Why fish are better at breathing than you are - Dan Kwartler
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Recent studies found that elite runners can take in twice as much oxygen as non-runners. And it’s likely that this superhuman ability played a role in breaking the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019. But when it comes to breathing efficiently, not even the best runners can compete with the average fish. What makes fish some of the best breathers on Earth? Dan Kwartler explores the science of gills.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Beyond Gills
For some fish, breathing isn't as easy as opening their mouths and gill covers. Some species need to swim to breathe, while others use specialized breathing tubes or absorb oxygen directly through their skin! You can learn more about these various breathing abilities here and here. And while complex humans might not be as efficient at breathing compared to our scaly fish friends, our lungs are an equally complex and fascinating organ. You can learn more about how human lungs work with this TED-Ed lesson.
The Deep Sea
The deep ocean is full of creatures both fascinating and frightening that rely on a wide variety of unique adaptations to survive. You can meet some of these deep sea denizens here, or learn about the deepest dwelling fish we've discovered at this link.
For some fish, breathing isn't as easy as opening their mouths and gill covers. Some species need to swim to breathe, while others use specialized breathing tubes or absorb oxygen directly through their skin! You can learn more about these various breathing abilities here and here. And while complex humans might not be as efficient at breathing compared to our scaly fish friends, our lungs are an equally complex and fascinating organ. You can learn more about how human lungs work with this TED-Ed lesson.
The Deep Sea
The deep ocean is full of creatures both fascinating and frightening that rely on a wide variety of unique adaptations to survive. You can meet some of these deep sea denizens here, or learn about the deepest dwelling fish we've discovered at this link.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Dan Kwartler
- Director Denys Spolitak
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Composer Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
- Sound Designer Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Sazia Afrin
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Script Editor Joel Goldberg
