Spontaneous combustion is a rare and bizarre phenomenon where a person catches fire, often without warning or external cause. While it's not fully understood, it's not an urban legend, with documented cases dating back to the 17th century. Theories to explain it include the "wick effect," where a person's clothes and body fat ignite, and a psychological trance that can cause a chemical imbalance leading to combustion. Other theories include divine punishment and the presence of a particle called "pilotu" that increases body heat. Despite various explanations, the exact cause of spontaneous combustion remains unknown.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Spontaneous combustion is a phenomenon where a person catches fire without any external source of ignition.
2. The first recorded cases of spontaneous combustion were documented by a mathematical doctor named Tom Bártoli in the 17th century.
3. There have been only a few documented cases of spontaneous combustion throughout history.
4. In cases of spontaneous combustion, the person's body typically catches fire, but their hands and feet remain intact.
5. The surroundings of the person who catches fire usually do not catch fire, except for the surface they are sitting or lying on.
6. The smell of smoke from spontaneous combustion is often described as sweet, rather than like burning flesh.
7. There are several theories to explain spontaneous combustion, including the "wick effect" theory, which suggests that the person's clothes and body fat can ignite like a candle wick.
8. Another theory is that spontaneous combustion is caused by a particle called "pilotu" that increases the heat of the body.
9. A chemist proposed that spontaneous combustion could be the result of a chemical imbalance in the person's body, caused by psychological factors such as social isolation or loneliness.
10. Spontaneous combustion is a rare phenomenon, and none of the existing theories fully explain its causes.
11. The oldest recorded cases of spontaneous combustion were documented in the 17th century.
12. One of the most famous cases of spontaneous combustion occurred in the 21st century, when a 92-year-old physicist died from the phenomenon.
13. In another case, a woman's body caught fire in front of her father, who reported that she was quiet and did not seem to be in distress.