dive?

[bare]

Meant to put that in GQ, sorry folks.

[Emperor_Penguin]

*Originally posted by bare *
**Or…things I’ve always wondered about. Bar discussion the other day enlightened me to the supposed fact that you are unable to burp in outer space but that one can fart quite proudly. That revelation led to my query: If you can’t rid yourself of burp gas will it turn into fart gas to escape? I would have thought they were two different gases, not only by their obvious odor, but because they are produced in different but connected organs. Whatcha think?

My other question maybe could be answered by a diver. What would happen if you drank a carbonated beverage just prior to a deep dive? **

In 25 words or less the answer to the first question is, I believe, yes.

AFAIK burp gas is simply swallowed air, and if it can’t exit one end it can go to the other.

At least this is what happens to me sometimes when I’ve swallowed air for belching contests (what can I say, I enjoy the finer things in life ;)). If I don’t get it all out, it gets uncomforatble later on, for both me and everyone around me. That isn’t to say though that farts are also comprised of swallowed air. I think your intestinal fauna can produce enough gases for farting to occur (case in point, me after I drink a glass of milk, like I did tonight. The wallpaper is starting to peel.)

FWIW, I belive the smell of gas comes from only trace amounts of certain chemicals (i.e. SO[sub]x[/sub]'s)
I have no clue about the diving question though.

[Of course, take this answer with a grain of salt. It’s based on personal experience and I could be wrong.]

[The_Great_Philosopher]

*Originally posted by Corvus *
(case in point, me after I drink a glass of milk, like I did tonight. The wallpaper is starting to peel.)

hahaha

[Emperor_Penguin]

Yeah, you can laugh about it, I have to live with it

[Diver]

bare said “My other question maybe could be answered by a diver. What would happen if you drank a carbonated beverage just prior to a deep dive?”

I often drink carbonated beverages before I dive and nothing happens. Any gas in body cavities is compressed to some degree but not pushed out. For example, if you take an inflated balloon down it just shrinks until the pressure inside the balloon is equal to the outside pressure.

[Knowledge_Brings_Fear]

*Originally posted by bare *
**Or…things I’ve always wondered about. Bar discussion the other day enlightened me to the supposed fact that you are unable to burp in outer space but that one can fart quite proudly. **

The operative word is “supposed”.

That can’t be true, because expelling air is how they breath up there, and a burp is just doing it from the stomach instead of the lungs.

[jb_farley]

as to burping in space- I don’t see why you couldn’t. It’s peristalic action after all, isn’t it?

Unless every burp pushes your bolus out (isn’t sank to bottom w/ air on top) with the gas. What about vomiting in space? That’s gotta be gross (either you don’t make it to the space terlet, or you hafta lock your lips to the ass-vacuumer). Lose lose, huh?

As to drinking before a dive, I dunno. but my friend Carlos has videotape of chugging beer bottles at 10 or 20 meters. Realy cool.
jb