WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE

Despite the predominantly scientific perspective on death in contemporary times, it appears that many individuals believe in the existence of an afterlife. In 2014, a survey conducted by the Telegraph in the United Kingdom revealed that just fewer than 60 percent of respondents believed in some form of life after death.

Similarly, in the United States, a predominantly Christian nation, a 2015 survey by Pew Research found that 72 percent of Americans believed in the concept of heaven, which was described as a place where individuals who have led virtuous lives are rewarded eternally. Additionally, 54 percent of U.S. adults believed in hell, which was described as a place where individuals who have led immoral lives and died without remorse are punished eternally.

With these beliefs in mind, welcome to this episode of the Info graphics Show, this explores the topic of what happens when one dies.

While many people believe in the possibility of an afterlife, it is important to begin with a factual understanding of what happens to the body when one dies. Physicians determine death by the cessation of heart activity and the absence of electrical activity in the brain. Brain death is equivalent to death, although machines can prolong the process.

Alternatively, cardiac death occurs when the heart stops beating and blood ceases to circulate throughout the body. Interestingly, individuals who have experienced cardiac death and have been revived have reported awareness of their surroundings, with some describing near-death experiences of walking towards a light. While clinical death can be reversed, individuals have a grace period of only 4-6 minutes. However, if one passes through the light, this is considered biological death, signifying the end of life.

Following death, the body undergoes a series of undignified processes. As the muscles relax, the sphincter also relaxes, causing any food or gas in the body to spill out. Similarly, urine may also leak out, resulting in a messy affair.

Men may even experience ejaculation, while women who were pregnant may give birth posthumously in a phenomenon known as "coffin birth." As the body expels trapped gases, sounds may emanate from the mouth, resembling moans or groans. Muscle contractions may also occur, but this does not indicate life. Additionally, blood will pool in certain areas of the body, causing a dark purple color known as "livor mortis." The body will begin to cool down.

Rigor mortis sets in within 2-6 hours, causing the body to become stiff due to calcium entering the muscle cells. Without blood flow, cells break down, leading to bacterial growth and decomposition. The skin may appear to recede, giving the impression of hair or nail growth. Eventually, bacteria and microorganisms will begin to consume the body, causing it to emit a putrid odor. Soft tissues will liquefy, while bones, cartilage, and hair will remain intact.

The process of decomposition begins prior to interment, and embalming and burial may impede the process, resulting in a protracted period of decomposition. Conversely, if left above ground, decomposition may occur within a month, as insects, maggots, plants, and animals consume the remains.

Underground, experts suggest that it may take between 8-12 years for complete decomposition to occur, with even the bones disintegrating after approximately 50 years. It is important to note that the rate of decomposition is influenced by numerous factors, which are too numerous to enumerate here.

While some individuals report experiencing a profound near-death experience, others describe a void of consciousness. The French philosopher Rene Descartes posited that the soul is distinct from the body, a belief shared by many religions.

Friedrich Nietzsche introduced the concept of eternal recurrence, which suggests that all energy and existence in the universe will continue to repeat it indefinitely. Similarly, the Buddhist belief in the "Wheel of Samara" posits that all souls will begin a new cycle after death, although not necessarily the same life. Reincarnation, which some associate with the phenomenon of deja vu, is believed to be a means of ending this cycle by achieving enlightenment and attaining nirvana.

The afterlife remains a mystery, with some envisioning a paradisiacal existence, while others believe that the soul simply returns to the earth. Regardless, it is impossible to determine with certainty what occurs after death. Instead, it is more productive to focus on the present and how to improve one's life.

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