Several astrophysicists have said more than once that we are made of the material that stars scatter when they die. But what really is our story? What is our design or our blueprints beyond DNA? Is there a materials list to consider? The folks at BBC took the trouble to create a platform called "The Making of Me and You", which will help you visualize very specific data about your body, from the number of cells to the market value of the elements that compose it.
When a person tries to describe themselves, they start with basic and relevant data such as height, weight, hair color, eyes, and skin. Some might want to add aspects like shoe size, but that data would be more than enough. Now, if we shift that description into physics, what can we say? We know that our body is composed mostly of water (the average is 65 percent), that it contains a large amount of carbon, and that it carries an important list of requirements, including hydration and food, to function correctly. However, most people have no idea how much their skin or bones weigh, or the liters of air that can fit in their lungs. Well, let's extend those doubts to our entire life. How many times has your heart beat? What is the volume of gases and excrement (!) you have generated?
All you need to do to find out is visit a new section on the BBC called "The Making of Me and You", enter your date of birth, gender, height, and weight. In a matter of seconds, you'll learn things about your body you were completely unaware of. For example: The total of chemical elements in my body has an estimated price of 3,357 dollars. Apparently, the most valuable of all is hydrogen, a true irony if we consider that it is the most abundant element in the universe. 71 percent of my cells are actually red blood cells, and if they were placed in a line, they would be able to cover 85 percent of the distance between Earth and the Moon. My body fat and organs weigh more than my muscles (no news there, thanks BBC!), and my trips to the bathroom have created more than two tons of fertilizer.
Each of the entries has an icon with additional information about the methods used to carry out the calculations, but the results do not take into account genetic, environmental, or lifestyle factors. That said, I am convinced that my body does not consume the equivalent of three pizzas without moving for 24 hours, and that my amount of gas is much higher. Want to try it? The link is below.
