Using humans as batteries: is this movie quote accurate?

[tragedienne]

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

 

[russ_watters]

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.

 

[DavidSnider]

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.

 

[parkerjm]

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.

 

[LudusRex]

,

Thank you for your question. I can confidently say that the quote from The Matrix is not entirely accurate. While it is true that the human body does produce bio-electricity and heat, it is not enough to power machines or serve as a viable energy source. According to scientific studies, the average human body only produces enough energy to power a lightbulb for a short period of time. Additionally, the idea of using humans as batteries is not feasible from a biological standpoint. The process of converting human tissue into energy is complex and not currently possible with our current technology.

Furthermore, the idea of using humans as an energy source raises ethical concerns and is not a sustainable solution. It is important to focus on developing renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources rather than exploiting human beings for energy. While The Matrix is a fictional movie, it is important to critically analyze the scientific accuracy of its concepts and not take them as fact.

In terms of the possibility of using humans as an energy source in the future, it is highly unlikely. As mentioned before, the process of converting human tissue into energy is complex and not currently possible. Additionally, it goes against ethical and moral principles to use human beings in this way.

I hope this answers your questions and provides some insight into the scientific accuracy of the quote from The Matrix. As a scientist, it is important to critically evaluate information and not take things at face value. Thank you for your curiosity and interest in science.