What technologies will be used in the future for the burial of the dead

BBC Science Focus Magazine author Jules Howard discusses how humanity will bury the dead in a few

tens or hundreds of years.

According to a study the results of which werepublished in a scholarly publication earlier this year, in the UK, a quarter of the council's cemeteries will be full in 10 years. And every sixth cemetery lasts for five years. To avoid this, you can recycle graves. This approach is already being applied in Germany, something similar exists in Spain and Greece.

Another option is cremation.It is often referred to by the British, but from an environmental point of view, it is considered harmful. So, when burning, several hundred kilograms of carbon dioxide are released. In addition, mercury from dental fillings also evaporates.

You can also speed up the process of decomposition of the body. For example, a mycelium coffin can triple the rate of decomposition.

However, even if all these technologies areapplied, it will also require adjustment of people's behavior. Nowadays, many still strive to visit a place associated with the dead in order to express their respect to them, to mourn them, etc. And if the population grows as rapidly in the future as it does now, then it will be necessary to change mourning practices.

After death, the body can not only be donatedscience. As a memory of yourself, you have the opportunity to leave a vinyl record with your own voice and any music (andvinyly.com does this), to participate in the Body Worlds exhibition, in testing the car safety system. Another method is to place the ashes in the biodegradable Bios Urn, which contains soil for tree seeds to germinate.

Source: BBC Science Focus Magazine