Humor and suspense do not have the same “chemical makeup”. In movie theaters, the air exhaled by viewers varies significantly, according to a German study.
The suspense is not palpable, but we approach it. When a film is shown, the composition of the air changes depending on the atmosphere of the film. This was shown by German researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. Their technique, described in Scientific Reports, is original to say the least: they analyzed the chemical composition of the air in cinemas using a spectrometer.
9,500 spectators
Before carrying out the research, ten volunteers took charge of classifying the content of each scene of 16 films. A heavy work which allowed them, thereafter, to evaluate the variations of the air according to the tone of the sequences diffused. Once this preliminary step was completed, the researchers placed a spectrometer on the aeration device. Then they measured the chemical composition of the air during the projection of the films, several times. A total of 9,500 spectators were involved in the process. Himself, The Hobbit was used for 15 series of measurements.
Each film leaves a characteristic mark in the air, reveal the authors. Between films with a comic tone (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), fantasy (The Hobbit), or science fiction (Hunger Games), the composition is not the same.
800 chemical compounds exhaled
The variations are so fine that it is possible to distinguish between humorous scenes and those containing suspense. “The chemical signature of Hunger Games is very clear, even when we repeat measurements with different audiences, says lead author Jonathan Williams. The levels of carbon dioxide and isoprene in the air always increased significantly as the heroine fought for her life. The explanation of this phenomenon is very simple: the spectators tense up and breathe more quickly during the scenes of suspense.
These results could prove useful for better understanding human respiration and human metabolism. Because we exhale more than 800 chemical compounds. But we still know little about the physiological mechanisms that lead to the formation of these molecules. To answer this unknown, the researchers are continuing their analyzes. On the program: the results of the broadcast of the seventh episode of Star wars, The force awakens…
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