A new video circulating on social media has captured the attention of millions, revealing the terrifying consequences if Earth were to lose all its oxygen for just five seconds. While most people can hold their breath for that duration, the absence of this vital gas would throw our world into chaos. The video, created by a prolific TikTok user known as Thomas Mulligan, sheds light on the catastrophic events that would unfold in this hypothetical scenario.
One of the startling revelations from the video is that even with the sun still shining, the world would be plunged into total darkness. Mulligan explains that without oxygen in the atmosphere to scatter the rays of light from the sun, the sky would go completely black. Initially, our bodies might not even notice the change, but the sudden darkness would be a clear indication of the absence of oxygen.
Mulligan, originally from Vancouver, Canada, has gained a significant following on TikTok with his videos on outer space, technology, and famous scientific figures. With nearly 963,000 followers, his short explanations and scientific trivia have captivated audiences. In this particular video, Mulligan delves into the second-order effects of a mass oxygen disappearance on Earth.
He highlights that any form of transportation relying on combustion would immediately cease to function. This means planes would fall from the sky and millions of cars would come to a standstill. Additionally, the ozone layer, responsible for protecting us from harmful UV rays, would vanish. This would lead to everyone and everything on Earth being exposed to intense heat, starting a cooking process.
As if these consequences weren’t enough, Mulligan reveals that our senses would also be greatly affected. The change in atmospheric air pressure caused by the vacuum of oxygen’s disappearance would cause our eardrums to explode. This would result in the loss of hearing for the entire global population.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation in Mulligan’s video is that the entire planet itself would begin to collapse. Mulligan explains that since the Earth’s crust is composed of 45 percent oxygen, its absence would cause the crust to collapse. As a result, everything and everyone would start falling towards the center of the Earth.
While this hypothetical scenario may seem far-fetched, it serves as a reminder of the crucial role oxygen plays in sustaining life on our planet. It also highlights the delicate balance of our ecosystem and the potential consequences if that balance were disrupted.
While Mulligan’s video offers a glimpse into the catastrophic events that would unfold if Earth lost all its oxygen for just five seconds, it also raises questions about the future of our planet. Scientists have long speculated about what will happen to Earth when the sun dies. In approximately five billion years, the sun will transform into a red giant star, growing more than a hundred times larger than its current size. This expansion will likely destroy any form of life on Earth. However, the fate of Earth’s rocky core remains uncertain.
As we contemplate the potential consequences of an oxygen-less Earth and the eventual demise of our sun, it serves as a reminder of the fragility and preciousness of our planet. The video by Thomas Mulligan may be a thought-provoking exercise, but it also emphasizes the importance of preserving and protecting our environment for future generations.