FlipFact of the Day: Your brain accounts for roughly two percent of your body weight, but uses about 20 percent of your energy.
The average adult human brain weighs around 1.4 kg, which is roughly 2 percent of a human’s total body weight.
Interestingly, the brain requires 20 percent of the body’s resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is the rate at which the body burns energy when it is at complete rest.
Research suggests that two-thirds of the brain’s energy budget goes to helping neurons or nerve cells send signals. Meanwhile, the rest is allocated for cell-health maintenance.
Today’s Science History Milestone: On September 14, 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 2 crashed on the Moon, east of the Sea of Serenity. It was the first man-made object to reach a celestial body.
Still remember your 5th-grade science classes? Test your knowledge and see if you still remember these facts and fundamental concepts in human anatomy, biology, botany, and other branches of science. Click here to try the “Are You Smarter Than A Pinoy Fifth-Grader” Challenge.
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References
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thinking-hard-calories/
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-the-brain-need-s/
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
