What happens to our bodies when we die?

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Joseph Chance (0:49)

What happens to our bodies when we die?

Thanks for asking.

In 2016, researchers in Vancouver, Canada observed an unprecedented phenomenon. An 87-year-old patient died while undergoing an MRI scan. It was the first ever recording of the brain activity of a human being at the moment of death. After all, death is a topic that remains shrouded in mystery. Do we really see our lives flash before our eyes? Is there a light at the end of a tunnel of darkness? Right after the Vancouver Man's cardiac arrest, the doctors observed a spike in gamma waves, which are associated with memory and concentration. Was the deceased reliving his memories? We can't say for sure, but it opens an intriguing possibility. What we do know is that natural death, whether it's from old age or illness, follows a precise timeline that begins long before the body completely shuts down.

What are the physical stages of death, then?

First of all, vital functions slow down. That means our heart beat and breathing. That has several consequences. Body temperature drops, the skin starts to lose its colour, and the state of consciousness changes. That can lead to hallucinations, a distorted sense of time and space, or even a loss of self-awareness. When the heart stops, breathing stops too, or vice versa. Blood circulation ceases, oxygen runs out, and the body switches to energy-saving mode. Sometimes death is preceded by a desperate final gasp, known as agonal respiration. It's the brain's last reflexive attempt to draw in oxygen to survive. It's harsh, irregular, and ultimately ineffective.

The lack of oxygen eventually halts brain activity, and the person loses consciousness. This moment corresponds to the modern medical definition of death, the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory function, according to the World Health Organization. Does the body really shut down all at once, then? Not really, no. In the minutes that follow, cells begin to dry out due to the lack of oxygen. After about half an hour, the organs fail one after another. The liver, the kidneys, and even the sphincter. In the first few hours, body temperature gradually drops by about one degree Celsius per hour, until it reaches room temperature. It's that cooling process that forensic scientists use to estimate the time of death. Next, because of the buildup of calcium in muscle cells, which causes muscle contraction, the body stiffens. This begins with the neck, eyelids, and jaw, and then spreads throughout the entire body. But at this stage, some cells are still alive and functioning. In humans, sperm cells can remain alive for up to 36 hours after death. After about 12 hours, blood settles in the lower parts of the body due to gravity, colouring those areas. And as the skin dehydrates and retracts, it can look as though the hair and nails are still growing. It's only after around 30 hours that a truly invisible process begins, the work of bacteria. In other words, death marks the beginning of another process. Our return to matter.

There you have it.

Now you know what happens to our bodies when we die. In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.

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