What if oxygen vanished for 6 seconds? Shocking consequences revealed

Oxygen is unequivocally the most crucial gas as no living organism can exist without it. However, what if there was no oxygen for 6 seconds in Earth? Here are the possible consequences.

What if oxygen vanished for 6 seconds? Shocking consequences revealed
Have you ever imagined the consequences of a scenario where the entire world experienced a loss of oxygen supply for just 6 seconds?

If oxygen vanished for 6 seconds and then came back, it would have significant consequences for life on Earth. Oxygen is essential for most living organisms to survive, and without it, they would die. The disappearance of oxygen would cause a rapid chain of events that could have long-lasting effects on the planet's ecosystem. However, there are other shocking changes would occur if oxygen really vanished for 6 seconds.

What would happen if there was no oxygen for 6 seconds in Earth?

It could result in some sickness and darkness

Firstly, if oxygen vanished for 6 seconds, humans and animals would immediately start to feel the effects. Our bodies require oxygen to function, and within seconds of its disappearance, we would begin to feel dizzy and disoriented.

oxygen darkness
A dark sky would be horrific. (Photo: Unsplash)

The reason why sunlight reaches the Earth's surface is due to the reflection of light particles on the particles present in the air, such as dust, oxygen molecules, and other impurities. Without oxygen, there would be fewer particles for the light to reflect off of, resulting in a dark or black sky. In this scenario, light would still reach the Earth, but it would appear as though it were coming from a single point source rather than spreading out in all directions, as we typically observe with the Sun's rays.

Absence of ozone layer would result in severe sunburn for beachgoers

Ozone is responsible for blocking the majority of UV radiation from sunlight from entering the troposphere.

Beach
No oxygen on the beach: Deadly sunburns. (Photo: Unsplash)

As ozone is made up entirely of molecular oxygen (O3), without it, the environment would resemble a toaster. If this were the case, people relaxing on the beach would be at a higher risk of getting severe sunburn.

The absence of oxygen would cause everyone's inner ear to explode

If the air pressure suddenly decreased by 21%, it would be equivalent to an abrupt altitude change of nearly 2000m, causing difficulties in equalizing ear pressure. This could result in barotrauma, which refers to damage caused by a failure to balance the pressure of an air-filled space with the surrounding environment.

inner ear explosion
Nobody would not want to experience it. (Photo: Unsplash)

Barotrauma typically occurs during rapid pressure changes, such as those experienced during deep sea diving or air travel, where ears may feel blocked. In the absence of oxygen, this sensation would be amplified on a much larger scale, leading to severe hearing loss.

The lack of oxygen would cause every structure made of concrete to crumble

Concrete structures rely on oxygen to maintain their structural integrity, as it acts as a binding agent. Without oxygen, the compounds in concrete would not be able to retain their rigidity, leading to their collapse.

Concrete crack
Aside concrete, even the Earth's crust would crumble. (Photo: Unsplash)

Overall, while it is well-known that oxygen is vital for human survival, even a brief period of oxygen deprivation, as short as 6 seconds, can be extremely hazardous and potentially fatal for Earth.