Scientists have discovered that our bodies keep trying to heal us after our death.
Cells continue to work after organs shut down, a study has found, similar to the 'super-hero' style regeneration you might see on the silver screen.
In fact, in some cases gene expression - which controls protein production or important chemical reactions in our body - increases after death, according to the study titled "Tracing the dynamics of gene transcripts after organismal death", published in the journal Open Biology.
Basically, this means that not all cells die when a human is declared dead, and the body will still try to repair itself for some time.
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Would take some major regeneration to bring some of these lads back. Credit: Contented
The team of scientists, led by Washinton University PhD student Alex Pozhitkov, studied zebrafish and mice and believe that the phenomenon occurs in all animals, including humans.
In the case of the zebrafish, the researchers monitored the animals before killing them. To test their hypothesis, their cell renewal was monitored after their death.
They found that inflammation, stress and disease continued after death - so much for the sweet relief of death, aye?
The study stated: "The increased abundance of inflammation response transcripts, for example, putatively indicates that a signal of infection or injury is sensed by the still alive cells after death of the body."
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The Science Behind Death
The science behind death was recently pointed out in a video posted to YouTube.
Take a look at it here...
Apparently the first few seconds of death see a surge in brain activity as the remaining oxygen in the body escapes, with a surge in the activity of neurones. It is thought that the effect is euphoric, meaning the last few moments before you lose all brain activity could be some of your best.
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Although brain activity stops, the body continues to sporadically twitch as the remaining energy, stored as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), in the corpse needs to escape somehow.
Following the twitching, the muscles move into a completely relaxed state. This means all the muscles, including your sphincter, which could result in you shitting yourself - if you die after smashing a Nando's.
About 20 minutes after death, the lack of blood flow means you will start to lose the colour in your skin and turn pale and rigor mortis sets in. Cell organelles start deteriorating and this releases calcium into the muscle cells which bind the proteins together, making the body extremely stiff.
It's still not known what happens to your mind after death - but hopefully it's just the vibes of this this video on loop for all eternity.
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Featured image credit: Republic Pictures
Featured Image Credit: YouTube / Tech Stuff