But what happens to your body after you die is fascinating.

但是死後身體發生甚麼事卻很奇妙

So we're going to show you.

所以我們要來看看

Don't worry, it won't be gross...much.

別緊張，不會很噁心的

Once a person's breathing stops

一旦呼吸中止

the cells in their body stops receiving oxygen,

體內細胞會停止接收氧氣

but the cells continue to live for several minutes

不過細胞還是會持續「活著」幾分鐘

generating carbon dioxide.

一邊產生二氧化碳

Carbon dioxide is acidic,

二氧化碳屬酸性

and it builds up, rupturing sacs inside the cells.

當它越積越多，就會在細胞內分裂成小氣囊

These sacs contain enzymes

這些小氣囊含酶

that begin to digest the cell from the inside out.

會由內而外開始消化細胞

This creates a blister-like fluid rich in nutrients.

接著產生富含營養素的水泡液體

After about a week, those nutrients

大約一周後，這些營養素

fuel an army of bacteria and fungai

接著招來細菌和真菌大軍

that further liquify organs and muscles.

讓器官與肌肉液化

The microbes that attack the tissue

這些微生物開始侵蝕組織

produce a bewildering array of 400 chemicals and gasses.

產生四百種以上的化學物質與氣體

They include Freon, that's right,

包括氟利昂，就是它

the coolant found in refridgerators.

我們冰箱用的冷卻劑

Benzene, a powerful component in gasoline.

苯，石油組成的元素之一

Sulfur, which smells of swamps and rotten eggs.

硫磺，聞起來像沼澤或腐蛋

And the molecule known as Carbon Tetrachloride,

還有四氯化碳

which was used in fire extinguishers and dry cleaning

常用在滅火器與乾洗劑

until scientists discovered it's highly toxic.

直到科學家發現它是劇毒物，才禁用

At this point, there's very little flesh left,

這時候，血肉已所剩不多

and it's consumed by...here it comes...

剩下的會被牠們吃掉，牠們來了

maggots and beetles.

是蛆和甲殼蟲牠們

Insects leave only bones behind.

昆蟲會吃得一乾二淨，剩下骨頭

Over time, the protein in bone decomposes too,

一段時間後，骨頭裡的蛋白質也會分解

leaving just the bone mineral called Hydroxyapatite,

只會留下骨頭，我們稱為「羥磷灰石」

which eventually turns to dust.

最後會化成灰

We can take some solace in the fact

其實我們應該感到欣慰

that all those nutrients and chemicals, even the dust,

所有的營養物質與化學物質，甚至是骨灰

provide vital substances that make soils fertile,

在我們的生命結束後

sprouting plants and other new life

提供了重要的物質，讓土壤更肥沃

after our lives have ended.

讓植物與其他新生命欣欣向榮

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

塵歸塵，土歸土

[Written and narrated by Mark Fischetti] [Assistant Editor: Kathryn Free]

[Produced, edited & animated by Eric R. Olson] [English Subtitles: heberhouse1]