my frind says, that when a body dies, the body loses 21 grams of weight. But, scientists do not know...?

Question

....where it goes. Can anyone shed some light on this phenomenon.

This is 21 grams of un accountable weight.

Answer 1

This relates to an experiment conducted in 1907 by Dr. Duncan MacDougall. Of six measurements, two were discarded. The remaining four were far from consistent, and experimental error was relatively high due to uncertainty in the exact time of death and the lack of precision in the measurement tools of the day. From a scientific basis, the results were not conclusive with respect to the phenomenon of post-mortem weight loss. However, Dr. MacDougall did at the time claim to have measured the weight of one patient's soul as being approximately 0.75 ounces, which is 21.3 grams, completely without proving that the apparent post-mortem weight loss has anything to do with the soul.

Answer 2

It is as DavidK93 says. My understanding is that the experiment was also done on dogs who were found not to lose any weight at the point of death.

I believe that there is a soul - maybe the soul has weight I don't know. The distinction between animals and humans in the Bible is a soul - humans have then and animals don't. A common thought is that it is the soul that 'goes to Heaven'. However, the Bible also says that ALL CREATURES will be called to give an account of their lives and so be in Heaven. So is it the soul that has weight?

Some people have thought that the weight loss is due to the release of bodily fluid - but this was all accounted for in the original experiments.

Weird and I'm not convinced of the science behind the experiment

Answer 3

The belief (unscientific, obviously) is that 21 grams is the weight of the soul, hence why the body loses this amount following death. It is an interesting concept, and presumably one come about as an explanation for the unexplained.

It could be attributed to the loss of body fluids and gasses, but I would presume this would then be "accountable" weight.

There is also a film of the same title. Bit heavy viewing, and it can be hard to follow though ;)

Hope that gives you some food for thought!

Answer 4

It was more than a century ago when some scientist , perhaps in England, did some tests. I was not impressed with the outcome which was supposed to be the weight of ones soul....under 10 grams or so.

This whole experiment should be repeated .

Answer 5

I'm not sure if this is apocryphal - is there any real science that shows this? Also you may like to know that this was the subject of a fascinating book called 'The Gasp'. In which this loss of weight, 'The Gasp', was captured and used as a source of energy.... Sadly I can't remember the author but I do remember being totally fascinated by the story.

Answer 6

I heard of the experiment DavidK mentions in the early 80's.

I'd forgotten about it until now.

So speaking as a diver I know that air ( and therefore oxygen) has a mass.

As you die, the respiratory system shuts down, and the oxygen in the linings of the lungs must come out of the lungs and become free in air again. So reducing the mass of the body.

Just an idea, not solid fact.

Answer 7

Your friend is wrong, I'm afraid. This is an urban myth, and like so many, is not true.

It's based on some very badly-conducted experiments 100 years ago, which only showed the supposed weight loss in one out of six measurements.

Answer 8

I think you have bought into an urban legend. I would say, that there is no truth to this at all. Some body just made it up.

The world is full of people who will believe anything. Some believe 70 virgins are waiting for them when they die.

Answer 9

Exercise in the morning to speed up weight loss

Answer 10

DEATH is a GREAT method of weight loss! Your friends will ENVY you! *laughter* It's called water, man. When you die, the water evaporates. Wake up!