Aviation Nutrients: The Bold Concept of Extracting Nutrition from the Air We Breathe

Approximately a decade ago, the British tabloid Solar published a striking piece about a couple claiming to be “Breatharians” who asserted they could survive on minimal water and even less food, claiming to live off the energy from the air, sunlight, and the universe itself. This narrative was picked up by media outlets worldwide, catapulting the couple into fame and drawing both intrigue and ridicule.

It goes without saying that humans—even those who identify as Breatharians—cannot survive primarily on air and sunlight. Attempts to do so have led to dire consequences. However, intriguingly, this idea might be more significant than it first seems. A pair of Australian scientists suggest that we may actually be able to absorb nutrients from the air. Could it be that this source of nourishment has always been right in front of us?

“The evidence indicates clearly that nutrients can be absorbed from the air we inhale,” states Flávia Fayet-Moore, a nutrition scientist at Newcastle University in Australia. While it’s still uncertain whether these so-called “aviation nutrients” can materially benefit our health, their potential remains a tantalizing prospect.

On a daily basis, we breathe in 7000-8000 liters of air, a whimsical mix of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, water vapor, and other gases. Our lungs draw out oxygen and…