The Human Body’s Mysteries: Can We Sense Death Approaching?

Even with decades of scientific study and technological progress, there are still aspects of the human body that puzzle doctors and researchers. Given the incredible complexity of our biology, this should not come as a complete surprise.

Some individuals are said to possess a “sixth sense,” allowing them to predict events before they happen. Interestingly, recent research suggests that humans may also have the ability to subconsciously detect when death is near.

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The Role of Putrescine in Death Detection

When a person dies, the body begins to decompose almost immediately. In this process, a chemical compound known as putrescine—a toxic, foul-smelling substance—is released. Scientists have found that humans are capable of subconsciously recognizing this odor.

More than just recognition, exposure to the scent triggers an instant reaction in the body. Researchers Arnaud Wisman from the University of Kent’s School of Psychology in the UK, and Ilan Shira from the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Arkansas Tech University in the U.S., explain that humans, like animals, use scent signals as survival mechanisms, often responding instinctively to danger.

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Human Reactions to the Smell of Decay

Experiments conducted by Wisman and Shira revealed that people exposed to putrescine tend to instinctively distance themselves, mirroring animal behavior when faced with threats—choosing either to flee or prepare for confrontation.

The researchers point out:

“We do not know why we like or dislike certain smells, and we’re usually unaware of how odors influence our emotions, preferences, and attitudes.”

Other scientists also note that while it may be difficult to think of a scent as frightening, odors can increase alertness and awareness of one’s surroundings.

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Scents and Human Behavior

Scent has long been recognized as a powerful influencer of human behavior. For example, sex pheromones—chemicals released by both men and women—can trigger behavioral responses in the opposite sex, encouraging attraction and mating.

By contrast, putrescine communicates an entirely different message. Researchers explain that while pheromones often promote attraction, the presence of putrescine tends to elicit avoidance or even aggression. What makes this more striking is that people are generally unaware of perceiving this smell or linking it directly to death or fear.

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Conclusion

Although science has yet to fully explain the complexity of human senses, research indicates that our reactions to certain scents—particularly those tied to decay—play an important role in survival. Just as animals instinctively recognize danger through smell, humans may also unconsciously respond to chemical signals like putrescine, subtly shaping behavior in moments of threat.