News, Australian scientist finds that corpses move for more than a year after death (document)

[JD59]

Australian scientist finds that corpses move for more than a year after death

An Australian scientist has proved that human bodies move around significantly for more than a year after death, in findings that could have implications for detectives and pathologists around the world.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/australia...142544624.html

[Itzpapalotl]

I take pretty much anything posted on tabloid sites with a grain of salt, especially when it comes to science popularisation. I suspect that the above, like all such clickbate, is blown out of all the proportion to get the most traffic. Particularly, since body's postmortem movement is not news and has been extensively popularised in crime dramas and literature. What's different about this is that it appears to have been unintentionally documented in time lapse photography.

This is the original study published by Alyson Wilson amongst others - https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...89871X19301421. Until there is a separate study published on the changes to the body's placement, I'll consider the "significance" referenced in the Yahoo link and its sister articles to be taken out of context.

EDIT:

What's different about this is that it appears to have been unintentionally documented in time lapse photography.

Nope, reading more even that doesn't seem all that novel.

[rjshae]

Perhaps it's some combination of out-gassing from decay and the impetus from maggots and worms munching on the corpse? Either way, pretty gross to think about.

[Itzpapalotl]

Originally Posted by rjshae

Perhaps it's some combination of out-gassing from decay and the impetus from maggots and worms munching on the corpse? Either way, pretty gross to think about.

The explanation given was ligaments contracting as a result of drying, which led to straightening of the limbs.