Death and decomposition

Abstract

October is the month many cultures reflect on death and the afterlife. As we enter autumn in the northern hemisphere and the nights get longer, we see the emergence of fungi that feed on decaying material in woods and forests. This October issue has feature articles dedicated to some of the physical changes that happen to our bodies after we die. This issue may not be for everyone, but it is an important area of study and research. It isn’t a celebrated topic of conversation, but I have encouraged people for many years to talk more about it – to discuss what you wish to happen with friends and family so if they need to make decisions when you die, they know what your wishes are. This is a darker topic than usual for The Biochemist but there’re still lots of fascinating science to uncover, from the organisms that colonize flesh to the biochemistry of the changes that take place to break biological material down.If this does sound too intense, then we also have our usual news and informative articles from across biochemistry and this issue includes an interview with the Colworth medal winner Dr Thi Hoang Duong (Kelly) Nguyen. Donated in 1963 by Unilever Research Colworth Laboratory, the award is made to an early career scientist who is within 10 years of receiving their highest qualification.We also have a very handy ‘Beginners Guide’ to supervising your first PhD student and some top tips for inclusive and engaging teaching! Behind the scenes, I have been involved in judging the Science Communication Awards for The Biochemical Society, which are always an absolute pleasure to be involved with. The entries are entertaining, informative and often unexpected! I can’t wait until the winners are revealed.As always, please do get in touch with us at The Biochemist. We accept submissions on a number of different article types, and you can see all of our upcoming themes that we have planned through the website.