How to survive without air. Or, David Blaine: visualized!

David Blaine: How I held my breath for 17 minutes Check this out: a rather cool visualization of a TED Talk, courtesy of the Brazilian culture and science magazine Superinteressante. Each month, the magazine’s editors will take one of TED’s talks and give it to their graphic wizards to interpret in any way they see fit, adding a visual design element to presentations that have already sent minds a-whirring.

Here’s the time-driven circle of pain experienced by the magician/endurance artist David Blaine as he attempted to hold his breath for longer than anyone else ever had. I particularly love the emphatic warning, “do NOT try this at home,” like anyone else would actually try to do this. (Really, does this seem like a thing to try? Am I alone in not wanting to do this ever? OK, fine. I know, I know. File under “litigious society gone mad”.) Anyway, our thanks to artists Karin Hueck and Rafael Quick, as well as the editors at Superinteressante. See also Blaine’s own description of holding his breath for 17 minutes (and other incredible feats).