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.
