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Revision as of 22:07, 19 August 2011
, 22:07, 19 August 2011Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame '''Spontaneous human combustion''' (SHC) describes alleged cases of the burning of a living human body w...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Combustion.jpg|right|frame]]
'''Spontaneous human combustion''' (SHC) [[describes]] alleged cases of the burning of a living [[human]] [[body]] without an apparent external [[source]] of [[ignition]]. While there have been about 200 cited cases worldwide over a period of around 300 years, most of the alleged cases are characterized by the lack of a thorough [[investigation]], or rely heavily on hearsay and [[oral]] [[testimony]]. In many of the more recent cases, where photographic [[evidence]] is available, it is alleged that there was an external [[source]] of [[heat]] present (often cigarettes), and nothing occurred "[[spontaneous]]ly."
Many [[hypotheses]] attempt [[explanations]] for the various cases of ''human spontaneous combustion''.
*[[Paranormal]] explanations (e.g., a [[ghost]] or [[divine]] intervention)
*Natural [[explanations]] based on an [[unknown]] and otherwise unobserved [[phenomenon]] (e.g., production of abnormally concentrated [[gas]] or raised levels of blood alcohol cause spontaneous ignition)
*Natural explanations that involve an external [[source]] of [[ignition]] (e.g., the victim dropped a cigarette)
Objections to natural [[explanations]] typically refer to the [[degree]] of burning of the [[body]] with respect to its [[surroundings]]. Indeed, one of the common markers of a case of SHC is that the [[body]] — or part of it — suffered an extraordinarily large [[degree]] of burning, with [[surroundings]] or lower limbs comparatively undamaged.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion]
[[Category: General Reference]]
'''Spontaneous human combustion''' (SHC) [[describes]] alleged cases of the burning of a living [[human]] [[body]] without an apparent external [[source]] of [[ignition]]. While there have been about 200 cited cases worldwide over a period of around 300 years, most of the alleged cases are characterized by the lack of a thorough [[investigation]], or rely heavily on hearsay and [[oral]] [[testimony]]. In many of the more recent cases, where photographic [[evidence]] is available, it is alleged that there was an external [[source]] of [[heat]] present (often cigarettes), and nothing occurred "[[spontaneous]]ly."
Many [[hypotheses]] attempt [[explanations]] for the various cases of ''human spontaneous combustion''.
*[[Paranormal]] explanations (e.g., a [[ghost]] or [[divine]] intervention)
*Natural [[explanations]] based on an [[unknown]] and otherwise unobserved [[phenomenon]] (e.g., production of abnormally concentrated [[gas]] or raised levels of blood alcohol cause spontaneous ignition)
*Natural explanations that involve an external [[source]] of [[ignition]] (e.g., the victim dropped a cigarette)
Objections to natural [[explanations]] typically refer to the [[degree]] of burning of the [[body]] with respect to its [[surroundings]]. Indeed, one of the common markers of a case of SHC is that the [[body]] — or part of it — suffered an extraordinarily large [[degree]] of burning, with [[surroundings]] or lower limbs comparatively undamaged.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion]
[[Category: General Reference]]
