# Do suicide bombers feel it before they die?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 21, 2002, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974 "2002-11-21T17:16:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974/1 "2002-11-21T17:16:01Z")

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I’d think that it’s a pretty violent explosion, and it ripps them apart in mere milliseconds. So, do they feel it when they push the button, or is it just instant death?

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**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974/2 "2002-11-21T17:32:32Z")

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I saw a video on a site that shall remain nameless that showed one of these bombers.

He was ripped to shreds and his upper torso including head was laying several feet away from the rest of his body. He was looking around at people, blinking, mouthing words. Cops were just looking at him.

So, I’d say in his case at least there was a good chance he felt something.

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974/3 "2002-11-21T17:43:52Z")

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Not exactly matching the OP, but at least related:

[Do decapitated heads briefly remain conscious?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_221a.html)

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**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974/4 "2002-11-21T18:03:27Z")

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My guess is enough damage is doen quickly enough to the brain for them to feel nothing. There is a minimum timeslice necessary for the brain to be ‘aware’ of something. If you blast the brain in a shorter time period than that (which is likely with a bomb strapped to your person) you won’t feel a thing. Even if they do manage to feel something they won’t feel it for very long.

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**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974/5 "2002-11-21T18:42:16Z")

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More recent SD article about it:

[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_262.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_262.html)

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**Author:** ![nth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nth)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-suicide-bombers-feel-it-before-they-die/137974/6 "2002-11-21T19:24:21Z")

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re: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_262.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_262.html)

huh! in other words, he has no clue.  
can’t we have scientific fact to prove this?  
i mean is it possible to create experiments?  
how about cutting chickens or cows?  
of course, no experimenting with humans. 😛