005 In Expanded: Fill & Download for Free

Preface: I should be studying for my chemistry exam this Monday but here I am.This question really took my curiosity by storm and therefore, I gave myself the goal to find the answer.Now, important notice: I am not an astronomer and this answer really is nothing more than an average joe's go at answering this question with the internet and my first-year college’s experience in natural sciences. So many variables are not taken into consideration, so, as with pretty much anything regarding astronomy: my answer is only an approximation.So… let’s begin.We’re at the data supermarket.First, we’ll need a few pieces of information that we’ll require in order to find our answer.Here is what we’ll need: ↓The estimated mass of the observable universe.The estimated mass of an average human brain.The estimated mass of an average human brain neuron.The estimated volume of the observable universe.The estimated volume of an average human brain.The estimated volume of an average human brain neuron.The value of 1 unit of solar mass (M☉).*Minutes pass as I am running across the aisles to grab the necessary data.*Good, I’m back with all the data we’ll need. So, here’s what we’ve got in the cart:The estimated mass of the observable universe: ≈ 1.5 x 10⁵³ g (excluding dark matter and dark energy)[1]The estimated mass of an average human brain: ≈ 1285 g (avg. of the avg. size of a woman’s brain and a man’s brain)[2]The estimated mass of an average human brain neuron: ≈ 1 x 10 to the negative 6th power (in g)[3]The estimated volume of the observable universe: ≈ 3.58 x 10⁸⁰ m³ (I know that the universe is flat and that it is always expanding but for the sake of this answer, let’s just keep it at that)[4]The estimated volume of an average human brain: ≈ 1260 cm³[5]The estimated volume of an average human brain neuron: ≈ 7.36221766 x 10 to the negative 14th power (in m³) [approx. calculated with the data provided above]The value of 1 unit of solar mass (M☉): ≈ 1.99 x 10³⁰ kg[6]Now, let’s do a bunch of calculations to find our answer, but I need to be focused so give me half an hour to an hour in my secret hideout to find the answer, don’t worry, I’ll be back.*Time goes by*Okay! I’m back with the answer. So, here goes: ↓If the brain was scaled to the size of the observable universe as it currently is estimated to be and we had to scale a single brain neuron accordingly, the brain neuron would be the size of…*drum roll*A dwarf galaxy about 765 000 times less voluminous than the Milky Way.And…If the brain was scaled to the mass of the observable universe as it currently is estimated to be and we had to scale a single brain neuron accordingly, the brain neuron would be the mass of…*drum roll*A stellar object ≈ 2x the mass of ESO 146-IG-005, one of the largest galaxies known in the observable universe (located in the Abell 3827 cluster).[7][7][7][7]So, if a neuron were to be a stellar object, it would rank amongst the top-tier of the galaxies in the universe when compared in units of mass.So, we could put it like that: it packs a punch. For its small size, a neuron would be pretty darn massive.We could compare it to a neutron star; it’s often small, but mind-bogglingly heavy. As an example, a teaspoonful of a neutron star would be estimated to weigh a billion tons.[8][8][8][8]But still… a neuron would be heavier than a neutron star. It only compares metaphorically.Comparison to other stellar objects:A neuron would be approximately… ↓2 trillion times heavier than UY Scuti, the largest star known to date in the universe.[9]So, let’s look at this picture above. It is an artistic representation of how the Sun would look like compared to UY Scuti. Now, keep in mind that the Sun has a radius of about 1 thousand-seven-hundredth the length of UY Scuti’s.[10][10][10][10]That means that when comparing both volumes of the ‘’spheres’’, 4 916 467 780 Suns could fit inside UY Scuti.But… UY Scuti has approximately only 30 times the mass of our sun.M☉ = ≈ 30 • (1.99 x 10³⁰)Therefore, the mass of UY Scuti is equal to ≈ 5.97 x 10³¹ which means that a neuron would be approximately 60 trillion times heavier than the Sun.P.S. No current data is agreed upon when it comes to the mass of UY Scuti because it has nothing to be compared to as it is so large. Although estimations range from 7 M☉ to 30 M☉.[11][11][11][11]Also, it is losing quite a lot of matter each year, estimated at 5.8×10−5 M☉ which makes for a slow but steady loss of mass which then enshrouds the star in a cloud of dust.[12][12][12][12]2. About 39 times heavier than the Milky Way, our own galaxy.The Milky Way isn’t considered that sizeable but it’s considered to be a ‘’fat’’ galaxy (it’s quite heavy). Therefore, it can be surprising to read that a neuron would be 39 times the mass of the Milky Way. Also, keep in mind that scientists have yet to come up with a precise weight of the Milky Way, therefore it is still only estimated.3. About 25 times lighter than the Virgo Supercluster, one of the smallest galaxy clusters known to man.A neuron is approximately slightly more than a billionth of a percent of the average mass of the human brain.Scaled in the same proportions as the universe, a billionth of a percent of the universe’s mass corresponds to something in between the mass of the Milky Way and the Virgo Supercluster, while leaning towards the supercluster.So, yup. One of the universe’s biggest structures still represents about a billionth of a percent of the mass of ONLY the observable part of the universe.Did I give you vertigo?Whoops. My bad.Thank you for reading!Footnotes[1] Flat Space Cosmology as a Mathematical Model of Quantum Gravity or Quantum Cosmology[2] Meta-analysis of brain weight in schizophrenia[3] Brain Facts and Figures[4] Observable universe | Wikiwand[5] Evolving Knowledge of Sex Differences in Brain Structure, Function, and Chemistry[6] What Is Solar Mass?[7] CANNIBALISTIC GALAXY BENDS LIGHT AND REVEALS ITS MONSTROUS APPETITE[7] CANNIBALISTIC GALAXY BENDS LIGHT AND REVEALS ITS MONSTROUS APPETITE[7] CANNIBALISTIC GALAXY BENDS LIGHT AND REVEALS ITS MONSTROUS APPETITE[7] CANNIBALISTIC GALAXY BENDS LIGHT AND REVEALS ITS MONSTROUS APPETITE[8] Neutron Stars and Pulsars - Introduction[8] Neutron Stars and Pulsars - Introduction[8] Neutron Stars and Pulsars - Introduction[8] Neutron Stars and Pulsars - Introduction[9] Meet the most extreme stars[10] What Is the Biggest Star?[10] What Is the Biggest Star?[10] What Is the Biggest Star?[10] What Is the Biggest Star?[11] The atmospheric structure and fundamental parameters of the red supergiants AH Sco, UY Sct and KW Sgr[11] The atmospheric structure and fundamental parameters of the red supergiants AH Sco, UY Sct and KW Sgr[11] The atmospheric structure and fundamental parameters of the red supergiants AH Sco, UY Sct and KW Sgr[11] The atmospheric structure and fundamental parameters of the red supergiants AH Sco, UY Sct and KW Sgr[12] Silicate and hydrocarbon emission from Galactic M supergiants[12] Silicate and hydrocarbon emission from Galactic M supergiants[12] Silicate and hydrocarbon emission from Galactic M supergiants[12] Silicate and hydrocarbon emission from Galactic M supergiants