Plants Can Help Find Corpse

Recently scientists have been studying or will use plants in searching human corpses or remains in the forest as a help for foot and aerial searches to fast the operation.

Scientist said plants reacts on the environment they are near particularly on a dead decomposing bodies and it affects their chemistry and can shown on colors particularly on plants’ leaves.

“After death, our bodies decompose, releasing certain chemicals, and, if our body is laid to rest on the ground, these chemicals alter the state of the surrounding plants. These traces of humanity are faint echoes of our former selves, but by studying decomposing bodies, scientists hope to one day use these clues in the search for missing people. In a new study, a team of researchers lay out the potential of 'forensic botany' – a new understanding of plant chemistry that could make search-and-rescue missions both faster and more accurate.” (Inverse)

“A prime candidate for tracing remains is nitrogen, which is associated with increased chlorophyll. Decomposing bodies add nutrients like nitrogen to the ground, changing the chemistry of nearby plants. A surge in the nutrient could cause a "greening" effect on tree leaves.” (Inverse)

image from Cell website