Who established the connection between nitrogen bubbles and decompression sickness in 1878?

The correct answer is that Paul Bert established the connection between nitrogen bubbles and decompression sickness in 1878. He was a French physiologist who conducted experiments on the effects of pressure on gases in the body and was the first to describe how nitrogen gas can dissolve in the bloodstream under pressure.

His research laid the groundwork for understanding decompression sickness, a condition that divers experience when they ascend too quickly after being exposed to high-pressure environments, causing dissolved gases to form bubbles in the body. Bert's contributions significantly advanced the study of gas physiology and diving medicine, making his work foundational for the safety protocols used in scuba diving today.

The other individuals mentioned, such as John Haldane, while important figures in the field of diving physiology and decompression theory, came later and built upon the foundational work established by Bert. Haldane contributed to the development of decompression tables and further understanding of nitrogen absorption and release but did not initially establish the connection between nitrogen bubbles and decompression sickness.