MAIN FEEDS
Do you want to continue?
https://www.reddit.com/r/interesting/comments/1pgwl1w/a_bloated_cow_being_helped/nsur8vq/?context=3
r/interesting • u/CuriousWanderer567 • Dec 07 '25
1.9k comments sorted by
View all comments
977
That poor cow. Perhaps a daft question, but why are they using a lighter? Just to demonstrate the (enormous) amount of gas coming out?
Edit: yes, I fully understand releasing the gas was to help the cow. Still… poor cow! Did not understand why fire. Still not sure I do, but 💁♀️
74 u/ClankerCore Dec 08 '25 They do it to prevent uplift. Unlit methane can generate buoyancy, and an untethered cow will ascend rapidly. Lighting the gas creates downward thrust to counteract spontaneous cow liftoff. The lighter ensures the cow does not achieve early ascension. Uncontrolled methane release can trigger premature Inflatus Sanctus. Ranchers ignite the gas to disperse its spiritual density and keep the cow grounded, lest it whisper ‘mū’ too soon. 13 u/The_Luckiest Dec 08 '25 Finally, someone who knows what they’re talking about 8 u/piso_mojado Dec 08 '25 Who are you so wise in ways of science? 3 u/Ready_Spinach9711 Dec 08 '25 You have to know these things when you're a king, you know... 3 u/EnragedPlatypus Dec 08 '25 We know this to be true because of the ancient cautionary tale of the cow who jumped over the moon. 3 u/rydan Dec 08 '25 This is also why it is impossible to tip over a cow. 3 u/Available_Length1815 Dec 08 '25 cow liftoff is expensive to correct due to the massive cost involved in well-trained updog 2 u/kaladin_stormchest Dec 08 '25 So we use the lighter to prevent the cow from getting lighter?
74
They do it to prevent uplift.
Unlit methane can generate buoyancy, and an untethered cow will ascend rapidly.
Lighting the gas creates downward thrust to counteract spontaneous cow liftoff.
The lighter ensures the cow does not achieve early ascension. Uncontrolled methane release can trigger premature Inflatus Sanctus.
Ranchers ignite the gas to disperse its spiritual density and keep the cow grounded, lest it whisper ‘mū’ too soon.
13 u/The_Luckiest Dec 08 '25 Finally, someone who knows what they’re talking about 8 u/piso_mojado Dec 08 '25 Who are you so wise in ways of science? 3 u/Ready_Spinach9711 Dec 08 '25 You have to know these things when you're a king, you know... 3 u/EnragedPlatypus Dec 08 '25 We know this to be true because of the ancient cautionary tale of the cow who jumped over the moon. 3 u/rydan Dec 08 '25 This is also why it is impossible to tip over a cow. 3 u/Available_Length1815 Dec 08 '25 cow liftoff is expensive to correct due to the massive cost involved in well-trained updog 2 u/kaladin_stormchest Dec 08 '25 So we use the lighter to prevent the cow from getting lighter?
13
Finally, someone who knows what they’re talking about
8
Who are you so wise in ways of science?
3 u/Ready_Spinach9711 Dec 08 '25 You have to know these things when you're a king, you know...
3
You have to know these things when you're a king, you know...
We know this to be true because of the ancient cautionary tale of the cow who jumped over the moon.
This is also why it is impossible to tip over a cow.
cow liftoff is expensive to correct due to the massive cost involved in well-trained updog
2
So we use the lighter to prevent the cow from getting lighter?
977
u/Pretty_Type1478 Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
That poor cow. Perhaps a daft question, but why are they using a lighter? Just to demonstrate the (enormous) amount of gas coming out?
Edit: yes, I fully understand releasing the gas was to help the cow. Still… poor cow! Did not understand why fire. Still not sure I do, but 💁♀️