CMAJ • February 26, 2008; 178 (5). doi:10.1503/cmaj.1070181.
© 2008 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Walsh, M. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Walsh, M. J., MDCM
Related Collections
Right arrow Humour

Letters

Abolishing the law of gravity

Michael J. Walsh, MDCM

Barrie, Ont.

I read with interest the article by Claude Cyr and Luc Lanthier on the beneficial effects of abolishing the law of gravity.1 However, I see one small problem with the plan. Although abolishing gravity might prolong life, it will certainly not prevent death. If people die before 3 am or after 7 am (i.e., when the micro-gravity environment is in place) their bodies will start to deteriorate. Methane gas, which is lighter than air, will form and the bodies will eventually start to float. If they float high enough, the stratosphere will eventually become clogged with bodies, which will obliterate the sun. The lack of sunlight will affect the corn and barley crops, driving up the price of good whiskey. This would be economically disastrous. In addition, it would be difficult to bury a floating body, as it would tend to float out of the grave and drift off, especially if the burial was not held for a couple of days after death. Failure to correct for this variable might destroy the entire plan, good as it is.

Footnotes

Competing interests: None declared.


REFERENCE

  1. Cyr C, Lanthier L. One giant leap for mankind? A cost-utility analysis of abolishing the law of gravity. CMAJ 2007;177:1536-8.[Abstract/Free Full Text]




This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Walsh, M. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Walsh, M. J., MDCM
Related Collections
Right arrow Humour