In that scenario, as long as they could keep CO2 levels down, running out of oxygen isn't so bad (ignoring the other troubles). The human body can't detect a lack of oxygen, you just get tired and light headed and pass out.

Yes, but as you hinted at the human body can detect a rise in CO2 levels and it doesn't take much for things to start getting really uncomfortable and fast. To your point, if you could somehow manage the CO2 levels then you would just peacefully fall asleep and die.

i understand what you are basing your statement on (a cleaner version would be asphyxiation by breathing an inert gas) but you are very wrong. as a matter of fact people with an impaired amygdala who can't experience fear will panic when forced to breathe co2. also your breathing will get very shallow and cause co2 to accumulate triggering those very receptors you argue will stay silent.

https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2013.12350

You are arguing for the exact same thing as the person you’re replying to—while attempting to disagree with them. They said that provided you can keep CO2 levels down, lack of oxygen will cause drowsiness and cause you to pass out. This is true.

You then argued that breathing increased levels of CO2 will trigger survival instincts. This is also true, and exactly what grandparent said.

> while attempting to disagree with them

or you're just projecting your own character on someone you don't know?

That's not what they did at all

But kids and people die regularly due to having a barbeque thing lit in a close space and the coals consume the oxygen and make CO2.

Wouldn't that wake them up?

I also assumed that too much CO2 fast is the key not the super slow version of what those people in the sub have experienced

what you mean is CO - not CO2

What the does that have to do with what OP said?

OP, correctly, pointed out that we don't detect the lack of O2, we detect a buildup of CO2 (because it causes respiratory acidosis). If the CO2 is removed, there's nothing to cause the panic response, the situation itself notwithstanding.

It's still nea that it works with an impaired amygdala, though.

first of all - the co2 isn't removed ...

It is, they had CO2 scrubbers

but not endlessly. those scrubbers are saturated after a while. that's the whole point. otherwise suffocation wouldn't be a threat to begin with.

why do i have to argue here with so many people about something so simple to understand?

The CO2 scrubbers were in masks which could be replaced and there was enough for 96 hours

how is that even relevant to the question here? i'm out, have a good day

It's called a hypothetical.

> The human body can't detect a lack of oxygen

Unless you know you are trapped and running out of oxygen.

No, you really won't notice even if you know it's coming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUfF2MTnqAw

These kind of long, agonizing, pointless deaths are all too common when dealing with the ocean.

There was a horrifying case after Pearl Harbor where bodies were found in the airpocket of the USS West Virginia. They had flashlights with batteries and fresh water and had marked off 16 days on a calendar.

Legend has it that sailors could hear banging for weeks knowing they could not cut through the thick battleship armor in time and just drowned out the noise.

an article about it: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/16-days-to-die-at-...

A sometime co-worker's father was on a salvage crew at Pearl Harbor, and apparently heard the banging.