Why Don't We Taxidermy Humans?

TL;DR

You have several options for preserving your body after death, including cremation, burial in outer space, turning ashes into a diamond, taxidermy, embalming, and plastination.

Transcript

Hey, Vsauce. Michael here. And when you die, what happens to your body? It can be buried or cremated or donated to science, but are those your only options? I mean, what if I wanted to be taxidermied, like my friend here? What if I requested to have my body stuffed and mounted in some hilarious position, like a permanent high five, so people could ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Various methods exist for preserving the human body after death, including cremation, space burial, diamond conversion, taxidermy, embalming, and plastination.
• 👻 Ashes can be sent into space or turned into diamonds, allowing for unique memorial options.
• 🛟 Taxidermy offers creative displays but may not accurately preserve all aspects of the body.
• 🛟 Embalming can preserve a body for a longer time, but ongoing maintenance is required.
• 🌗 Plastination, used in exhibits like Body Worlds, provides a long-lasting preservation method, although control over the final outcome may be limited.
• 💨 The legal status of corpses complicates the options for preserving bodies in unconventional ways.
• 👋 Despite the potential limitations, taxidermy may be the best option for legal ownership and long-term preservation of the body.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can ashes be sent into space?

Yes, with the right connections and budget, a portion of your ashes can be launched into space. The first space burial occurred in 1997, and human remains have also been buried on the Moon.

Q: Can you turn human ashes into a diamond?

Yes, there are companies that can take carbon from cremated remains and expose them to extreme heat and pressure to create a diamond. This process allows for creative and personalized memorial jewelry.

Q: Is taxidermy a viable option for preserving a body?

Taxidermy can preserve the skin of a body but not all internal organs. While it offers creative displays, the use of generic mannequins may result in a less accurate representation of the individual or animal.

Q: Can embalming preserve a body for a long time?

Well-embalmed bodies, like those of Abraham Lincoln, Mao, and Lenin, can be preserved for an extended period. However, embalming techniques require ongoing maintenance and may not replicate the body as it appeared during life.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• There are unconventional options for preserving your body after death, such as having your ashes launched into space or turned into a diamond.

• Taxidermy allows for creative displays, although it may not preserve all parts of the body accurately.

• Embalming can preserve a body for a longer period, but it requires ongoing maintenance.

• Plastination offers a long-lasting solution to preserve a body, but you may not have control over the final outcome.