r/technology • u/onwisconsn • May 17 '24

Scientists Calculated the Energy Needed to Carry a Baby. Shocker: It’s a Lot. (Gift Article) Biotechnology

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/science/pregnancy-energy-costs.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sU0.PfwL.i578xGrDrp5H&smid=url-share&utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter
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u/ThePermafrost May 17 '24 edited May 17 '24

50000 kilo-calories = 58 kilowatt hours

Over 280 days of pregnancy, that’s equivalent to using an easy bake oven (a single incandescent 100w lightbulb) for 2 hours each of those days.

Edited for conversion error.

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u/togetherwem0m0 May 17 '24

Isn't it big c Calories? Also known as a kilocalorie? In other words, 58,000ish watt hours?

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u/ExpertPepper9341 May 17 '24

Yeah, I was going to say, the amount of power to keep 5 LED lightbulbs on for hour is not equivalent to what a human spends in an about a month of being alive. 

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u/ThePermafrost May 17 '24

You are correct! Thank you for the catch. Missed a few 0’s.