You’re Surrounded by Bacteria That Are Waiting for You to Die
You are filled with bacteria, and you are covered in them. And a whole lot of them are just waiting for you to drop dead.
As soon as you die, they’ll swoop in. This week, we learned exactly how microbes chow down Science previous Gory Details
The microbes in your intestines get first dibs, the scientists found. As soon as you die, they’ll start decomposing you from the inside out. Meanwhile, other bacteria on your skin or in the soil beneath you start mounting an attack from the outside in. As Michael Byrne at Motherboard
That’s a little unsettling, if you think about it. And it begs the question: What keeps all those bacteria from decomposing you alive?
That’s silly, you say. I’m alive. Only dead things decompose.
Yes, but why?
What keeps all those bacteria from decomposing you alive?
Basically, a big part of life involves your cells waging a battle to the death with bacterial cells. As long as you’re alive and healthy, your cells are winning. Decomposition is when your cells lose.
One of the clearest descriptions I’ve read comes from Moheb Costandi’s “
This is what happens after you die
“:
Most internal organs are devoid of microbes when we are alive. Soon after death, however, the immune system stops working, leaving them to spread throughout the body freely. This usually begins in the gut, at the junction between the small and large intestines. Left unchecked, our gut bacteria begin to digest the intestines—and then the surrounding tissues—from the inside out, using the chemical cocktail that leaks out of damaged cells as a food source. Then they invade the capillaries of the digestive system and lymph nodes, spreading first to the liver and spleen, then into the heart and brain.
As soon as you die, your body essentially gets its first break from a war that it has been fighting every moment of your life.
When the bacteria start to win that war in a living person, we call it an infection, and we try to flush the invaders out of a wound. Or we go in with antibiotics to poison them.
Let’s pause for just a moment to appreciate those antibiotics. We thought we had outwitted bacteria. But now we’ve overused and misused failure of some of our last lines of defense
Ultimately, we lose our battle with bacteria when we die. But until then, it’s pretty amazing to think of the fine line between life and becoming bacteria food. Imagine the evolutionary arms race that has led to an immune system so vigilant that it can fend off constant attack for decades.
I’m just grateful not to be decomposing right now.
Go Further
Animals
- How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Environment
- Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?
- The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Travel
- Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico