The Slippery Truth: Debunking the Myth of Wax-Like Human Bodies

There’s a curious myth that has been circulating for some time now, suggesting that the human body becomes slippery like wax when it sinks in water. This idea, while intriguing, is not entirely accurate. The human body does undergo certain changes when submerged in water, but becoming wax-like is not one of them. Let’s delve into the science behind this myth and uncover the slippery truth about our bodies and water.

The Myth: Wax-Like Human Bodies

The myth suggests that when a human body sinks in water, it becomes slippery and wax-like. This is often attributed to the body’s natural oils and fats reacting with the water. However, this is not entirely accurate. While it’s true that the human body does contain oils and fats, these do not cause the body to become wax-like when submerged in water.

The Science: Human Body and Water

When a human body is submerged in water, it does undergo certain changes. The most noticeable of these is the wrinkling of the skin, particularly on the fingers and toes. This is caused by the outer layer of skin absorbing water and swelling, which in turn causes the skin to wrinkle. This is a temporary change and the skin returns to its normal state once it dries.

Another change that occurs is the body’s buoyancy. The human body is naturally buoyant due to the air in our lungs and the fat in our bodies. When submerged in water, the body tends to float rather than sink. If a person exhales all the air from their lungs, they can sink, but the body will still not become wax-like.

Debunking the Myth

So, where does the myth of the wax-like body come from? It’s possible that this idea stems from the observation of bodies that have been in water for a long period of time. When a body is submerged in water for an extended period, it can undergo a process called adipocere formation, also known as “grave wax”. This is a waxy substance that forms on the body due to the breakdown of fats. However, this process takes weeks or even months to occur and is not a result of simply sinking in water.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the human body does not become slippery like wax when it sinks in water. While the body does undergo certain changes when submerged, these are temporary and do not result in a wax-like state. The myth of the wax-like body is likely a misunderstanding of the adipocere formation process, which occurs over a much longer period of time. So, the next time you hear this myth, you’ll know the slippery truth.