Expert: Walter Hintz - 1/5/2009

Question
Hello Walter, I hope this finds you in good health and spirits!
My question belongs in the 'curio' department, but is nonetheless sincere; I just read that it is supposedly a 'fact' that a dead person weighs some 18 grams less than while alive. So, if you were to weigh somebody on their deathbed, before and after so to say, that somebody would lose 18 grams by...dying. Is there any truth to this?
I thank you Walter and assure you that I put this question to you in the utmost sincerity.
Göran (Sweden)

Answer
Hi Goran
This idea came from an experiment carried out by a doctor in 1907 and the figure was 21 grams not 18. The Doctor was trying to weigh the soul. ( There is a recent movie starring Sean Penn entitled 21 grams) No one has been able to repeat this study and repeatability is necessary to establish a fact
walter