Discovering Spontaneous Human Combustion

Spontaneous Human Combustion is something I’ve truly wondered about in the past: is it real or not real? And if it’s real, why or how does it happen?

The following video shows some cases:

Basically, spontaneous human combustion means the “burning of a living human body without an apparent external source of ignition”. Worldwide, 200 cases have been reported over a 300 years. Explanations are often paranormal of nature (for instance, the combustion was caused by a ghost or was a form of divine intervention), or natural based on an unknown or unobserved phenomenon (i.e. raised levels of blood alcohol would cause the ignition). Another view is that the ignition was caused by the victim itself, for instance by dropping a cigarette.

Objections to the natural explanations often refer to the degree of burning of the body relative to its surroundings. In spontaneous human combustion, the body, or part of it, suffers an unusual large degree of burning, with the surroundings or lower limbs comparatively undamaged.

I’m personally not sure whether to believe this is something that actually exists. I guess the evidence is convincing, but still…

What do you think? Is spontaneous combustion real or not real?

Related posts:

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  3. Discovering The Lost Colony: Cannibalized or Lost at Sea?
  4. Weird Phenomenon: Crop Circles
  5. Discovering Bimini Road: Atlantis or the Sea’s Current?
Posted by on Sep 29, 2011 in Featured Content, Weird Phenomena | 11 comments
  • http://profiles.google.com/sonia.m.writes Sonia G Medeiros

    There’s just so much about the human body and the world we don’t understand yet. I think it’s arrogant of us to assume something doesn’t exist because it seems too out there. Maybe I just think that way because I write fantasy. :D

    • http://twitter.com/AJZaethe AJ Zaethe

       I would have to agree.  We can’t just dismiss because it hasn’t be outright observed, and who would be willing to try and observe it?  I think I would be calling for help to save the person rather than try and take notes.  That’s just me. 

      • http://www.manoneileen.com Manon Eileen

        Lol, yeah taking notes while someone’s burning up doesn’t seem right, now does it ;p. 
        Thank you both for stopping by!

  • Gerard van Hengel

    I believe it to be highly unlikely. On average the human body consists of 60% water. In extreme cases of obesity this can come down to 45%, any lower a person will most likely die very quickly. Now I find it extremely hard to believe that something with even 45% water will actually burn properly. 

    If for example you think of liquor used to flambé certain kinds of food, it requires anything over 40% alcohol. Then again, that only burns because the alcohol evaporates very quickly. In any case, the duration/heat wouldn’t be nearly enough to scorch someone’s entire body and turn it to ashes.

    An example of how hard it is to burn something containing water could be you trying to light a leaf on fire. Just take any fresh leaf, which consists of water for about 60%. Try using a lighter on it. It will only start to smoulder after most of the water evaporated from it, and even then, it won’t properly burn on it’s own.

    In my opinion, spontaneous human combustion is impossible, and very unreal.

    • http://www.manoneileen.com Manon Eileen

      Interesting, Gerard! I’m glad you could shed some light on this with a biological view. You’re right, and I’d totally forgotten about how much water our bodies contain. 

      Maybe then, ghosts? >.>

  • http://sarasexpletives.wordpress.com/ Sara Grambusch

    This stuff is so interesting and crazy. Once I had a goat that I’m pretty sure spontaneously combusted. I think an organ ruptured and he just died, but I always tell people he combusted.

    • http://www.manoneileen.com Manon Eileen

      Aww I’m sorry about the goat, that’s sad :(  

      But yes, interesting and crazy!

      Thanks for stopping by Sara :)

  • Piper Bayard

    Lol. I just read this with my daughter. I first heard about spontaneous combustion when I was her age, and I actually worried it would happen to me for about six months or so.

    Is it real? I believe anything is possible, and what we don’t know compared to what we do know is like the size of the universe compared to the size of our brains. So why not?

    • http://www.manoneileen.com Manon Eileen

      Lol. I think the chance it happens to anyone is crazy small! 

      Thanks for stopping by, Piper!

  • PW Creighton

    SHC is one oft he creepiest phenomena simply because it’s relatively unknown how these occur in the first place. Decidedly creepy

  • Witchyoci

    This has been scientifically explained for years now. It occurs due to the natural excretion of fat from the body after death. This fat soaks into the persons clothes making them extremely flammable. If the body comes into contact with any ignition sorce -such as a lit cigarette- the fat soaked clothes effectively act like a candle wick and burn at very high temperatures incinerating the body and leaving only un covered areas of the body intact. Hence why its predominantly hands, heads arms or bare legs -like the picture above-  of the individual that are left intact.