Criteria (Choose left hand side if science. Choose the right hand science if voodoo science.

(a) self-correcting, or not.

(b) theory resists change, or changes.

(c) produces fruitful spin-off investigations, or doesn’t.

(d) explains its observations; uses ad hoc explanation.

(e) is consistent with other fields, or is anomalous.

(f) uses operational definitions, or does not.

There are a number of documented cases of human remains being found where the central portion of the body—even the bones--are burned to ashes, while the legs and surrounding area (the house or woods) is not burned. Typically the body will be almost entirely destroyed by fire that begins in the torso, and leaves a limb or two intact. These documented conditions contrast markedly with most burn injuries, where the limbs are affected first. Because the area where victims are found has no apparent source of fire, the indicated explanation is that the victims suffered from spontaneous human combustion.