Hi, this is Emily from MinuteEarth, in a special collaboration with the Gates Foundation. Until a few decades ago, nearly half of the babies born more than six weeks premature faced a high risk of dying within a few hours or days. This was due to a condition called Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), which turned out to be a problem rooted in basic physics. In the United States alone, tens of thousands of babies lost their lives each year because of this issue.
The problem occurs deep in the lungs, in tiny air sacs known as alveoli. These alveoli are responsible for exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen. In healthy babies, the alveoli function like perfectly inflated mini-balloons. However, in premature babies with RDS, many of these mini-balloons either collapse or become overstretched, disrupting gas exchange and leading to suffocation.
The physics behind this involves the Law of Laplace, which explains that the more curved a stretchy surface is, the harder it squeezes the fluid inside. You can see this in action by connecting a small balloon and a large balloon with a straw. The smaller balloon will exert more pressure, pushing some of its air into the larger one.
In healthy lungs, alveoli stay properly inflated because they contain pulmonary surfactants. These surfactants make the small alveoli more flexible and help balance the pressure between the air sacs. However, premature babies often lack enough surfactants, causing the smaller alveoli to collapse while the larger ones become overstretched.
Initially, doctors had no way to adjust the stretchability of these air sacs. However, they discovered that by continuously pumping air into the preemies’ lungs, they could maintain enough pressure to prevent the smallest air sacs from collapsing without overinflating the larger ones. This allowed the babies’ lungs to develop enough surfactant to function independently.
A device called CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) was invented to achieve this. In the United States, the survival rate of preemies with RDS increased dramatically from one in four to three in four. Thanks to additional interventions, such as helping preemies produce surfactant before birth and supplementing their natural chemicals with artificial ones, we are moving closer to a future where no babies in the United States die from RDS.
Organizations like the Rice 360 Institute for Global Health are introducing affordable and easy-to-maintain versions of CPAP machines in clinics and hospitals in lower-income countries. This is improving survival rates for preemies globally. Since the invention of the CPAP, over 2 million babies with RDS have been saved worldwide. Now that’s a breath of fresh air.
Conduct a simple experiment using balloons to understand the Law of Laplace. Inflate a small and a large balloon and connect them with a straw. Observe how the air moves from the smaller balloon to the larger one. Discuss how this relates to the challenges faced by premature babies with RDS.
Create a simulation using soap and water to demonstrate how surfactants work in the lungs. Use a tray of water and sprinkle pepper on the surface. Add a drop of soap and watch how the pepper spreads out. Discuss how surfactants help keep alveoli open in the lungs.
Research and present on how CPAP machines work. Create a simple model using household items to demonstrate the concept of continuous positive airway pressure. Explain how this technology has improved survival rates for premature babies with RDS.
Analyze a case study of a premature baby treated with CPAP. Discuss the medical interventions used and their outcomes. Reflect on the global impact of these innovations in both high-income and low-income countries.
Engage in a discussion about the role of global health organizations in spreading life-saving technologies like CPAP to lower-income countries. Debate the challenges and solutions in making these technologies accessible worldwide.
Hi, this is Emily from MinuteEarth, in a special collaboration with the Gates Foundation. Until a few decades ago, nearly half of the babies born more than six weeks premature died within a few hours or days due to a condition now known as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Tens of thousands of babies lost their lives each year in the United States alone, from what turned out to be a basic physics problem.
This issue occurs deep in the lungs, in tiny air sacs called alveoli, which exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. In healthy babies, the alveoli are like perfectly inflated mini-balloons. However, in the lungs of preemies with RDS, many of these mini-balloons either collapsed or became overstretched, disrupting gas exchange and leading to suffocation.
The physics behind this is significant: when inflating a balloon, the hardest part is getting it started. This is partly due to the Law of Laplace, which states that the more curved a stretchy surface is, the harder it squeezes the fluid inside. You can observe this law by taking two balloons—one large and one small—and connecting them with a straw. The smaller balloon will exert more pressure, pushing some of its air into the larger one.
Human lungs operate similarly, but in healthy individuals, alveoli remain properly inflated because they contain pulmonary surfactants, which make the small alveoli more flexible and help balance the pressure between the air sacs. Preemies’ lungs often lack sufficient surfactants, causing the smaller alveoli to collapse while the larger ones become overstretched.
Initially, doctors had no means to adjust the stretchability of these air sacs, but they discovered that by continuously pumping air into the preemies’ lungs, they could maintain enough pressure to prevent the smallest air sacs from collapsing without overinflating the larger ones. This allowed the babies’ lungs to develop enough surfactant to function independently.
A device called CPAP was invented to achieve this, and in the United States, the survival rate of preemies with RDS increased dramatically from one in four to three in four. Thanks to additional interventions, such as helping preemies produce surfactant before birth and supplementing their natural chemicals with artificial ones, we are moving closer to a future where no babies in the United States die from RDS.
Moreover, organizations like the Rice 360 Institute for Global Health are introducing affordable and easy-to-maintain versions of CPAP machines in clinics and hospitals in lower-income countries, improving survival rates for preemies globally. Since the invention of the CPAP, over 2 million babies with RDS have been saved worldwide. Now that’s a breath of fresh air.
Physics – The branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. – In physics class, we learned about the laws of motion and how they apply to everyday activities like driving a car.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms. – Our biology teacher explained how ecosystems function and the importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecological balance.
Alveoli – Small air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. – The alveoli are crucial for efficient gas exchange, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be expelled from the body.
Surfactants – Substances that reduce surface tension, helping to keep the alveoli in the lungs from collapsing. – Surfactants play a vital role in respiratory function by ensuring that the alveoli remain open and capable of gas exchange.
Preemies – Informal term for premature infants, who are born before the completion of the normal gestation period. – Preemies often require special medical attention, including support for their underdeveloped lungs, to ensure proper breathing and growth.
Breathing – The process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs, essential for life. – Breathing is an involuntary action controlled by the respiratory center in the brain, ensuring that our bodies receive the oxygen needed for cellular respiration.
Pressure – The force exerted per unit area, often measured in pascals (Pa) in physics. – Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude, which is why mountain climbers may experience difficulty breathing at high elevations.
Gas – A state of matter consisting of particles that have neither a defined volume nor shape, and are free to move past each other. – In chemistry and physics, gases like oxygen and nitrogen are studied for their behavior under different temperatures and pressures.
Innovation – The introduction of new ideas, methods, or devices, often leading to advancements in technology and science. – The innovation of MRI technology has revolutionized the field of medical imaging, allowing for non-invasive examination of internal organs.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, often maintained through proper nutrition, exercise, and medical care. – Understanding the principles of biology and physics can contribute to better health by informing practices such as exercise physiology and medical diagnostics.
