How Does Human Composting Work?

3min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

There is just really this profound interest in not feeling like your last act on earth is a negative one. I think people want that sort of feeling of legacy and of positivity when they're thinking about something that is difficult but inevitable in death. How does it work? So the process starts with the body itself. It's that live, rich material that you're going to be able to transform.

Remember you are dirt and to dirt you shall return. Science journalist Eleanor Cummins and law professor Tanya Marsh explain the rise of human composting, now legal in six states, as an alternative to burial or cremation.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey, and hosted by Noel King.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices