Spontaneous Combustion

Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Spontaneous Combustion

Author	Message
Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22595 Credit: 4,494,211 RAC: 6,073	Message 1155395 - Posted: 23 Sep 2011, 20:49:12 UTC
	Sorry, but I can't go along with it. I don't have an answer, but ET with a ray gun makes more sense. Irish case
	ID: 1155395 ·

skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8940 Credit: 36,324,838 RAC: 53,596	Message 1155407 - Posted: 23 Sep 2011, 21:47:58 UTC - in response to Message 1155395. Last modified: 23 Sep 2011, 21:48:15 UTC
	IIRC even the Mythbusters proved that the Spontaneous Combustion idea is false. What occurs is usually the person either dies or is asphyxiated due to smoke inhalation in an enclosed room. If the person was smoking in bed or elsewhere, their clothing or other material catches fire which quickly extinguishes itself due to the lack of Oxygen in the room(enclosed area). The fire them slowly smolders. a body will burn slowly in this manner for several days leaving at best the hands and feet. THe event looks like the person spontaneously combusted. However their combustion was a much more delayed action and not spontaneous at all. ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
	ID: 1155407 ·

Gary Charpentier Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 10313 Credit: 5,062,152 RAC: 6,226	Message 1155415 - Posted: 23 Sep 2011, 22:07:37 UTC
	Read something that all the "known" cases were found near fireplaces, etc. My wild guess is that hair or clothing got caught with an ember. And the body is meat and fat so yes it will burn. ____________
	ID: 1155415 ·

ML1 Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Nov 01 Posts: 7107 Credit: 3,680,535 RAC: 962	Message 1155416 - Posted: 23 Sep 2011, 22:08:28 UTC Last modified: 23 Sep 2011, 22:09:03 UTC
	More commonly known as the candle effect. Fat + wicking material (clothing) + confined space can slowly smoulder-burn with near complete combustion. If crematoria were not so rushed, that could be a very much more efficient way of getting to ashes to ashes, dust to dust... The waste heat could heat a swimming pool or few as a positive side effect! Keep searchin', Martin ____________ Mandriva Linux A user friendly OS! See new freedom Mageia2 The Future is what We make IT (GPLv3)
	ID: 1155416 ·

William Rothamel Send message Joined: 25 Oct 06 Posts: 2121 Credit: 1,087,752 RAC: 170	Message 1155476 - Posted: 24 Sep 2011, 1:47:15 UTC - in response to Message 1155416.
	Spontaneous combustion is another Urban Myth.
	ID: 1155476 ·

Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22595 Credit: 4,494,211 RAC: 6,073	Message 1155552 - Posted: 24 Sep 2011, 8:06:23 UTC
	When you have an unexplained death it is often difficult to find something to put on the death certificate, or give as a cause in a coroners court. This is a useful getout. Would their life assurance still pay out in cases like this? I bet it's not covered in the small print!
	ID: 1155552 ·

skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8940 Credit: 36,324,838 RAC: 53,596	Message 1155800 - Posted: 24 Sep 2011, 23:50:26 UTC - in response to Message 1155552.
	coroners in many places do not have to be Pathologists. many rural areas of the US have the local mortician working as a coroner. A Pathologist would hopefully not fall prey to this myth. It is true that the actual cause of death is quite obfuscated by the body being burned. However, the problem with the myth is that there are no eye witnesses to the burning as it occurs. Given that little conundrum time to sink in and a reasonable person will conclude that either its a coincidence or that spontaneous combustion is a crock ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
	ID: 1155800 ·

Dr Imaginario Send message Joined: 10 Aug 11 Posts: 172 Credit: 22,735 RAC: 0	Message 1157044 - Posted: 29 Sep 2011, 11:36:31 UTC
	Spontaneous_human_combustion Why this event never occures on some politicians, and is always a poor sould that get disintegrated by a ray gun. Maybe Spock was there :D This is the kind of news that you expect to read on the "National Inquirer" newspaper type and sites, not on BBC, I guess standards are getting lower :D What next, PM cameron was caught in a Yellow polka dot Bikini?
	ID: 1157044 ·

John McCallum Send message Joined: 5 Dec 04 Posts: 792 Credit: 215,226 RAC: 204	Message 1157083 - Posted: 29 Sep 2011, 14:30:49 UTC
	What next, PM cameron was caught in a Yellow polka dot Bikini? Now that realy would be news. ____________ To get back my youth I would do any thing in the world EXCEPT take Exercize,GET up early or be RESPECTABLE.
	ID: 1157083 ·

Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22595 Credit: 4,494,211 RAC: 6,073	Message 1157400 - Posted: 30 Sep 2011, 10:01:52 UTC
	Well, the Sunday Sport had "World War II Bomber found on Moon" so anything's possible!
	ID: 1157400 ·

Bob DeWoody Send message Joined: 9 May 10 Posts: 652 Credit: 61,771 RAC: 96	Message 1158423 - Posted: 3 Oct 2011, 2:52:16 UTC
	spontaneous combustion = smoking in bed, falling asleep dropping the cigarette and poof. ____________ Bob DeWoody
	ID: 1158423 ·

Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Spontaneous Combustion