Released on = March 10, 2007, 3:07 am

Press Release Author = HypothesisNull

Industry = Telecommunications

Press Release Summary = Scientists at the University of Bristol have cracked climate
change. Less than a month into Richard Branson\'s five-year competition, academics
will take their winning idea to Virgin Earth and walk away with a cool $25 million.

Press Release Body = Scientists at the University of Bristol have cracked climate
change. Less than a month into Richard Branson\'s five-year competition, academics
will take their winning idea to Virgin Earth and walk away with a cool $25 million.

The solution, published online by The Journal of Unlikely Science, is remarkably
simple, requiring no technological wizardry or financial investment. It is quite
simply, stop breathing; or at least breathe less.

The authors of the study say those who exercise a lot could be doing no end of
damage to the Earth\'s atmosphere by breathing too much. \"All that time that the
super-fitties among us spend exercising, they\'re guzzling extra oxygen and belching
out tonnes of CO2.\"

Undertaking strenuous exercise causes an individual\'s metabolic rate to increase by
at least 50%, leading to increased amounts of carbon dioxide produced in the body
and expelled during breathing. At a rough estimate, the average person exercising
at the recommended level of thirty minutes five times a week could be adding as much
as 1.3kg of extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year. Multiplied across a
global population of 6.5 billion, this equates to a lung-busting 14 million tonnes.

Research has failed to show any clear cut difference between the metabolic rates of
the \"super-fit\" and less active members of the population when resting. Therefore,
claim the authors, contrary to earlier studies that hold the obese accountable for
global warming, those who eat more and exercise less are actually doing the world a
favour.

Although, said lead researcher, Dr. Mark Steer, \"The amount of carbon dioxide saved
by remaining sedentary is nothing compared to what you would save by running
somewhere instead of driving there.\"

But according to the study, we can all make a difference just by breathing less.
\"If we merely cut out one breath in three, we could decrease the amount of CO2
entering the atmosphere each year by a staggering 0.63 gigatonnes. That\'s the same
effect as saving 5 million acres of land (an area the size of Wales) from
deforestation.\"

Read the full article online at:
http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science/strange-but-true/profs-probings/carbon_virgin_earth_climate_breathing

Press photo at:
http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/photos/2007_02_28_Research_CarbonHighRes.jpg
Image caption: Doctors Impey and Steer prepare for their big climate win.

Please quote Null Hypothesis, The Journal of Unlikely Science, in any articles.
http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/


Web Site = http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/

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