A disturbing simulation has demonstrated the devastating consequences that would occur if Earth lost all oxygen for merely five seconds, and despite the brief timeframe, the results would be absolutely catastrophic.
Earth’s atmospheric composition consists of 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. While oxygen isn’t the most prevalent gas in our atmosphere, its importance cannot be overstated—and not solely for human survival.
Oxygen remains crucial for life as we understand it, but one might assume that a five-second absence wouldn’t cause significant harm, particularly since most people can hold their breath for longer than that duration.
However, this assumption proves entirely incorrect, as a widely-shared simulation video has outlined the dramatic effects on both humanity and our planet if oxygen disappeared for such a brief period.
In a simulation published by YouTube channel “What If,” a narrator explained that while breathing would continue normally, everything else would undergo dramatic changes.
Structural Collapse
Anything constructed from concrete would “instantly collapse” since oxygen plays a vital role in concrete’s binding process. This means buildings made from this material would weaken and potentially crumble to the ground.
Any “untreated metal” would also fuse together because the oxidation layer within metal that prevents welding would be eliminated.
Atmospheric Protection Loss
Individuals outdoors should anticipate “instant sunburn” as the ozone layer, which shields us from the sun’s intense UV radiation, would cease to exist since oxygen is essential for its function.
The simulation continues: “In addition to sunburn, our inner ear would explode. Losing oxygen means losing 21 percent of our air pressure, and losing that is the equivalent to being at sea level and dropping down 2,000 metres instantly. Our ears wouldn’t have enough time to adapt.”
Transportation and Infrastructure Failures
Without oxygen, fire cannot exist, meaning only electric vehicles would continue operating while combustion-engine cars would stop functioning. Aircraft would immediately fall from the sky.
Additionally, Earth’s crust would completely collapse since it contains 45 percent oxygen.
Environmental Darkness
Complete darkness would consume the atmosphere. Without oxygen, our atmosphere would lose its ability to effectively scatter sunlight, plunging us into darkness.
Typically, sunlight bounces off atmospheric particles—including oxygen molecules—when entering our planet, but this process would cease entirely.
Geoffrey Widdinson, a Process Engineer from Texas, provided further insight into this scenario.
He explained: “In terms of breathing, we probably wouldn’t notice. Our bodies can’t detect oxygen deficiency, we can only detect high carbon dioxide levels. As long as CO2 isn’t building up in our blood, we don’t feel like we’re suffocating.
“Actually, it would be disappointingly undramatic. The phenomenon of a hundred million cars stalling at once would get some attention, and people monitoring air pressure would notice the blip there, but we’d never figure out the cause and eventually just shrug it off.”