decomposition

"Recovery, identification and transfer operations are being made extremely delicate by the advanced state of decomposition of the bodies," the statement said.

It also aims to support biotechnological advances to slow decomposition, like edible coatings for produce, and mechanisms that detect and quantify gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and ethylene to ensure optimal storage conditions, prevent spoilage and extend the shelf life of perishable foods.

She added that the bodies are in various states of decomposition, with some slightly underground and others not.

Keen to find out more about changes to landscapes at burial sites, she recently visited the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility in Texas, a 26-acre outdoor human decomposition research lab at Texas State University’s Freeman Ranch.

The nuisance of the rotten-egg smell is a byproduct of bacteria producing hydrogen sulfide during decomposition.