The Clock Is Ticking: The Micromort Is the World’s Creepiest Unit of Measurement (4 Photos)

Modern science can quantify almost anything, relying on a vast arsenal of measurement units. While the average person might recognize a few dozen, others are so obscure you wouldn't even guess they exist. One of the most exotic—and morbid—is the micromort, a unit used to measure the single most valuable thing we have: our life.





The micromort is a relatively modern concept, introduced in the late 20th century. It was coined by Stanford University professor Ronald A. Howard, who needed a precise metric for decision analysis. One micromort represents a one-in-a-million chance of death.



In simple terms, a micromort quantifies the risk of dying in a given situation based on a combination of variables. Sociologists and statisticians use it for research and risk analysis, while insurance companies rely on it to calculate mortality risk.

Micromorts add up over the course of our lives. Simply existing accrues about 1.63 micromorts every hour, adding up to roughly 39 micromorts a day even if you do absolutely nothing. But you stack up extra units through daily activities that carry even the slightest risk to life and health.

For instance, smokers rack up 1 micromort for every 1.4 cigarettes smoked due to the increased risk of lung cancer or cardiovascular disease. Wine lovers gain a micromort for every 500 ml bottle they drink, reflecting the heightened risk of developing cirrhosis.





You add the same single micromort by cycling 10 miles (16 km). Walking adds a micromort every 17 miles (27 km), while driving adds one every 230 miles (370 km)—all accounting for the likelihood of traffic accidents or mishaps. Meanwhile, train travel is vastly safer: it takes a whopping 6,000 miles (9,656 km) by rail to add just one micromort. That means taking the train from Moscow to Vladivostok is hundreds of times safer than riding a bicycle through the city!

There are even more surprising stats when it comes to food and leisure. Eating 100 chargrilled steaks or kebabs adds 1 micromort due to the cancer risk posed by benzopyrene. Even horseback riding carries a cost—just two rides will add another unit of mortality to your tab.



Ultimately, the more active your lifestyle, the faster you rack up micromorts—or, in plain terms, the more you tempt fate. But that doesn't mean you should lock yourself indoors to cap your risk at 1.63 micromorts an hour. A sedentary lifestyle comes with its own severe health risks, like chronic heart disease, which will spin that imaginary micromort meter out of control.