Everything that’s alive has to die eventually (yes, even you, immortal jellyfish ). It’s not just a natural part of life but a necessary one, too, as there is so much on Earth that wouldn’t be possible were it not for, well, corpses. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

So, is our approach to death getting in the way of new life? Let's dive into it.

The circle of life

Deep in the ocean, whale carcasses feed an immense diversity of life. Up on land, young trees grow from the remains of dead ones. There are animals that can’t complete their lifecycle without a corpse to lay their eggs in , and as organic matter decays and decomposes, it nourishes the soil with life-sustaining nutrients (yes, even the bones ).

Disapp

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