• Question: What happens when you Die?

    Asked by libbiehooton to Emily, Cesar, Jamie, Kate, Philippa on 21 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by smiffiieee, beckiee100.
    • Photo: Jamie Gallagher

      Jamie Gallagher answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Hi all,

      Well I don’t think I can answer this one really. I think we all have our own ideas of what might happen and I’m not sure if science has all the answers.

    • Photo: Philippa Demonte

      Philippa Demonte answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      @libbiehooton @smiffiieee @beckiee100 Physically the brain shuts down, and therefore also all other functions including the body’s circulation.

      This might not technically be the correct definition though, as someone with damaged brain function could be artificially kept alive on a life support system. Another example is heart transplant surgery where the patient’s own heart has to be artificially stopped and their body artificially cooled in order to slow down brain function.

    • Photo: Emily Robinson

      Emily Robinson answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      I think everyone has a slightly different idea about what happens when you die and the simple question is that we don’t know as there is no way to know for certain while we are alive. So Jamie is right science doesn’t always have the answers!

      I try to appreciate life right now, so if there is nothing after death then I wouldn’t be disappointed.

      Do any of you have strong views about what you think happens? Do you think there is any way science could help answer this question?

    • Photo: Kate Clancy

      Kate Clancy answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      It’s funny, as a parent I think about this totally differently now. Before I was fine with the whole we all die thing, I knew it was coming for everyone. But now that I have a beautiful little girl, I think I want to be around forever to see her grow up and have her own children, and see those children have children. And then I do get a little sad that at some point I won’t exist any more. I get more sad when I think one day my own children and grandchildren won’t exist.

      But we will in some capacity. My grandmother died a few years back and my daughter’s middle name is her own. And we honor her in all sorts of little ways, all the time. So in the genes you may choose to pass on, but also the impact you have on the world, you always get to stick around.

      So, I guess to me, it doesn’t really matter what happens when you die. But that means I want to have a meaningful, lasting impact while I’m here!

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