Post Mortem
Photographs of the Weird and Beautiful Ways the Dead Are Memorialized Around the World
We talked to Paul Koudounaris about decorating skulls, burying bodies, and "Memento Mori," his latest book.
How Bodies Were Buried During History's Worst Epidemics
From the black death to the Spanish flu epidemic to last year's Ebola outbreak, what did people do with all those diseased corpses?
Meet the Man Who Makes Molds of Dead People's Faces
Death masks are the final portrait: a literal mold of a person's face in the moments after they've died.
Pastry Chef Annabel Lecter Will Turn Your Nightmares into Cake
We talked to her about her process, the weirdest cakes she's ever made, and how she feels when she gets accused of "inciting cannibalism."
Should Photographing Corpses Be Illegal?
In a world where photos of corpses can circulate around the internet and cause distress to grieving families, does it make sense to formally ban anyone taking pictures of dead bodies?
How Do You Date When You Work with Death?
We asked eight people who work in the funeral and death industries about how their jobs affect their love lives.
The Art and Science of Making Dead People Look Alive Again
We talked to Daniella Marcantoni, a licensed embalmer and makeup artist for the deceased, about how she works to make corpses look a little less lifeless.
Meet the Guy Who Finds Forgotten Graves with a 'Bone Finder'
Bob Perry knows where all the bodies are buried. He's got a machine that tells him.
Transgender People Are Misgendered, Even in Death
In life, transgender people face tremendous hurdles in trying to get accurate identification reflecting their true identities. In death, that's no different.
Let's Talk About Binding Books with Human Skin
For centuries, the practice of making books out of human skin was disturbingly common.
How the 'New York Times' Churns Out 1,000 Obituaries Every Year
An interview with writer Margalit Fox.
The Graves of the Rich and Famous in Los Angeles Will Make Your Apartment Look Pathetic
If you've got the dough, you can be buried among the Hollywood elite in luxury cemeteries so extravagant that they attract graveyard tourists.