We've known for a while that conventional burial methods are bad for the environment, and that emissions from crematoriums pollute the air with lots of nasty chemicals. If that gives you a pang of guilt, the newest eco-friendly way to dispose of your loved ones is called Resomation.

It's a process by which the corpse is submerged in a 302F water and alkali solution for three hours, after which all that remains is some soupy liquid and "soft calcium." The calcium is crushed and returned to the family — it looks remarkably similar to the ashes that come from a crematorium. The companies that provide the service do so at similar rates to crematoriums, and are hoping that the method will gain widespread acceptance, just as cremation did after it was introduced in Europe in the 1870s. Our only question is whether soft calcium remains are sufficient to turn your loved ones into Life Gems? — S.E. Kramer

Ressomation, via Spluch