National Geographic Body Farm video

by Joe on Nov. 13th, 2008

Liza might have posted this somewhere already, but in case you missed it, here's a great video on the work being done at the Body Farm. Warning, it is graphic.

Average:

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

EWatson02 says:

...Wow, I wasn't aware that the area was so wooded. I expected more of a field. Though I suppose they could very well have both.

I would be interested in seeing similar facilities of this sort in more arid parts of the country, like Nevada, or colder areas, like here in Minnesota. While the facility in Tennessee is fantastic, the environments they have to work with are limited to Tennessee conditions. Wasn't there a move to set one up somewhere in Europe as well?

posted on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:47am

Liza says:

There is another "body farm" at Western Carolina University, in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Texas State University was planning a human forensic lab, but they had to scrap their plans after learning that buzzards potentially attracted to the bodies could pose a danger to a nearby airport.

A scientist named Tyler O'Brien was leading an initiative to build a similar facility in Iowa for the exact reason you raise. I'm not sure what happened with that...

posted on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 4:15pm

EWatson02 says:

Thanks for the info! A facility in Iowa would be great; I'll have to look and see if that actually got anywhere.

posted on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 11:38pm

Liza says:

If watching the video gets you interested in the Body Farm, then read "Death's Acre: Inside the Body Farm, the Legendary Forensic Lab," by William M. Bass.

(There's also a sequel: "Beyond the Body Farm: A Legendary Bone Detective Explores Murders, Mysteries, and the Revolution in Forensic Science.")

You can find other recommended forensics books on the Science Buzz/CSI shelf on Shelfari.

posted on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 4:10pm

EWatson02 says:

Thanks for the recommendations, Liza!

posted on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 11:39pm