The Rise of Cremation

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In rural areas, families tended to do it all themselves. Cremation was legalized in the United States starting in the late 1800s. In 2021, which is the most recent number for which we have statistics, the cremation rate was 57.5%. That's just a meteoric rise in a very short period of time.

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

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