Thermodynamics of Incorruptability
By Joey - Posted on April 3rd, 2007
Tagged: Miracles of concern
Folks,
Bob Haley and I once worked on a calculation of the entropic penalty associated with numerous "Incorruptables" found in Christendom. I would like to try to finish the analysis and provide some evidence for incorruptability - one way or another.
I'll dig up some links too that refer to this phenomenon - which, by the way, is the occurrence of a body (typically a saint) that has been exhumed beyond the normal 12+ years required for total decay and found to be fresh, flexable, and fragrant.
Joey
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Joey,
You mentioned some of this stuff to me before, but I may have more in common with Mark on this one. Incorruptability doesn't play a role in my theology, and I'll admit to some initial skepticism. I'll be interested to learn.
Jonathan
OK,
A response from Mark. . . . this will be an interesting journey. I will first review what is known about natural decay of the body and the effects of embalming.
Jonathan,
I am not interested in presenting a "theology" just the science.
Joey
Good article on human body decay mechanisms and even some kinetics!!
http://www.sgm.ac.uk/pubs/micro_today/pdf/110108.pdf
Also mentions the relationship between humidity and mummification of tissue.
Conclusion: The bugs finish their meal in 100 - 400 days if you are not buried in a tomb and depending largely upon temperature and humidity.
Wikipedia also provides some information including the comment that embalming largely serves to reduce odor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decomposition#Animal_decomposition
The longest time for natural decay that I have read about for a human is that in a sealed tomb the time for full decay is on the order of 12 years.
I would also point out that the use of embalming fluid is a practice that is subject to chemical analysis.
Very nice article on embalming (mentions a couple of Popes at the end and that Abe Lincoln was embalmed for the long-term, exhumed and found to be perfectly preserved but with blackened skin after 100 years).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embalming
Finally, mummification can greatly reduce the decay rate of human tissue - mummies > 1000 years old. Embalmed tissue is distinct from natural human tissue that has not had an embalming fluid. Natural tissue is subject to aggressive decay mechanisms.
The control of interest in this experiment is the unembalmed.
And finally. . .the lack of an embalming step is critical to this discussion - i.e. it must be proven.
Joey
Just a few more details.
BMR for a human is about 2000 kilocalories/day.
2000 kcal/day * 4184 J/kcal * 1day/8.64e4sec = 96.85 Watts
OK, let's go with a power requirement of 100 Watts to keep a body looking good (i.e., no weight loss/gain).
JS
Here is a light piece on incorruptibles. js