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+--- Thread: Article We're finally learning what it's like to die. And it's not as bad as you think... (/thread-19722.html)
We're finally learning what it's like to die. And it's not as bad as you think... - C C - Feb 4, 2026
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/near-death-experiences-brain-activity-nde
INTRO: The last words Steve Jobs, the legendary Apple founder, spoke were simple: "Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow."
Their mystery is enticing – what did Jobs, the digital prophet who brought us the smartphone, see as he neared death? We’ll never know. But stories of near-death experiences (NDEs) tantalise the living, and something unique seems to be happening inside our brains as we sense death approaching.
Despite NDE testimonies, the moments surrounding death largely remain a mystery to us, especially when it comes to the actual experience of dying. But scientists have recently begun to explore what happens in the final moment of life by gathering data on brain activity from patients who are dying.
Using electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, researchers are able to watch how patterns of brain activity change in the moments leading up to death. The results are preliminary so far, but they show distinctive bursts of coordinated neural activity, indicating that something significant is indeed happening as our brains intuit that death may be near.
Better understanding this activity could not only demystify the dying process – offering comfort to those who have lost loved ones or are nearing death themselves – but might also help explain some of the puzzles of consciousness as well... (MORE - details)
RE: We're finally learning what it's like to die. And it's not as bad as you think... - Zinjanthropos - Feb 4, 2026
Ya...sounds like fun. I'll have to try it some day.
Wonder if you get the same good feeling if killed instantly? Bit comforting to know that maybe guillotine victims had happy thoughts when their head landed in the basket, if they were still consious for a few seconds, that is. Think I read somewhere that it was a possibility.
RE: We're finally learning what it's like to die. And it's not as bad as you think... - Syne - Feb 4, 2026
Sounds like something that would only happen dying of natural causes, where the body physiologically anticipates the end.
RE: We're finally learning what it's like to die. And it's not as bad as you think... - Zinjanthropos - Feb 4, 2026
(Yesterday 04:59 PM)Syne Wrote: Sounds like something that would only happen dying of natural causes, where the body physiologically anticipates the end.
Can’t imagine being burned to death. No amount of anything the brain does is going to ease that torture but maybe right at the last scream you have happy thoughts.
For believers it might be tough getting a warm send off and then landing in Hell…
RE: We're finally learning what it's like to die. And it's not as bad as you think... - geordief - Feb 4, 2026
(Yesterday 02:47 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Ya...sounds like fun. I'll have to try it some day.
Wonder if you get the same good feeling if killed instantly? Bit comforting to know that maybe guillotine victims had happy thoughts when their head landed in the basket, if they were still consious for a few seconds, that is. Think I read somewhere that it was a possibility.
Confusing for vegetarians if were are providing entertainment to the mass culled.
Still, better to cut short the needless suffering in heartless pre mortal treatment (as well as them tasting better when not stressed it seems)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin