A couple of centuries ago, no technology could accurately diagnose a person’s death. Therefore, the corpse’s movements and moans led to delayed burials. Thus, in the 1700s, special “waiting morgues” were established in Germany, where doctors ensured that a body had indeed begun to decompose before burying it. Eventually, such morgues became obsolete, as no corpse ever came back to life.

Today, people aren’t afraid of waking up in a tomb, but we still avoid the topic of death, considering it gloomy, gruesome, or sorrowful. Society accepts those intrigued by questions surrounding death with deep-rooted unease. In most cases, when a child asks what death is, the answer is often unclear or abstract. Consequently, few people know exactly what happens to their bodies after they pass away. Such knowledge is undoubtedly valuable as it gives us an understanding of a fundamental part of the life cycle, which we fear.

Surprisingly, when we die, our bodily processes do not cease. In fact, many internal processes become activated. This can be observed even externally. From the moment of death, the skin begins to change due to the action of blood, bacteria, and microbes. The first stage will be the paleness of the body, especially the lips and fingers, since the heart no longer circulates blood there. The body may continue to change color, often influenced by the cause of death or the environmental conditions. The corpse will turn pink if the person died from suffocation or a heart attack, and purple if it is in a cold place. Such processes are known as livor mortis and occur as fluids move away from the outer layers and accumulate in the lower parts of the body.

During a funeral or cremation, the body may appear pale but hasn’t progressed into the active phase of decomposition. Cooling or embalming, usually performed at a funeral home, helps slow this process down. Deceased bodies can sometimes make sounds. Although this may look frightening, this happens due to gases like methane and ammonia, which are accumulated within the body by bacteria. Air or liquid can leave the body for up to twelve hours due to lingering nervous system activity. It creates the impression that the corpse is moving or groaning.