What’s wrong with using Xenon to climb Everest?

Climbing Mount Everest usually takes weeks, and most of the time passes to the foot of the mountain adapting to the rare atmosphere. But last week, four Britons drastically shortened that time, traveling from London to the top and back in less than a week, according to the organizer of their expedition. They skipped the adjustment period, in part, inhaling a secret weapon: xenon gas. Their feat has shocked the world of mountaineering and has pro…

What’s wrong with using Xenon to climb Everest?

Reaching the top of the world and returning to London within a week without so much as stopping for a coffee in Kathmandu sounds like the stuff dreams are made of. But on 21 May 2025, four former members of the British special forces turned this dream into reality when they stood on the summit