This Might Replace Burial or Cremation

A main question for those planning the funerals of themselves or loved ones is pretty basic: Cremation or burial? 

But a feature at Wired explains that a third choice might become the norm in the not-too-distant future: dissolution. OK, the actual term is still in play, but it refers to a process known as alkaline hydrolysis that essentially dissolves the body, or most of it. 

The story begins with a visit to the "Resomator" at UCLA and a detailed description of what's happening inside the device as potassium hydroxide is mixed with water heated to about 300 degrees. "A biochemical reaction is taking place and the flesh is melting off the bones," writes Hayley Campbell. "Over the course of up to four hours, the strong alkaline base causes everything but the skeleton to break down to the original components that built it: sugar, salt, peptides and amino acids."

Read the full story on Newser.com

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