So here’s something that might blow your mind a little: 

🧠 Your brain, that 3-pound wrinkly powerhouse inside your skull, uses around 20% of your body’s total energy. 

Wait… what? 

Let’s break that down. 

Think About It (Pun Fully Intended) 

The average adult brain weighs about 2% of your total body weight. 

But it consumes a whopping 20% of your energy output just to do its thing. That’s like having a roommate who only takes up one room in your house but uses all the Wi-Fi, electricity, and snacks. 

Most of this energy isn’t even about thinking super hard or solving complex problems. It’s spent just… existing. Keeping the lights on. Running all those behind-the-scenes operations like: 

1. Regulating your heartbeat 

1. Processing what you see and hear 

1. Recalling that random song lyric from 2007 

“But I’m Not Even Doing Anything!” 

Exactly. Your brain is. 

Even when you’re chilling, your brain is working overtime — managing your body, making subconscious decisions, and prepping your next brilliant idea (or awkward comeback). 

And when you are thinking deeply, like learning a new skill or solving a puzzle? It still uses energy at about the same rate. Cognitive effort just shifts where the energy goes — more to memory, less to motor control, etc. 

Mind = Blown. 

(Also: Mind = Hungry.) 

This Is Why Sleep & Snacks Matter 

Ever wonder why you’re cranky when you’re tired or unfed? 

That’s your brain throwing a mini tantrum. 

1. No food? Less glucose = slower thinking, more errors, and possibly eating your coworker’s lunch by mistake. 

1. No sleep? The brain struggles to clear out waste (yes, literal brain trash), making everything foggy. 

So, next time you’re in a mental slump? 

Snack smart, hydrate, maybe take a nap. 

Your brain’s basically running a power plant 24/7 — give it some respect. 

Fun Bonus: You’re Not “Using 10% of Your Brain” 

That myth? Total garbage. 

Imaging scans show we use virtually all parts of our brain, depending on the task. So yes, you’re using all that energy — it’s just not all going to genius thoughts. Some of it is, y’know, keeping your organs alive. 

Still important. 

TL;DR: 

1. Your brain is small but mighty: 2% of body weight, 20% of energy use. 

1. It works 24/7, even when you’re sleeping. 

1. Fuel it with sleep, good food, and hydration. 

1. Multitasking isn’t real — your brain is just sprinting between tabs. 

1. Respect the hustle happening in your head. 

Want more fun brain facts or wild body trivia? 

Drop me a topic, and I’ll dig up the weirdest (true) stuff for you. 

Your neurons will thank you. 

The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth, and everything about it is oversized—including its heart. A blue whale’s heart is about the size of a small car and can weigh up to 400 pounds (180 kilograms). Its size reflects just how massive these ocean creatures are.

What’s especially interesting is that a person could actually fit inside one of the whale’s arteries. Some of its largest blood vessels are wide enough to allow an adult to pass through. These arteries carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the whale’s body, which can reach lengths of over 100 feet.

The heart works hard to circulate blood across such a large body. Each beat pushes gallons of blood to the muscles, organs, and brain. Despite this effort, the heart beats slowly—only 2 to 10 times per minute when the whale is deep underwater. This slow rhythm helps conserve oxygen, an efficient way to survive in the deep sea.

Scientists have studied the blue whale’s heart to better understand how large animals function. In 2015, a preserved blue whale heart was displayed at a museum in Canada, giving researchers and visitors a rare opportunity to examine it up close. Because of the whale’s size and deep-sea habitat, such chances are uncommon and valuable.

The blue whale’s heart is more than just a vital organ—it’s an example of how nature adapts to support life on a massive scale. From its steady beat to its wide arteries, the heart reflects the remarkable biology of life beneath the waves.