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- Titan vessel imploded in deepsea, how come deepsea fish are able to survive with unbelievable pressure undersea
Titan vessel imploded in deepsea, how come deepsea fish are able to survive with unbelievable pressure undersea
The Titan vessel imploded in deepsea because it had air pockets inside it that could not withstand the high hydrostatic pressure of the water. The pressure increases by 1 atm for every 10 meters of depth, so at the depth of about 4 km where the Titan sank, the pressure was about 400 times greater than at the surface. This caused the air pockets to collapse and the metal hull to crumple like a soda can.
Deepsea fish, on the other hand, have evolved various adaptations to help them survive in the crushing depths of the ocean. Some of these adaptations are:
Lack of swim bladders.
Swim bladders are gas-filled organs that help fish control their buoyancy and depth. However, they are also vulnerable to compression by water pressure. Deepsea fish do not have swim bladders, or have very small ones, to avoid this problem.
Flexible bones and tissues.
Deepsea fish have gaps in their skulls and bones that are largely made of cartilage instead of calcium. This makes their bones more flexible and able to withstand pressure. Their tissues and cells are also more elastic and less rigid than those of shallow-water fish.
High levels of TMAO.
TMAO is a substance that stabilizes proteins and prevents them from breaking down under high pressure. Deepsea fish have high levels of TMAO in their bodies, which also helps them retain water and prevent dehydration.
Specialized transport proteins.
Deepsea fish have more proteins that transport necessary substances across their cell membranes, which can be difficult at high pressures. These proteins help them maintain their metabolism and cellular functions.
These adaptations allow deepsea fish to open and close their mouths and gills without water rushing in, as they have balanced the internal and external pressures on their bodies. They can also survive without functional eyes, as they live in complete darkness and rely on other senses.
The science behind this is the study of piezophysiology, which is the physiology of organisms under high pressure. It is a fascinating field that reveals how life can thrive in extreme environments.
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