At the University of California, Santa Cruz, researchers have uncovered some of the secrets behind the remarkable ability of piglet bodies to decompose. By studying the microbial communities in decomposing piglets, the team has found that certain bacteria are responsible for the breakdown of the bodies and the release of nutrients to the environment. The research could help explain how other organisms, such as mammals and birds, decompose and provide insight into how the environment cycles nutrients. Furthermore, the findings could have implications for forensic science and the disposal of dead bodies.

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source: Phys.org