What happens when a living thing dies? When a living thing dies, its body stops working. A body that has died does not start working again. Dead is forever. All living things die at some time. That is true for plants, animals and people.

Plants and animals are living things. They come to life, grow and change. They use energy to work and to repair themselves. Some lives are very long. A clam called Ming was 507 years old when it died in 2006. It was the longest-lived single animal ever found, as of November 2026.

A dead animal does not stay there long. Scavengers such as vultures and sea eagles find dead animals quickly and eat them. Dead plants and animals are also food for decomposers, such as bacteria, fungi and earthworms.

Bacteria are tiny living things. The ones on dead material break it down. The nutrients go back to the soil. Fungi cannot make their own food. They release enzymes that break down dead plants and animals. Earthworms eat dead plants and animals. They loosen the soil too.

Decomposers break dead things down into nutrients. The nutrients go back into the soil, where plants can use them again. Decomposers are nature's recyclers. Without them, waste would pile up. That is how dead things help new plants grow.

A dead tree can fall and become a nurse log. New trees grow on it. They get shade, nutrients and water. In the sea, a dead whale sinks to the sea floor. Its body feeds deep-sea animals. This is called a whale fall. A whale skeleton can feed animals for years.

Most dead plants and animals decay or get eaten. So only some become fossils. A fossil often starts when mud, sand or ash buries a dead thing fast. Soft parts rot away. Bones, teeth and shells are left behind. That is why fossils are rare.

People and families believe different things about death. Ask yours. Feel sad or have questions? Talk to a grown-up you trust, like a parent, a teacher or a doctor. They can listen and help. You do not have to feel it alone.

Words to know

• decomposers: dead-thing breakers
• nutrients: food for growing
• scavengers: dead animal eaters
• fossil: old buried remains
• bacteria: tiny living things