When 0 = 1000
5/6/202639 min
Why does one of the most familiar numbers on a nutrition label turn out to be far more complicated than it looks? What can a can of fizzy drink teach us about thermodynamics, human metabolism, and the strange ways scientists measure energy? Professor Hannah Fry and VSauce’s Michael Stevens dive into the weird science of calories. From century-old experiments involving fire, body heat, and human digestion to the hidden quirks of modern food labelling. Do “negative calorie” foods really exist? Where does burned fat actually go? Why chewing matters more than you’d think, and how your body is constantly leaking energy out into the universe.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMichael Stevens· Host0:01
Hello, and welcome to The Rest is Science. Today, we're gonna be field noting.
Hannah Fry· Host0:05
[laughs] Field hooting, tooting, noting.
Michael Stevens· Host0:08
Yeah, we're doing, like, a little field journey. I've brought some specimens. [laughs] Not biological specimens- Thank- ... don't worry ...
Hannah Fry· Host0:15
thankfully. Thankfully.
Michael Stevens· Host0:15
But I'll just start... I'm gonna dive right into this.
Hannah Fry· Host0:17
Okay.
Michael Stevens· Host0:17
Okay?
Hannah Fry· Host0:17
Let's do it. Let's do it.
Michael Stevens· Host0:18
Here's exhibit one.
Hannah Fry· Host0:19
Uh-huh.
Michael Stevens· Host0:19
Exhibit one is an American Coca-Cola Zero can.
Hannah Fry· Host0:24
You spoil us, Michael, you really do.
Michael Stevens· Host0:27
Well, it's empty. I've already drank it. [laughs] It's just a can.
Hannah Fry· Host0:30
Can I, can I... Is there something- You can touch it.
Michael Stevens· Host0:32
Yeah.
Hannah Fry· Host0:32
Is there anything special about it?
Michael Stevens· Host0:33
There's nothing special about it.
Hannah Fry· Host0:35
Oh, right.
Michael Stevens· Host0:35
It is exactly how it comes when you buy one in America.
Hannah Fry· Host0:39
You know, honestly, I thought we'd get through a few more months before we completely ran out of material.
Michael Stevens· Host0:43
[laughs] Well, hold on. This is gonna be cool.
Hannah Fry· Host0:46
Okay.
Michael Stevens· Host0:46
It's cooler than you think.
Hannah Fry· Host0:47
[laughs] [Instrumental music] This episode is brought to you by Cancer Research UK.
Michael Stevens· Host0:57
Here's something strange. Your DNA contains more ancient viral fragments than genes. The genes that build our cells make up only 2% of our DNA, and for years, that is what scientists focused on. They treated the rest, the ancient viruses and stuff, as junk.
Hannah Fry· Host1:18
But now we know that that hidden majority, sometimes called the dark genome, influences how our biology works and how diseases like cancer behave.
Michael Stevens· Host1:28
It's a reminder that progress