What causes rigor mortis?

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating and slightly macabre world of rigor mortis, exploring what happens when muscles stiffen after death. They explain the science behind why bodies become rigid, discuss factors that affect the timing and duration of rigor mortis, and reveal how forensic investigators use this natural process to help solve crimes and determine time of death. The hosts also cover other forensic techniques like liver mortis and insect activity, making this a comprehensive look at the biological processes that occur after we shuffle off this mortal coil.