Dissolving the body in water could very well be the future of our funeral rites. At least, that is the bet the Scottish government is making by officially legalizing "aquamation."
Also known as resomation, this technique involves placing the body in a pressurized vessel containing a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide. The solution is then heated to between 90 and 150°C (194–302°F) without the liquid ever reaching a boil. In just a few hours, the body is decomposed through an extremely gentle process.
At the end of the cycle, the family can collect ashes of a brilliant white, even more abundant than those resulting from flame-based cremation. The remaining liquid, which is completely harmless, can be used as a natural fertilizer or even returned to the water system with zero environmental impact.
Not only does this technique use seven times less energy than cremation, but it also prevents the overcrowding of cemeteries and air pollution from urban crematoriums. Another benefit: invasive medical devices (such as pacemakers) can be recovered intact at the end of the cycle to be safely recycled. ⚰
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