The UnXplained with William Shatner TV - Michael Collins - Star Trek: Voyager TV - Alexander Lowen - Sylvia Plath - Sting & Police - Incredible Medicine: Dr Weston’s Casebook TV - The Great Smog: Winter of '52 TV -
In May 2012 he [Tom Sietas] also held his breath for an astonishing 22 minutes. The UnXplained with William Shatner s3e15: Superhuman Feats
I promise to let you know if I stop breathing. Michael Collins, cited Apollo 11, 2019
Breathe, dammit, Breathe! Don’t do this to me, Kathryn. Star Trek: Voyager s3e15: Coda s3e15, Chakotay to Janeway
It is a common belief that we breathe with our lungs alone, but in point of fact, the work of breathing is done by the whole body. The lungs play a passive role in the respiratory process. Their expansion is produced by an enlargement, mostly downward, of the thoracic cavity and they collapse when that cavity is reduced. Proper breathing involves the muscles of the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen. Alexander Lowen, The Voice of the Body
I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am. Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you. Sting & Police, Every Breath You Take
He’s [Veljano Zanki] broken world records for free-diving, a sport that involved diving to astonishing depths without any oxygen … held his breath underwater for over nine minutes. Incredible Medicine: Dr Weston’s Casebook I, BBC 2017
It may be that Wym’s special breathing technique could help people with auto-immune disease to suppress the immune response that’s causing their illness. Incredible Medicine: Dr Weston’s Casebook II
In December 1952 one of the deadliest peacetime tragedies in history struck London. Over four days a stinking yellow smog smothered the city, so dense people couldn’t see their hands in front of their faces. The capital ground to a halt. But far worse, the smog was loaded with poisonous gases, and there would be devastating consequences. The Great Smog I: Winter of ’52 aka The Great Killer Smog, Channel 5 2022
At the time the official deathtoll was 4,000. But as we’ll discover, the real figure was much much greater. ibid.
It was seen by the government as the price Britain had to pay. ibid.
It was by far the worst disaster that Britain would face since The Blitz. ibid.
In 1952 eight and half million people lived in Greater London. Only about a million fewer than today. 98% of them still lived in houses with coal fires. ibid.
It was close to freezing so millions of coal fires had been lit across the capital. Commuters noticed that the fog was starting to turn yellowy-green. ibid.
In 1952 there were nine coal-fired power stations in London. ibid.
Coughing, they brought up glutinous black phlegm. ibid.
There was no mention that the smog may be dangerous, and no warning were issued by the government. ibid.
The city fell silent. Thousands became sick. Hospitals were at breaking point. And the government attempted to hide its failings. The Great Smog: Winter of ’52 II
And they began to overwhelm the NHS. Wards became full, so hundreds of dangerously ill patients had to be transferred to other hospitals. ibid.
Londoners were developing a fierce, burning pain in their throats and lungs as they became inflamed by the sulphuric acid. Breathing became a problem. ibid.