I grew up as part of the airplane generation -- when my sisters and I were kids, if we were flying, my parents and I had to dress up in nice clothes. Those days are gone -- now you can fly in shorts and a T-shirt and no one really cares. I don't think anyone really noticed when the nice clothes went away, I know by the time I was flying between LA and Oakland for school, the formality of dress had given in to casual clothes.
I wonder if it'll be the same with cellphones -- if 10 years from now people will reminsce about a time when cellphones weren't available on planes, and you didn't have to hear the jibber jabber of the person behind you. The thing is, they've tried the inflight phones before -- they didn't sell, even when they offered modem and fax services. Still, if it does become commonplace on flights to have a plane full of people chatting, then I definitely be putting noise canceling earphones to good use when I fly.
Bad Reception Awaits in-flight phones
The other article is about why we catch colds on planes. I've always thought it had to do with the poor circulation of air, but this latest research shows that while it certainly is a factor humidity plays a much more important role.
"Commercial jet airplanes fly typically fly at altitudes ranging from 27,000 to 39,000 feet. The air is extremely dry at these high altitudes. Therefore, when fresh air is brought into the plane to supply the passengers ands crew, it is very dry air.
Very dry air dries up the mucous system that captures and expels bacteria and viruses from our noses. This may be a key reason why airplane passengers catch more colds."
The Citizen Scientist: Do frequent flyers catch more colds?
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