Scientists Behind “Butt-Breathing” Discovery Complete First Human Trial
In a bizarre yet groundbreaking medical advancement, the team that won the 2024 IgNobel Prize for proving mammals can absorb oxygen through their anus has successfully conducted the first human trial of enteral ventilation—a technique that pumps oxygen-rich fluid into the rectum.
The findings, published in Med, confirm what was once a laughable concept: humans, like rodents and pigs, can “breathe” through their intestines in emergencies.
From IgNobel Joke to Medical Breakthrough
The IgNobel Prize, awarded by Improbable Research, celebrates studies that “first make people laugh, then make them think.” Last year, Dr. Takanori Takebe (Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital) and his team won for demonstrating that mammals could use intestinal oxygen absorption as a survival mechanism.
Now, their follow-up trial—involving six healthy volunteers—showed that humans can safely tolerate the procedure, officially called enteral ventilation via anus (EVA). Participants received oxygenated perfluorocarbon (a medical-grade liquid) rectally, leading to measurable increases in blood oxygen levels without serious side effects.
How Does Rectal Oxygen Therapy Work?
The intestines, like the lungs, can absorb gases when dissolved in liquid. By pumping oxygen-rich fluid into the rectum, the lining of the intestines absorbs the oxygen and transfers it into the bloodstream.
While it may sound absurd, the concept isn’t entirely new. Fish like loaches use intestinal breathing in low-oxygen water. Mammals, including humans, appear to retain this latent ability—they just don’t use it under normal conditions.
Potential Lifesaving Applications
EVA could become a last-resort option for patients with severe lung failure (e.g., from COVID-19, pneumonia, or COPD) when ventilators aren’t available or effective.
Dr. Takebe’s team is now planning trials for critical care patients. If successful, this method could save lives in emergencies or resource-limited settings.
Public Reaction: Hilarity Meets Curiosity
Social media erupted with reactions, including:
– “So this is what they meant by ‘alternative breathing techniques.’”
– “Finally, a legitimate reason to say, ‘I need to go get some air.’”
– “Do oxygen enemas count as wellness trends now?”
Beyond the jokes, the implications are serious—EVA could reshape emergency medicine by providing an unconventional but viable oxygen-delivery method.
Why Unconventional Science Matters
This research exemplifies how “absurd” science can lead to real-world breakthroughs. The IgNobel Prize exists to celebrate such boundary-pushing ideas—because sometimes, the most ridiculous hypotheses turn out to be revolutionary.
Would you volunteer? Probably not. But if you were struggling to breathe, you might just thank these scientists for thinking outside the box—or, in this case, inside it.
