What If the World Lost Oxygen for Five Seconds?

Imagine if all the Earth’s oxygen disappeared. Not forever, just for say, 5 seconds? Would we just hold our breath? What would happen to the atmosphere? What would happen to the environment? Here’s what would happen if the world lost oxygen for just 5 seconds.

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About What If: Produced by Underknown in Toronto, Canada, What If is a mini-documentary web series that takes you on an epic journey through hypothetical worlds and possibilities. Join us on an imaginary adventure — grounded in scientific theory — through time, space and chance, as we ask what if some of the most fundamental aspects of our existence were different.

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere." — Carl Sagan

[bruhchill]

Oxygen: leaves for 5 seconds

The existence of literally everything: *ight imma head out*

[Taidgh.Carberry]

Oxygen: I retire for like what, 5 seconds and everything goes to shit

[roblarssen]

At the beginning it sounded like you were talking about O2 in the atmosphere but later you started talking about any compound containing an oxygen atom (e.g. oxide layers). Practically every organic molecule in our bodies has an oxygen atom so if oxygen disappeared then we would literally disintegrate instantly.

[sibby]

It's also worth pointing out that all the water on earth would instantly turn to hydrogen because the oxygen in H2O would disappear and there would only be hydrogen left.

[illxune]

Me: 5 seconds ain't a big deal

Afterwards: Well that sucks...

[tasean]

imagine if someone was holding their breath for 29 seconds and then right as they about to take a breath this happens

[RealTetra]

Even though it's only 5 seconds, the way he describes it feels like it's forever 💀

[mercenarygary]

It's incredibly hard to believe that all of this would happen in 5 seconds. Science is amazing.

[lorenzosetola]

Me: *reads the title*

Still me: *ah, easy*

Oxygen: *let me end this man’s whole career*

[isabelliu]

“yOuLL bE fiNe u wOnt eVeN nOtiCe”:

**everything collapses around us and our ears explode**

[Freeden]

I always love these what if scenarios that only last a few seconds because it sounds like it's not a lot of time, but then it ends up being one of the worst nightmare scenarios ever.

[SinisterPixel]

I like how this video goes from "you probably wouldn't even notice" to "you'll get instantly sunburned in the dark and the entire planet would crumble under your feet"

[BorSam]

Five seconds later:
Oxygen: it's a prank.

[josepreciado]

I love how we start with... “your body won’t notice” to... “the earth itself will completely destroy itself”

[pgjosiah]

“You would get a severe sunburn”


“It will be completely dark”

[baylee]

“You’ll be fine, , you won’t even notice.”

“Your ears will explode”

[arabgaming]

Who would’ve thought that 5 seconds without oxygen would be so devastating.

[jordankellison]

With my luck I'd be the guy coming out of water for a breath when the five seconds started

[saman]

Oxygen: *disappears*
Oxygen 5 seconds later: "Haha! APRIL

[selenas]

This would be a great movie. No oxygen for five seconds and then the survivors would try to make a living after the disaster and shit idk