Death sucks.
[Bus honking]
But what happens to your body after you die
is fascinating.
So we're going to show you.
Don't worry. It won't be gross.
Much.
Once a person's breathing stops,
the cells in their body stop receiving oxygen.
But the cells continue to live
for several minutes,
generating carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is acidic
and it builds up,
rupturing sacs inside the cells.
These sacs contain enzymes
that begin to digest the cells
from the inside out.
This creates a blister-like fluid
rich in nutrients.
After about a week, those nutrients
fuel an army of bacteria
and fungi that further
liquefy organs and muscles.
The microbes that attack the tissue
produce a bewildering array
of more than 400 chemicals and gasses.
They include:
Freon: that's right, the coolant found in refrigerators.
Benzene: a powerful component in gasoline.
Sulfur: which smells of swamps
and rotten eggs.
And a molecule known as Carbon Tetrachloride
which was used in fire extringuishers
and dry cleaning, until scientists
discovered it's highly toxic.
At this point, there's very little flesh left
and it's consumed by – here it comes –
maggots and beetles.
Insects leave only bones behind.
Over time, the protein in bone decomposes, too.
Leaving just the bone mineral called
Hydroxyapatite
which eventually turns to dust.
We can take some solace in the fact
that all those nutrients and chemicals,
even the dust,
provide vital substances that
make soils fertile,
sprouting plants and other new life
after our lives have ended.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.