• Question: why do we spontaneously combust?

    Asked by lindseymerrygold to Christine, Edd, Jess, Nicolas, Zara on 17 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Nicolas Biber

      Nicolas Biber answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      I think this is a myth … but maybe you want to read for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion
      🙂

    • Photo: Christine Switzer

      Christine Switzer answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Spontaneous human combustion is a myth, but spontaneous combustion of materials happens in nature. Coal fires can start from spontaneous combustion. Scientists theorise that a combination of heat, pressure and time causes the ignition. Maybe something underground collapses, causes a spark and starts the fire. Nobody knows for sure. Some coal fires have been burning for hundreds of years, long before people started studying them.

    • Photo: Edward Codling

      Edward Codling answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      I don’t think we spontaneously combust but there have been instances of what is known as the ‘wicking effect’ where the fat inside the human body acts like a candle – a horrible thought!
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect

      However, all the known cases of this happening involved some form of external flame source to start the fire – usually a cigarette or candle or something like that. The body doesn’t just start burning.

    • Photo: Zara Gladman

      Zara Gladman answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      It’s definitely an interesting topic, does it really happen?! The ‘wick effect’ that Edd just posted about sounds terrifying.

      I saw a film once called ‘Spinal Tap’ about a band whose drummer kept spontaneously combusting… it was pretty funny…

    • Photo: Jessica Chu

      Jessica Chu answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Great answers from all the scientists and a good question – didn’t know the answer to this one! thanks!

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