What is the human brain made out of? – Trevor, 9, Illinois
melissamayerDear Trevor,
Everything we do and think is thanks to the 3-pound organ tucked into our skulls. But what is it made of?
I asked my friend Samantha Gizerian. She’s a brain scientist at Washington State University.
She told me the brain is surprisingly soft and mushy.
“We think about our other organs and tissues, and they’re squishy in a very solid way,” Gizerian said. “Like when you go to the grocery store and get a carton of meat. You can squish on the steak, right? Our other organs are mostly like that as well. But the brain is very, very delicate.”
She told me it’s more like the ground up burger people use to make meatballs. Or like soft tofu or a Jello square.
The brain is extra soft because it’s about 60% fat.
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