[pfdietz]

It's a shame xenon is an anesthetic. If it did not have that effect, one could pressure xenon until it was the same density as the body. It would still be a gas, and one could include some oxygen in it so one wouldn't suffocate (although breathing could be more laborious, perhaps require mechanical support).

Suspended in this gas, one could be subjected to much higher acceleration without injury, up the point that density differences in the body become important.

[saagarjha]

This would require at least 150 atmospheres of pressure: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=%281+g%2Fcm%5E3%29%2F%2.... You’re definitely well into the “would quickly kill a human” territory.

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

What acceleration would be survivable in such a system? And wouldn't that cause the oxygen to pool and not be readily available for breathing?

[indoordin0saur]

Could you achieve this same effect suspended in a tank of water with a breathing mask?

[pfdietz]

To some extent, but there would still be a large density difference between tissue and the air in the lungs. Perfluorocarbon breathing liquids could be used.

[golergka]

If you mean to use it for space travel, may be xenon being an anaesthetic is a feature, not a bug?

[cess11]

It's a potent dissociative, you'll black out before you reach concentrations required for this purpose.

[golergka]

You're in a rocket on top of thousands of tons of explosives, everything runs automatically, there's terrifying noise all around and you don't control anything.

Blacking out in dissociative euphoria still sounds like a feature, not a bug to me.

[rhelz]

chuckle maybe for the jaded frequent flyer, but if I go up in a rocket I wanna experience everything, even a blow up if it happens.

[cess11]

Why would there be noise and explosives?

Personally I'd prefer to not be put in a coma in such an environment.

[indoordin0saur]

Sounds like you don't like a good time :-P

[mathsmath]

I had a similar experience recently. Massive turbulence on a commercial flight low over the continental divide flying into Denver.

I personally witnessed 3 people vomiting, but I was all smiles the whole time. I am in small planes a lot, so kind of enjoy the bumps when it’s someone else’s job to fly now.

[BizarroLand]

I suppose that if we ever develop some sort of hypersleep/suspended animation or whatever we want to call it then being dissociated by a noble gas before the system kicks in might be a good idea.