Inter/Micro 2012: 7 p.m., Monday, July 9

Spontaneous human combustion has been recorded for centuries. There was a new case reported recently from Ireland. A person simply bursts into flame, and all that remains is a pile of ash with largely undamaged arms and legs protruding from the remains. Accounts of witnesses are astonishing – they speak of a door handle being too hot to touch, of a smoldering pile being found in the middle of an otherwise undamaged room. Is this real? Are the cases imaginary? Have people been exaggerating?

There have been many theories put forward to explain this dramatic phenomenon. The only one to be widely accepted is the “wick effect,” in which fat melts into clothing and burns like wax in a candle. The continuous burning liquefies more body fat, setting up a continuous combustion. This theory fits few of the facts, and it would take at least twelve hours to work – spontaneous combustion consumes a person in a matter of minutes.

This evening we will discovery a revolutionary new theory based on the metabolism of cells within the body. Spontaneous human combustion can be seen as a fleetingly rare, extremely dangerous, but potentially avoidable, condition.

This event is free to all Inter/Micro attendees.

Join us for Prof. Brian J. Ford’s annual evening presentation. Ford is a leading authority on the microscope and a best-selling author who has presented his work on television and radio. Ford’s research is widely quoted in journals and encyclopedias, and he is a popular keynote speaker around the world. He has served as a fellow of the Open University, fellow and president of past students at Cardiff University, visiting professor at Leicester University and an associate of Caius College, University of Cambridge. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Biology and president of the Cambridge Society for the Application of Research. Ford has given his “Evening with Brian” presentations at Inter/Micro for more than 20 years.

Prior to this event, there will be a dinner held in the McCrone Research Institute gardens. All are welcome to mingle, but those dining must register and pay for the meal in advance. The price per person is $20 before May 11, and $28 after May 11.