Research
How we research what we publish
IceBurial doesn't perform original scientific research. We synthesize publicly available regulatory information, peer-reviewed science, and industry reporting into clear, accessible explanations — and we tell you honestly where the evidence is thin.
Our approach to evidence
We distinguish deliberately between three tiers of confidence in every article: methods with established regulatory approval and a long operating track record; methods backed by peer-reviewed science and growing but incomplete regulatory adoption; and concepts that are speculative, unproven, or confined to early research and design stages. This same three-tier framework — established, emerging, experimental — appears throughout the site.
Where to verify regulatory information yourself
Because burial and cremation law varies by country, state, province, and sometimes county, we encourage readers to verify current regulations directly with primary sources rather than relying solely on any single website, including this one. Useful starting points include your state or provincial funeral and cemetery regulatory board, your national environmental protection agency for sea burial and scattering rules, and the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association for cross-border context.
Where to find scientific context
For emerging methods like natural organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis, peer-reviewed environmental science and public health journals are the most reliable source of independent evaluation, alongside published life-cycle assessments comparing disposition methods' environmental footprints. We recommend approaching any single study's findings — including ones referenced on this site — with appropriate scientific caution, since methodology and assumptions vary between analyses.
A note on claims we won't make
We do not make unsupported scientific claims, and we're explicit when something — like cryonics revival or the long-term efficacy of certain speculative preservation concepts — is unproven rather than simply "not yet mainstream." If a claim can't be supported by credible evidence, we say so directly rather than implying otherwise.
Questions about a specific claim?
If you believe something on IceBurial is inaccurate or out of date, we want to know. Visit our contact page to reach out directly.