The Human Meatball: A Visualisation of Earth’s Population
As of now, Planet Earth is bustling with approximately 8.2 billion human beings. Each individual, in essence, can be likened to a deconstructed meatball sporting Birkenstocks and a North Face jacket.
Have you ever thought about this unique analogy? Well, a Reddit user, four years back, delved into the mathematical intricacies of this comparison, adding to the vast array of online content that helps us envision the human race as a collective mass.
In a Reddit post, user kiki2703 shared an interesting calculation, stating that if all 7.88 billion people on Earth were blended into a goo-like substance (with a density of 985 kg/m3 and an average body mass of 62 kg), the resulting sphere of human goo would measure just under 1 km in diameter.
Considering the average density of a minced human to be 985 kilograms per cubic meter, akin to water’s density, and with a global population of around 7.9 billion in mid-2021, this colossal meatball would fit snugly within the boundaries of New York City, even finding ample space in Central Park.
Comparatively, a sausage made from every insect would weigh approximately a billion tons, given insects’ density is slightly less than water. A similar weight estimate applies to mesopelagic fishes, totaling around 1 billion tons.
For those inclined towards a different culinary adventure, combining the Earth’s mass of bacteria into a massive slurpee would yield a 70 billion-ton beverage, just slightly denser than water. This concoction could transform Manhattan into a vast buffet for all.
The idea that our entire biosphere could condense into such a compact space is truly mind-boggling. However, it might not be the most appetizing topic for discussion during your next family gathering.
Apologies, Mom.
