2007-02-22 03:20:29 · 19 answers · asked by avingavin 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Dr. Duncan MacDougall claimed that there was a 21 gram difference between the mass of living people and the same person when freshly deceased. It was suggested that this weight difference was due to the soul leaving the body, however this research is generally considered unreliable due to the small sample size he used, the primitive analytical equipment that was in use at the time, and the possibility of experimenter bias. His results have never been successfully replicated.
2007-02-22 10:07:35 · answer #1 · answered by datamonkey0031 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a person dies, the body is believed to lose 21 grams which is supposedly the weight of the Soul.
2007-02-22 03:27:04 · answer #2 · answered by sugarplum9903 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Air and fluid, it isnt always 21 grams either, it depends on the size of the deceased.
2007-02-22 04:05:58 · answer #3 · answered by Dingle-Dongle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't happen, its an urban myth.
Gases escape and there is often post-mortem defecation (charming, I know) but the idea of some mysterious weight loss taking place is pure fiction. Besides if you believe in souls you'd have to believe they were intangible wouldnt they?
Otherwise scientist would catch them and do experiments on them.
Souls don't exist anyway.
2007-02-22 03:39:08 · answer #4 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Air
2007-02-22 03:28:15 · answer #5 · answered by freetronics 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my case, I know its not my hair.. Too late for that. It's gone! Probably the gold the mortician takes out of my back teeth.
2007-02-22 05:22:20 · answer #6 · answered by xjaz1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you probably do lose weight when you die (certainly after a few months!!). bodies 'leak' and gas build up would also make them weigh less!!
2007-02-22 04:58:22 · answer #7 · answered by pugsley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont know about it being 21grams exactly but weight loss will be caused by the release of gases and bodily fluids such as blood, urine, faeces, lymph.
2007-02-22 10:11:10 · answer #8 · answered by chunky1990 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a made up idea as to how much the soul weighs.
no scientific prove that souls even exist much less how much they weigh.
2007-02-22 07:26:26 · answer #9 · answered by Jennisonfire 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't believe everything Hollywood tells you
2007-02-22 03:25:22 · answer #10 · answered by somekindahero 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋