Does Spontaneous Combustion actually happen? Does anybody know what causes it?

Question

I mean in humans, I have heard stories about just feet or shoes being left intact.

Answer 1

yes it has happened (well i think it has) as a result of heat supposedly generated by an internal chemical reaction.

check out
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2986095
http://www.skeptics.org.uk/article.php?dir=articles&article=spontaneous_human_combustion.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion

Answer 2

SHC (Spontaneous Human Combustion) does occur but there is no universally accepted reason for it. Studies were performed using the carcase of a pig in a confined room. Once ignited, the fat in the body burned almost like a candle. Very hot sooty gases rose to scorch and discolor only the top of the room. Furniture and walls were not affected. The 'candle' burned out without burning the floor and left extremities that were not 'good' candles. Many cases long ago occurred during winter months when fireplaces drew cold dry air into a room through cracks to feed the fire. The heated cold air would be even drier. Dry sheets in a bed or even clothing might crinkle with static electricity. The sparks could ignite flatulence which is about 38% hydrogen and might migrate easily to dry bedding or clothes. But that would not explain many other mysterious cases.

Answer 3

It is generally accepted that spontaneous combustion does occur...though for many years this was disputed.

It is still however not accepted as a phenomena in its own right. It is believed that the documented cases, of which there are many, are the result of naturally occurring phenomena that merely leave the suggestion that the cause was spontaneous.
We should remember that immolation may still be spontaneous and of no known cause....but this is not thought more likely than any other potential cause.

This means that phenomena such as ball lightning are thought to be as likely a culprit as chemical accidents, suicide or death as a result of an undetected crime.

Hope someone proves me wrong one day...this is such a boring answer!!!!

Answer 4

No, it doesn't. All cases of spontaneous human combustion that have been looked into were discovered to be cases of people either falling asleep or drugged to sleep near a flame - a lighted ciggarette or a fire. They caught on fire and slept through it - most were old and on perscription meds of some sort, or alcoholics. The human body has a layer of fat on the surface (in our skin) which burns quickly, like a candle melting - it burns hot but doesn't spread, so it can burn just parts of the body and nothing nearby.

Answer 5

It does actually happen. I couldn't tell you what causes it and sound intelligent so I will just tell you a story. I worked in a family diner and the whole front wall was windows. There was an abandoned car in the parking lot for a few days and then one day it just exploded in flames. The fire department came and put out the fire and the next day before the tow truck came to get it, it exploded into flames again.

Answer 6

It doesn't happen. Certain people end up in situations where their body is consumed by a very hot fire, but the ignition source is not spontaneous. A knocked over candle or other source of ignition that sets fire to a body with high fat content burns at high heat. If the person is overcome by smoke and does not regain consciousness, their whole body (very nearly) can be consumed with pieces of cloth acting like candle wick.

Answer 7

If you are thinking of human spontaneous combustion this will be irrelevant, but some materials notably yellow phosphorus do spontaneously combust.

Spontaneous combustion is also very likely in high pressure oxygen systems.

Answer 8

Of course spontaneous combustion happens but since I suspect that you are talking in humans, then I very much doubt it.

I have had menopausal hot sweats for quite some time - so hot - but hell, so much sweat puts out any potential fire - maybe that's why I haven't gone up yet!

Answer 9

once you ask "Is spontaneous combustion certainly available" specific this is. I seem to remember my chemistry instructor dropping a small piece of something right into a jar if organic oxygen and the stuff basically burst into flames. yet once you propose "is it available for a human physique to spontaneously combust" then the respond isn't any!

Answer 10

Yes - if you soak rags in boiled linseed oil, which is used to treat wood, like axe handles, and wad up the rags in a corner, they will spontaneously heat up until they ignite. This is a real fire hazard.

As to people spontaneously combusting, that is a false myth.

Answer 11

Yes it does happen and nobody knows why. It has been said that it happens in alcoholics when they are wrapped up warm in a room with a big fire in the grate, but it also happens in the open as well.
Answer this and you will get the Nobel prize for chemistry.