Using humans as batteries: is this movie quote accurate?

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SUMMARY

The quote from Morpheus in The Matrix regarding humans as energy sources is largely inaccurate. The human body generates approximately 300-2000 BTUs of heat per hour, significantly less than the exaggerated claims in the film. The concept of using humans as a sustainable energy source is fundamentally flawed, as it lacks efficiency and sustainability. The original intention behind the idea was to depict human brains as a distributed biological computer, which was simplified for audience comprehension.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic thermodynamics and energy conversion
  • Familiarity with human physiology and metabolic processes
  • Knowledge of energy consumption metrics such as BTUs
  • Awareness of the philosophical implications of using biological entities as energy sources
NEXT STEPS
  • Research human metabolic rates and energy expenditure in various activities
  • Explore the concept of biological computing and its applications
  • Investigate sustainable energy sources and their efficiency compared to biological systems
  • Examine the ethical implications of using living beings as energy sources in science fiction and reality
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for film enthusiasts, energy researchers, ethicists, and anyone interested in the intersection of science fiction and real-world energy concepts.

tragedienne
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Hi there

I have just re-watched The Matrix (great movie) and one quote really stuck out to me:

"The human body generates more bio-electricity than a 120-volt battery and over 25,000 B.T.U.'s of body heat. We are, as an energy source, easily renewable and completely recyclable, the dead liquified and fed intravenously to the living."
-Morpheus(The Matrix)

My questions are:
- Is the actual quote regarding the human body and what it generates accurate?
- Could using humans as an energy source ever be possible now or in the future?


Sera Lea
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF!

It is mostly technobabble and what isn't technobabble is just wrong. A person gives off about 300-2000 btu/hr of heat depending on the activity. The stuff about "a 120-volt battery" is just gibberish.
 
Humans are an energy source -- whenever a human gets eaten by a lion it's an energy source.

Feeding the dead to the living in a closed system is obviously not sustainable or efficient.
 
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The original idea was that the machines were using a network of human brains as a distributed biological computer, but the folks making the movie thought that audiences wouldn't really understand that. The power source thing was supposed to be more relatable or something. Completely bogus.

Speaking of which, the human brain is a huge consumer of chemical energy. If you really wanted to use humans as a battery, you'd want to keep them comatose with minimal brain activity, not in an active dream state.
 

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