SAQ: Mind Makes It Real
SAQ: Zion's Location
I can't help thinking about the implications of atmospheric pressure at 4 kilometers below the Earth's surface, where Zion is built. Atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 14.7 pounds per square inch. This means there are almost 15 pounds of pressure pushing against every square inch of our bodies at all times. Our bodies compensate by pushing out with the same force. This explains why humans "explode" if not pressurized in outer space, where there is no pressure at all.
When you dive 10 or 20 feet below the water, you will always notice an uncomfortable buildup of pressure on your ears. For every 33 feet down you travel in water, you experience the pressure of one more atmosphere (14.7psi). Humans can dive three or four atmospheres down and survive - any further, and humans need a submarine.
Assuming atmospheric pressure builds the same way through underground tunnels as it would in open space, the atmospheric pressure in Zion would be about 23 pounds per square inch instead of 14.7, which is over 1.5 atmospheres. Humans can certainly dive into water with this pressure for extended periods of time, but what if they took up permanent residence there? Would humans get more frequent headaches? More problems with high blood pressure?
Some less important results of this:
More patient cooks - Cooking adjustments would be necessary since the boiling point of water would be 241 degrees Farenheit instead of 212 (an increase from 100 to 116 degrees Celcius).
More crying children - Balloons full of helium would ascend with more force, causing more children to lose balloons.
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