Death and its causes: defining death, and the biology of decomposition. What happens to corpses?: from burial to incineration or exposure, corpse disposal around the world throughout recorded history including unusual and sometimes illegal methods of disposal as well as embalming, mummification, freezing, pickling and other methods of preservation. The use and abuse of corpses: the forensic pathologist, dissection, using parts of the body, organ transplants, foetus research, the relics trade, sacrifice, cannibalism, corpse identification, DNA techniques, the fate of ashes. Death and afterlife: The prospect of death, grieving, the afterlife and the soul, the transit to the afterlife, the future of corpse disposal.
