Joe Rogan Experience #2575 - Sam Tallent · Aired Nov 3, 2026
Claim summary · not a verbatim quotation
In terms of size, humans are closer to the size of the observable universe than to the size of subatomic particles.
The finding
What the evidence shows
In powers of ten, a person (about 1.7 m) is about 15 steps larger than a proton but about 27 steps smaller than the observable universe. Even the smallest measured size limit for quarks and electrons, about 10^-18 m, is only about 18 steps down, so for real subatomic particles people sit closer to the small end. The popular version of this fact compares humans to the Planck length, about 35 steps down, which is a theoretical limit and not a particle. Measured particle sizes more than 27 powers of ten smaller than a human would prove this verdict wrong.
Read the supporting source · thescience360.com ↗Quick answer & review status
Quick answer
Is it true that in terms of size, humans are closer to the size of the observable universe than to the size of subatomic particles?
Partly. The claim stretches what the evidence shows. 7 m) is about 15 steps larger than a proton but about 27 steps smaller than the observable universe. Even the smallest measured size limit for quarks and electrons, about 10^-18 m, is only about 18 steps down, so for real subatomic particles people sit closer to the small end. Joe Rogan said it (matched by voice) on Joe Rogan Experience #2575 - Sam Tallent, aired Nov 3, 2026, at 2:35:42. The supporting source is thescience360.com, linked below.
The context belongs here.
No separately verified on-air correction is recorded for this check. That is not a claim that nobody corrected it.
- Attribution
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- Editorial context review
- Not recorded; generated finding
- Coverage
- One selected claim from the episode
Revisions to this check
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