Skip to content

Why do nails seem to keep growing after death?

Nails and hair are said to keep growing once someone dies. Is that possible?

Fingernails and beards appear to keep growing even after a person has died. Why? And are they actually growing?

Do you have nightmares about zombies? Zombies with creepy, long fingernails? Long-nailed, hairy zombies are common portrayals of the moaning, undead terrors, but there's a reason why fingernails and hair appear to keep growing on a dead body. Watch the video (and read this column by Claudia Hammond) to learn why.

Join 800,000+ Future fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called “If You Only Read 6 Things This Week”. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Capital, and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.