Mitochondria are not powerhouse. Energy is neither created nor produced in mitochondria. Energy is transformed, always, through resistance. The analogy of mitochondria as a powerhouse is deeply misleading, and really restricts the spectrum of things you can consider Nick Jikomes, PhD: "So the energy is being transformed, as you said, Martin, it's not being created out of nowhere. Correct?" Martin Picard, PhD: "Yeah. We often, kind of in common parlance (and even in undergrad text) you'll see 'energy is produced.'" Nirosha Murugan, PhD: "Or 'created.'" Martin Picard, PhD: "Yeah. 'Energy is created, energy is produced in mitochondria.' Energy is not produced. Energy is not created. Energy is transformed, always, through resistance. "The analogy of mitochondria as a powerhouse is deeply misleading, because it simplifies this beautiful transformative organelle into like a unifunctional unit, like a little machine, which I think clouds this analogy. Analogies are so powerful, and they really restrict the spectrum of things you can consider, kind of entertain, once your mind is set on 'mitochondria are powerhouse.' "So I always encourage our trainees and anyone I get to talk to mitochondria about that that powerhouse analogy is really expired, and the more we continue using that term the more we do a disservice to the new, next generation of students and people who come into thinking about mitochondria." Martin Picard, PhD & Nirosha Murugan, PhD with Nick Jikomes, PhD @ 27:40–28:51 (posted 2025-10-29) https://youtu.be/GiwDfsIgziA&t=1660