The fear of death leads a person to the sacralization of this topic. It can be said that virtually every religion in the world is founded only to help us keep this fear in check: the hope of rebirth keeps the mind from self-destruction. But there is another, more rational way to get rid of the tormenting thoughts of what awaits us all - rational knowledge. After reading this material, you will understand why philosophers affirm the postulate “life and death are one and the same”, and doctors and scientists are in no hurry to refute it.
Beginning of the End
Soon after the heart stops beating, oxygen-deprived cells begin to accumulate toxic by-products of chemical reactions; the acidity of the cells increases. Enzymes begin to digest cell membranes, and then complete destruction of cells follows.
Everything goes to dust
All organs begin to deteriorate gradually. The body temperature also begins to drop, followed by rigor mortis: during life, muscle cells contract and relax due to the actions of two filamentous proteins (actin and myosin), but after death there is no more energy source, the system stops, constraining muscles and joints.
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Ecosystem of Death
In these early stages, the cadaveric ecosystem is made up mostly of bacteria that continue to function. The point is that every part of our body provides a habitat for a specialized microbial community. By far the largest of these communities is located in the gut, home to trillions of bacteria, divided into thousands of different species. In fact, the gut microbiome is one of the most challenging research topics in biology. They play an important role in the field of human health, it depends on them whether we will be sick or healthy.
Natural decay
In the next stages of decomposition, the bacteria complete the self-digestion process and spread from the gastrointestinal tract throughout the body, causing putrefaction. This is molecular death: the decay of soft tissue goes even further into gases, liquids and salts.
Specialized habitat
As the gas pressure builds up inside the body, the entire surface of the skin becomes blistered. Eventually, gases and liquefied tissues escape through natural openings. But sometimes the pressure is so great that the abdomen ruptures. At this stage, the body is already built into the natural ecosystem - insects begin to use human remains.
Destruction of the body
The larvae are a kind of scavengers that destroy the soft tissues of the body. Back in 1767, Karl Linnaeus noticed that only three flies are able to deal with the corpse of a horse as quickly as an adult lion.
Impact on the world
After all, a completely decomposed corpse significantly alters the chemical composition of the soil. Energy does not disappear anywhere; the larvae, which have settled in the body, transfer it to the environment during migration. In other words, life and death are really the same thing.