what is spontaneous combustion?

Question

what is it exactly?and has there been records of it happening?

Answer 1

People just igniting and burning into blue dust. They leave their shoes usually. Nobody knows how, but it's documented.

Answer 2

Spontaneous human combustion? It's a myth. It was a mystery, but it's been solved.

I saw a documentary on television where a forensic scientist showed that cases of spontaneous combustion -- charred human remains -- could actually have burned slowly over many hours and have been started by a cigarrete or other flame. What happens is, the body fat melts and soaks into porous material such as a bed and this feeds the flame the same way candle wax feeds a candle flame. The small flame does not incinerate the entire house or even the whole room. But because it burns for a long time, all the fatty parts of the body are burned up. Usually hands or feet are left unburned, because they are made of leaner tissue and the flame goes out.

I haven't read this Wikipedia article, but the information is all here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion

Answer 3

Many responders are describing spontaneous *human* combustion, which is an urban legend.

Spontaneous combustion is a thermal run-away process culminating in fire. It can occur when a sufficient mass is assembled which undergoes an exothermic chemical reaction which increases in rate with temperature. As more heat is generated, the temperature climbs, which increases the reaction rate, which produces heat at an even greater rate, and so on until it all catches on fire. The mass much be large enough that the heat does not escape quickly for this to occur. The most common example is a large pile of wet decaying organic matter, such as garbage or compost.

Answer 4

It's exactly what it says
combustion - burning
spontaneous - without external ignition; in other words, without being "lit"

Normally, it refers to a so-called effect in humans who burst into flame (supposedly) without external ignition.

There is *circumstantial* evidence of such occurring, but there is no record of such an event, and the circumstantial evidence is controversial (i.e. many scientists believe that combustion was not spontaneous).

There *is* direct evidence of the spontaneous combustion of grain. Indeed, there was a case a few (OK, more than a few) years ago in which a snow-bound grain car spontaneously combusted. What was amazing is that it was *because* of the snow that the grain spontaneously combusted. The spontaneous combustion of grain is now a well-known phenomenon.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 5

In chemistry, you can put two chemicals into a beaker and they will start on fire, without any outside spark or appllied heat.

If you're asking about "spontaneous human combustion" where people allegedly burst into flames --- that's just a myth.

Answer 6

Spontaneous
1. Happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated.
2. Arising from a natural inclination or impulse and not from external incitement or constraint.
3. Unconstrained and unstudied in manner or behavior.
4. Growing without cultivation or human labor.
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Combustion
1. The process of burning.
2. A chemical change, especially oxidation, accompanied by the production of heat and light.
3. Violent anger or agitation: Combustion within the populace slowly built up to the point of revolution.
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Explanation here.
http://www.columbusfd.com/modules/content/index.php?id=7
Definitions found by clicking “Reference” button on the Yahoo toolbar.
Explanation found by Google.

Answer 7

That is when a person or object catches afire from inside. without help from a lighter. Yes, A friend of mine died that way.. His name was George Mott. At the time he was living in Crown Point , New York.

Answer 8

It's the event of something simply bursting into flames without any source of ignition.

Answer 9

It's where liberals have a brain fart and just disappear into a black hole. Records are kept in the Clinton library under lock and key and are not subject to the freedom of information act.

Answer 10

when all else fail....ask Dr. Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion

i remember reading this article when i only had 2 hours to finish an essay that i hadnt started, and no the essay was not related to SHC whatsoever, i ended up handing it in late.... anyway that's not related, enjoy the article.