Oct 26, 2021 06:00:00

How do corpses change in outer space?

With Amazon founder Jeff Bezos

traveling to space and the successful space flight mission of all crew members being civilians, the expectation that humanity will easily travel to space is becoming a reality. increase. Professor Tim Thompson of the Department of Applied Biological Anthropology, Teesside University, England, explains a thought experiment on 'what happens if you die' in the space of the universe, which has a significantly different environment from the earth.

Death in space: here's what would happen to our bodies
https://theconversation.com/death-in-space-heres-what-would-happen-to-our-bodies-169890

If a person died on the planet, beginning to accumulate blood flow by gravity to the surface of the skin

Shihan addition to appearing bruising called, the body temperature of the corpse is reduced to ambient temperature Algor Mortis or cause a phenomenon that, muscle Calcium accumulates in the fibers, causing rigor mortis, a muscle hardening phenomenon. In addition to these phenomena, putrefaction also occurs, which causes bacteria in the intestines to spread throughout the body, causing it to swell and give off a strong odor. If this decay continues, the soft tissue is destroyed, and rigor mortis is restored, leaving only bone in the end.

But what if a person dies in outer space? According to Professor Thompson, first of all, dead spots affected by gravity do not occur in outer space. On the other hand, subsequent rigor mortis also occurs in outer space due to the consequences of body tissue. The same is true for bacteria in the intestine to begin to break down soft tissues, but because bacteria need oxygen for their activity, the process of breakdown gradually slows down in oxygen-free outer space.

On Earth, the decomposition proceeds with the help of microorganisms in the soil, but since the life cycle of the earth is not found on other planets, it may not be decomposed like the earth and soft tissues may remain. Furthermore, in addition to the fact that soft tissues are not decomposed in dry desert areas such as Mars, it is possible that the soft tissues will become dry and become mummy-like. Also, in a space where the temperature changes drastically, the body may be damaged due to freezing or burns.

Professor Thompson said, 'Because the complete decomposition process that occurs on Earth does not occur in outer space, it is highly likely that corpses will'look like living humans'. When we begin to live in outer space. We will also need to think about how to bury a new corpse. '