Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 06/08/2014 10:10:06

Title: QotW - 14.08.04 - Can humans spontaneously combust?
Post by: thedoc on 06/08/2014 10:10:06

 
This is for the Naked Scientist, a weird occurrence in Soweto took place about Two Weeks ago were a young man of about 20 years suddenly started burning, he was nowhere near fire (Heater, Stove or anything of that sort) but his clothes literally caught flames and he is now admitted at Baragwanath Hospital for second degree burn, my question to The Naked Scientist is "is there a scientific explanation to such"?
 
Regards
 
Donald Phejane
Asked by Donald


                                        Find out more on our podcast page (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/naked-scientists/show/20140805-1/)

[chapter podcast=1000773 track=14.08.05/Naked_Scientists_Podcast_14.08.05_1002587.mp3](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2FHTML%2Ftypo3conf%2Fext%2Fnaksci_podcast%2Fgnome-settings-sound.gif&hash=f2b0d108dc173aeaa367f8db2e2171bd)  ...or Listen to the Answer[/chapter] or [download as MP3] (http://nakeddiscovery.com/downloads/split_individual/14.08.05/Naked_Scientists_Podcast_14.08.05_1002587.mp3)

Title: Re: What causes spontaneous human combustion?
Post by: RD on 08/07/2014 20:19:46

A discarded lit-cigarette or matchstick ? 

Some clothing is very flammable , e.g. shell-suits.

Title: Re: What causes spontaneous human combustion?
Post by: yellowcat on 08/07/2014 20:39:34

There is no such thing as spontaneous human combustion, so it does not have a cause.
The cases are either burns caused by burning clothes or badly burned bodies where the fire has destroyed the cause of the fire.