[simeonie (OP)]

What exactly is it? And is it true?

[DoctorBeaver]

I've seen conflicting opinions on the matter. I think the general concensus is that it doesn't really exist. However, there is evidence to suggest that a body can burn like a wick, which would account for the localised incineration while other items fairly close by are relatively untouched.
I did once read a report of a girl who suddenly burst into flames on the stairs at school. There were quite a few witnesses who saw it and all agreed that she just suddenly went up in flames.
One theory I've seen is that it could be the result of an internal build-up of gases which ignite. However, I've not seen anything that postulates how that ignition could occur.

[neilep]

You're right there Eth. I read an article where they conducted the very experiment that pertains to your ' burn like a wick ' reference. It was gruesome reading and supported by photos....which was nice !

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

[ukmicky]

Same here, i saw the experiment a few years back on the good old discovery channel. They used a pig covered in a thin blanket . The blanket somehow allowed the flesh of the pig to slowly smoulder, it took about 48hours for the pig to be reduced to ashes.

[simeonie (OP)]

weird. But even a build up of gasses i cannot see going up in flames coz to my knowledge not many sparks go off inside of you

----------------------

[another_someone]

quote:Originally posted by simeonie

weird. But even a build up of gasses i cannot see going up in flames coz to my knowledge not many sparks go off inside of you

The problem I have is to imagine a buildup inflammable gases and oxygen in quantities sufficient to spontaneously combust and consume the body, and yet not cause any harm prior to that point.

[Nick Meyer]

Think about it. ifyou were full of enough gaas to spontaniously combust dont you thing that you would know that something was up? plus think of what might happen if all that gas was...released apon a flame?

"mom This gas is killing me... Ow oh god now it feels like its burning!!!" said the little boy
   " quit being such a baby!" says the mom.

Nick

   If its not illegal... It's legal!

[Nick Meyer]

Try this theory. Say A man dinks small quantities of astrolite G (google it) and later brushes up onto a flame. the thing with astrolite is that it does not degrade. but is it poisonous? and also a man that dinks a cup of astrolite wound be the equivolent of 6 sticks of dynomite and more than 10% more explosive than nitroglycerine! and in that case people dont just burn!

Nick

   If its not illegal... It's legal!

[Hadrian]

Ah the burning question!  [^]

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

[Acoustic Samurai]

I love this topic more than anything,

I've gotten into soo much trouble for bringing the topic up in past chemistry classes and diverting the discussion off of subject.

Woot, wooot for astrolite!!

-Timmy-

"Science Rules"

            Bill Nye The    
             Science Guy

[Boo]

i have seen a documentary on spontaneous human combustion and they found the three most popular recorded cases of spontateous combustion and proved the theory wrong. there were other things that had caused the "combustion" and they could not find a way that a human being could spontaneously combust.

becca