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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by allisonm on July 20, 2000, at 21:10:24
Preface: This has nothing to do with Psychobabble or mental health or drugs. I haven't paid much attention to science since I was in school and I've forgotten a lot. Maybe someone who is into science more than I am can answer this:
Tell me (please) can cells decompose without oxygen?
My dad has a deep freezer in the back of his shop where he keeps fish that the fisherman bring him from Lake Ontario. They even fillet them for him and he wraps them in freezer paper and freezes them. He eats some, but gives most away to people who like fish.
Well, the freezer went bad and it took some time for the smell to get strong enough to where it wafted forward and he noticed it and realized that all of his "nice" fish were rotting. (This happened once before when someone unplugged on the freezer by mistake, but it was only a day or two after. I ended up cleaning it up. Pretty nauseating.)
This freezer failure happened more than two and probably three weeks ago. I just learned on Sunday that he hasn't cleaned it out, but has wrapped duct tape around it and wheeled the thing outside. I cannot imagine the scene inside. He says he's waiting for a good south wind before he opens it and empties it out. I've told him that that's not a very nice thing to do to Canada. He contends in the meantime that because it's sealed shut, the fish won't decompose anymore because there's no oxygen. I'm going on vacation in a week, and asked him to wait until I'm out of the county before he opens the freezer to prove his point.
So, what think?
Posted by dj on July 20, 2000, at 21:43:06
In reply to A weird science question/completely irrelevant, posted by allisonm on July 20, 2000, at 21:10:24
>I'm going on vacation in a week, and asked him to wait until I'm out of the county before he opens the freezer to prove his point.
>I think the whole thing stinks, including his theory! ; )
Posted by Jennifer on July 21, 2000, at 1:11:50
In reply to Re: A weird science question/completely irrelevant, posted by dj on July 20, 2000, at 21:43:06
Oh my gosh...we'll probably smell that out here on the west coast of USA! His theory IS as bad as the fish. There is a TON of oxygen in the freezer space...it's not like the fish breath like we do!!! And might I add that they are dead! It only takes a bit of oxygen, and since room air is 19-21%, and the volume of the freezer is HUGE in comparison to the cells decomposing...this is going to be GROSS! Maybe they'll even by completely decomposed so all he has to do is rinse out the paper when he opens it! Oh I hate fish...and this is disgusting! PLEASE have him start a pit fire or something and start burning the fish...you don't want it sitting in the trash or having any animals looking for it. I'm off to barf now! Have a great vacation! Jennifer
> >I'm going on vacation in a week, and asked him to wait until I'm out of the county before he opens the freezer to prove his point.
> >
>
> I think the whole thing stinks, including his theory! ; )
Posted by allisonm on July 21, 2000, at 20:05:27
In reply to Re: A weird science question/completely irrelevant, posted by Jennifer on July 21, 2000, at 1:11:50
Thanks. I thought he was full of fish...er, you know what I mean. Luckily it has been a windless week. If he tells me, I can try to let you know ahead of time before he does it so you can shut your windows over there. I just hope no flies got in before the hermetic sealing.
Posted by FlakE2 on July 25, 2000, at 11:19:27
In reply to Re: A weird science question/completely irrelevant » Jennifer, posted by allisonm on July 21, 2000, at 20:05:27
Actually, anaerobic decay, usually stinks worse because the lack of oxygen means incomplete break down. That is, it doesn't decompose all the way back to ordinary black compost without lots of air.
Thanks for the chuckle.. >
Thanks. I thought he was full of fish...er, you know what I mean. Luckily it has been a windless week. If he tells me, I can try to let you know ahead of time before he does it so you can shut your windows over there. I just hope no flies got in before the hermetic sealing.
This is the end of the thread.
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