death & dying library

Death & Dying is an inevitable fact of life. Learn about the most common causes of death, life expectancy, and more in this section.

Featured Article: What causes rigor mortis?

Murder victims found clutching strands of their attacker's hair aren't the stuff of Hollywood -- rigor mortis is the cause. What makes muscles tighten and joints lock after someone dies? See more »

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10 Bizarre Ways to Die

There are a lot of ways to die. Some are just more interesting than others. For example, death by deodorant, or death by underwire bra.

If you were in the hospital being kept alive by machines, would you want the doctors to pull the plug or do everything they could to keep you alive? A living will can ensure that decision is all yours.

How Autopsies Work

The job of a coroner usually provokes fear, apprehension, or extreme anxiety in people. But handling the deceased is a necessary task. Cut through the mystery of this often misunderstood process and learn the details of the preparation, procedure, and tools needed to perform an autopsy.

How Brain Death Works

Whether brain death is a result of cardiac arrest and lack of oxygen to the brain, or of a gunshot wound to the head, the diagnosis is the same. Learn what the term brain dead" actually means.

How Cremation Works

First, you burn the body until only brittle, pulverized bones are left. These remains are pulverized into ashes, and then placed into urns -- or diamonds, coral reefs and even outer space.

How does death by hanging work?

Hanging, when carried out with modern techniques, can be one of the quickest and most painless ways to be executed. But not all hangings are designed to be quick and painless.

How Dying Works

Dying is one thing we all have in common. Our bodies weren't built to last, and you can't trick the Grim Reaper out of coming to call. So what are we in for at the end of life?

Is there a worst way to die?

How does it feel to die? Is there a worst way, or is it totally subjective? What factors make some ways of dying so much grislier than others?

What causes rigor mortis?

Murder victims found clutching strands of their attacker's hair aren't the stuff of Hollywood -- rigor mortis is the cause. What makes muscles tighten and joints lock after someone dies?

Which country's people have the longest life expectancy and why?

The U.S. is 42nd in life expectancy in the world. Who has the highest life expectancy, and how do they live longer than everyone else?

15 Most Common Causes of Death in the United States

Where you live has a lot to do with how you meet your Maker. See our list of the 15 most common causes of death in the United States, including Diabetes mellitus and heart diseases.

15 Most Common Causes of Death in the World

These 15 causes of death make up about 58 percent of all deaths, according to the World Health Organization's World Health Report. Some of these statistics might just surprise you.

5 People Buried with Strange Objects

Some people try to take things with them into the great unknown. See our list of 5 people who were buried with strange objects, including Humphrey Bogart and King Tut.

59 Famous People Who Died Before Age 40

That these people all died before the age of 40 is sad in its own right -- how they died is often more so. And sometimes, the causes are just plain strange.

7 Strange Ways to Die

Some causes of death stand out for their sheer level of peculiarity. See our list of 7 strange ways to die, including being struck by a tortoise falling from the air and laughing too hard.

8 Famous People Who Died in the Bathroom

Some people go into the bathroom and then never come out. See our list of 8 famous people who died in the bathroom, including Elvis, Jim Morrison, and Orville Redenbacher.