Plants As Help To Detect Human Remains

Scientists has been looking for plants as a help and determinant in finding human corpses in the forest for according to experts when human corpse decay and decompose laid on the ground it affects its surrounding environment especially plants.

“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)

It is said dead bodies with nitrogen releasing can affects the plant’s chemistry particularly the plants leaves and the experts are studying about it; about the color of the plants as determinant on finding human corpses in the forest.

“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)

Studying how plants may help on search for human corpses in the forest may contribute largely on foot and aerial search making the search fast, and in the news said, accurately.

“We propose that forest trees and understory invasive plants may be useful to help pinpoint locations of suspected human decomposition. If we can determine the key cadaver-to-soil-to-plant signaling parameters, plants might assist forensic teams in search of missing persons using remote sensing technology. With plants acting as environmental sentinels, forensic investigators can make better-informed decisions that maximize scarce resources and keep ground teams safe in conflict zones. Vegetation that is currently considered as an obstacle to cadaver recovery has the potential to become a significant asset in the detection of human remains through UAV-based remote sensing….. The integration of multidisciplinary research using cross-cutting technologies such as artificial intelligence, big-data analytics, and advanced sensor technologies is needed to answer important questions to enable new search and recovery platforms using plants …..” (Cell)

Researchers has been studying reactions of plants and human remains or corpses in a facility called “body farm”.

“Research into the relationship between plants and human decomposition will take place on the University of Tennessee's "body farm." Officially known as the Anthropology Research Facility, this is where scientists examine the process of human body decay under different conditions. There, investigators will assess how "cadaver decomposition islands" -- the zone immediately surrounding humans remains -- change the nutrient concentrations of the soil, and how those changes manifest in the nearby plants.” (Science Daily)

“A team of botanists, anthropologists and soil scientists from the university will begin experimenting with the so-called cadaver islands to better understand how plants could help reduce the time spent on "painstaking" on-foot pursuits and aerial searches. The research will be conducted at the university's Anthropology Research Facility, known as the "body farm," where scientists examine the process of human body decay under different conditions and how it impacts nearby plants.” (CNN)

The main point : Plants react with a decomposing corpse near it and this reaction can be use to detect corpses particularly human corpses in help to find fast and accurately human corpses in the forest

imagae from Cell website