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Aa01 | 17:07 Fri 30th Sep 2005 | Science
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Why do dead bodies decompose?

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All living things, including you and I, have a plethora of bacteria living in and on our bodies.  These are maintanined in check by the natural defenses of the living organism.  However, when death occurs, all those defenses are no longer available and the bacteria run amuck.  Bacteria within the body--especially E. coli from the gut--immediately start to consume the flesh.  The gases given off by the bacteria and decomplsion flesh causes the smell as well as the bloating seen in dead bodies. Eventually, the remains are broken down further by maggots and hungry critters until almost nothing is left....

nice....

hmm

that's not gonna happen to me though, eh? gotta stop that happening to me. I don't mind it happening, I just don't wanna be around when it does...

Clanad wrote:

All living things, including you and I, have a plethora of bacteria living in and on our bodies.

Aaaaaghhhh!!!!!  I presume you meant to write "All living things, including you and me, have a plethora of bacteria living in and on our bodies."

Of course that's what I meant... but I devisd this fiendishly clever test for you... never suspecting you would pass with flying colors... congratulations bernardo!
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What was Beethoven doin in the graveyard?

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