Summary
Please note: This is a shorter version than the original podcast. A longer version is available here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct3j6y.
Humans can walk for miles, solve problems and form complex relationships using the energy provided by daily meals. That is a lot of output for a fairly modest input. Listener Charlotte from the UK wants to know: how efficient are humans? How do they compare to cars, other animals and even to each other?
Presenter Marnie Chesterton pits her energetic self against everything from cars to rabbits to find out how she shapes up.
Marnie also explores whether humans are born equal when it comes to fuel efficiency. Does the energy from one banana get converted into the same amount of movement from person to person? Marnie gets on a treadmill to find out how efficient she really is. With contributors from Herman Pontzer, Duke University, Rhona Pearce, Loughborough University and Christian Gammelgaard Olesen from Wolturnus wheelchair manufacturing company.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producer: Caroline Steel Editor: Richard Collings Production co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris
(Image: Illustration of an airplane, a red car and a female wheel chair user. Credits: Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.3 | In our restless world the news never stops. |
| 0:35.0 | Millions there are affected by hunger, the economy has collapsed. |
| 0:38.0 | And sometimes positive stories can get a bit lost. |
| 0:42.0 | The Happy Pod is a special weekly episode from the Global News |
| 0:45.4 | Podcast full of inspiring audio and positive news stories from around the world. |
| 0:50.8 | A really good vibe, you know? I've got some good news for you. |
| 0:54.0 | Listen now by searching for the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service, wherever you get your |
| 0:58.8 | podcasts. |
| 0:59.8 | You're listening to crowd science from the BBC World Service. I'm Marnie Chesterton. |
| 1:10.0 | And I'm on a massive treadmill wearing a face mask and I'm currently walking quite a |
| 1:18.8 | gentle pace but I'm going to be put through my places and that's because of the question from |
| 1:25.8 | Charlotte who wants to know how efficient we are. Earlier I visited her at her home |
| 1:32.1 | in Stroud in the UK. |
| 1:37.0 | I'm Charlotte. |
| 1:38.8 | How old are you, Charlotte? |
... |
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