I recently read that, in one year, 98 percent of the atoms in a person's body will be replaced by other atoms.

Is that true, or just another Internet-based myth?

This is from the Bill Bryson book "The History of Nearly Everything". Obviously, he isn't a scientist but seems to have done some extensive research for this book. it's about cells and not so much atoms but I hope it helps.

Quote:

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Most living cells seldome last more than a month or so, but there are notable exceptions. Liver cells can survive for years, though the components within them may be renewed every few days. Brain cells last as long as you do. You are issued with a hundred billion or so at birth and that is all you are ever going to get. It has been estimated that you lose five hundred of them an hour, so if you have any serious thinking to do there really isn't a moment to waste. The good news is that the individual components of your brain cells are constantly renewed so that, as with liver cells, no part of them is actually likely to be more than about a month old. Indeed, it has been suggested that there isn't a single bit of any of us - not so much as a stray molecule - that was part of us nine years ago. It may not feel like it, but at a cellular level we are all youngsters.

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Tremendous! Thanks for that Copago. Is the Bryson book any good? I have read some of his travel books (Small Island, Down Under etc) and they were well worth reading.

Does anyone remember the old "There's a new you coming every day" ad campaign for the milk industry back in the 70's? This post reminded me of it.

tjoeb};>