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Main Idea:

The source discusses cryonics, where individuals are preserved at low temperatures with the hope that future medical advancements will revive them. Cryonicists challenge the current definition of death, believing in a future where technology can bring back those currently considered "dead."

Arguments/facts:

1. Cryonicists are optimistic about future medical advancements.

2. Cryonics challenges the contemporary definition of death.

3. Advances in medicine may recover individuals labeled as "dead."

Dialogue:

Summary:

The source explores cryonics, where individuals are preserved with the hope that future medical advancements will bring them back to life. Cryonicists, optimistic about evolving technology, challenge the current definition of death. The philosophy emphasizes a proactive stance, reflecting a love for life and a refusal to surrender to the certainty of mortality.

Reference:

January 1983

By: Mike Darwin

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From Cryonics, January 1983

by Mike Darwin

We are cryonicists because we choose to be optimistic rather than pessimistic about the future. We believe that human knowledge and medical technology will continue to expand and that even people who are considered "dead" today will someday be able to be restored to life, health, and youth.

We understand that the state of "death" is nothing more than a physician admitting he is unable to restore a person to life; that this decision as to when a person dies will vary from doctor to doctor, place to place and most important from time to time. A person suffering a cardiac arrest in a hospital cafeteria will have a radically different prognosis than the same person with the same condition on the crowded streets of Bombay: in a hospital he might be resuscitated and live, but on the streets of Bombay a physician would pronounce him dead. We understand that as progress in our understanding of physiology and medicine is made and translated into improved medical technology we are able to recover more and more people from so-called "death." In short, we believe that today's physicians are likely mistaken when they apply the label "dead" to cryonics patients. We believe that a more accurate statement of fact is that cryonics patients are neither dead nor alive, but in a third state: that of uncertain waiting. We understand this will be a hard idea to grasp and an idea that will provoke the great anxiety of "not knowing and uncertainty." But we believe firmly that the chance at continued life this represents is worth this cost.

We believe an explosion of biological technology is coming that will transform the world even more radically than the changes brought by the explosion of engineering and physical technology in this century. We believe that mankind will soon have control over living systems, allowing us to end all human illness, reverse and control the aging process, and solve the thorny ecological problems which seem so overwhelming to us today. We believe that this coming control over living systems will also allow us to fabricate new organisms for use in food and industrial production as well as for the repair and regeneration of patients currently waiting in cryonic suspension.

We are cryonicists because we know what we are doing is right. We don't know if what we are doing will work but we know that it is the right action to take. When someone discovers a person laying on the ground with an apparent cardiac arrest, he does not enter into a debate with himself or other bystanders about whether or not his application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation will work for this particular individual, whether the victim will suffer brain damage, has another terminal illness, would have wanted CPR to be applied, or whether or not doctors will be able to treat the cause of his heart arrest successfully. Rather, the rescuer immediately applies CPR in order to stabilize the victim's condition and prevent any further deterioration from occurring until the victim can reach trained medical personnel who can make those decisions. It is not the rescuer's place to second guess medical capability.

As cryonicists we feel that it is not our place to second guess future medical capabilities either. We know that the right thing for us to do is to move immediately to prevent the patient's condition from deteriorating further and to continue to exert maximum effort to get that patient to a time when it may be possible to treat him effectively. So, just as the CPR rescuer seeks to stabilize the heart attack victim and move him over distance to medical assistance, the cryonics rescuer seeks to stabilize his patient and move him through time to an era when effective medical help will be available.

Cryonics is not about "freezing dead people" since we do not agree with the contemporary medical definition of death which is based solely on the physician's immediate ability to restore function - an ability that will change as medical technology evolves. Today, no one considers a patient in cardiac arrest who is recieving CPR in an attempt to restore life as dead. Simlarly, we know that cryonics patients retain the structure and information content which constitute the basis of their personal identity and humanity to allow for restoration of life. We steadfastly refuse to concede they are dead (irreversibly lost to life) because we believe medicine will advance to a point where it can repair damaged brain structure and restore them to life, health and youth.

We are cryonicists because we love being alive and do not want our lives to ever end. We know that the most important thing we have and the only thing that really matters are our lives and health. Where we differ from others is in our unwillingness to admit defeat because contemporary medical and social authority tells us that we should. We believe in fighting even when the odds against us may be very high and the certainty of success non-existent. We believe we should fight because some chance to hold on to our precious lives, even a minuscule chance, is better than no chance at all and certain death.

We are cryonicists because we refuse to let go of those we love and lose them forever. We are through closing black cuts in the earth and living with deeper ones in our hearts. We know that taking action to save the people we cherish, even if there is little chance that it will succeed, is infinitely superior to helpless inaction and smothering our grief and loss with worthless tears and dying flowers. We believe that action is better than inaction and that the psychological advantage to the dying person and his loved ones is reason enough to undertake cryonic suspension. We believe that it is better to fight than to surrender and we will not give up solely on the basis of someone else admitting their impotence.

Finally, we are cryonicists because we know that each of us is responsible for our own lives and survival; that if we do not take action to defend our lives, no one else will. Being cryonicists puts us back in control of our lives: no longer are we under an absolute, inescapable death sentence. We are taking action to fight death and achieve indefinite extension of our lives. We are not helpless cattle being led to slaughter by an indifferent universe. This realization transforms us and lets us take joy in our lives because it frees us from the draining certainty that we are going to grow weak and disappear forever. We know that we have a chance because we are cryonicists and this awareness motivates us to be productive and to strive to maximize this chance that cryonics represents. If you would like learn more about cryonics, please write or call us.

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Why We Are Cryonicists - Cryonics Archive

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From Cryonics, January 1983 by Mike Darwin We are cryonicists because we choose to be optimistic rather than pessimistic about the future. We believe that human knowledge and medical technology will continue to expand and that even people who are considered "dead" today will someday be able to be restored to life, health, and youth.

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Can you freeze your body and come back to life? - Shannon N. Tessier

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Inside a cryonics facility preserving terminally-ill people (and pets) to wake up in the future

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Main Idea:

The source explains that when we die, our spirit and body separate. Our spirit waits in the spirit world until we receive the gift of resurrection, where it reunites with a perfect, immortal body. Jesus Christ's love ensures everyone gets resurrected, and He judges us based on our actions, choices, and desires.

Arguments / facts :

1. Death separates body and spirit.

2. Resurrection brings a perfect, immortal body.

3. Jesus's love ensures resurrection for everyone.

Dialogue:

Summary:

The source discusses the separation of body and spirit at death, the waiting period in the spirit world, and the eventual resurrection with a perfect body. Jesus ensures everyone gets resurrected and judges based on actions and desires. The goal is to return to live with God. Believing in Jesus, repentance, baptism, and following commandments shape our eternal destiny. The Book of Mormon adds insights into God's plan.

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It is at the time of resurrection that each of us will be judged individually by Jesus, our Savior. This final judgment will be based on our desires, actions, and choices.

Only God and Jesus know our hearts and our life circumstances perfectly, so only they can judge us perfectly. This judgment will be one of mercy, healing, and love (see Revelation 21:4).

God's ultimate goal is to help all His children return to live with Him in the celestial kingdom. Yet it is our choices here and now that will shape where we spend eternity. We must believe in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized in His name, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We also need to keep the commandments throughout the rest of our lives-and repent when we fall short.

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What Happens after We Die? | ComeUntoChrist

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Many of us wonder what happens after we die. We lived before we came to earth, and we will continue to live after we die. Knowing this plan can provide comfort and peace about death. While we mourn for those loved ones we've lost, there is hope-death is not the end.

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Main Idea:

Many people may have heard about cryonics and now wonder if it's something for them. So here's a list of pros and cons.

Arguments:

- the price tag (€200,000)

- It may take a very long time for revival technology to be developed.

Dialogue:

- will the bodies be revived and be fully intact?

Summary:

Although cryonics offers a possibility of revival in the future, it is unbelievably expensive. This sum helps ensure the patients are stored until revival. Besides the sum, nobody has ever been revived, and no one knows, when it will be possible. Thawing tissues, semen and embryos is possible, yet thawing the complete human body is still beyond comprehension. So we just have to trust and believe that one day the revival will be possible.

Reference:

Allessandra Gorla (2022) Pros And Cons Of Cryonics aka Biostasis

retrieved from https://www.tomorrow.bio/post/pros-cons-cryonics

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Are you wondering if cryonics is something for you? This article could help you decide!

You may have heard about cryonics(aka biostasis) and are curious if it's something right for you. Or, maybe you've been thinking about it for a while, and decided it's time to stop cryo-crastinating and act. Whatever your situation is, a good way to understand if you should sign up is to make a list of pros and cons. Not sure what they are? We've got you covered. At Tomorrow Bio, Europe's first biotech company specializing in human cryopreservation, we are well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of this innovative technology. So, here is our list of pros and cons about human cryopreservation.

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What are the pros and cons of cryonics?

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The Pros of Cryonics

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Why should you choose cryonics? The aim of cryopreservation is to preserve a patient so that whatever caused their death can be cured with the aid of future technologies. This way, they have a chance to live an extended life in the future. A noble endeavor. Yet, not all arguments for or against this procedure depend on its future success. For example, both the research and the mindset behind developments within the cryonics field could influence our society, even before revival, in a positive way. Let's analyze these pros together.

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Cryonics As A Life-Saving Procedure

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This is definitely the biggest argument in favor of human cryopreservation. Today in Europe, the average life expectancy is around 81 years. It's projected to increase by the end of the 21st century to 90 years old.

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Life expectancy is predicted to rise well into the future.

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How could this be achieved? One way is by treating illnesses that are still incurable today with new innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, and potentially nanotechnology and nanomedicine. These discoveries can help future societies treat a wide variety of diseases compared to what we can treat today. People who are "doomed" with current medical knowledge could potentially be treated in the future.

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Cryonics is one such technology that can help with this. How? Through human cryopreservation, our members' are preserved in a state where biological processes are paused, cellular decay is halted, and they can be stored indefinitely. Let's imagine that medical developments will eventually find a way to cure brain cancer, even with advanced metastasis. Cryonics members with brain cancer could be cured and revived in the future, and be able to live a longer life.

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This is what a 14 year old British girl chose after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. For the chance at a longer life in the future, she decided cryopreservation was her best (and only) option. In case revival technology is developed, she and anyone who has opted for cryopreservation may be able to live an extended life. Wouldn't this reason alone be enough to decide to join cryonics?

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What if humans could pause themselves and come back when medical technology can treat them?

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A Chance To Experience The Future

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If and when revival technology works, cryonics members will wake up in the future. The world of the future will be significantly different compared to the world they left behind. Let's say a person from 1900 suddenly woke up in 2022. They left a world where flying from place to place was a fantasy, communication via a mobile device was inconceivable, and much of the diseases that were rampant then are treatable in the modern era. Now, imagine life 100 years from now. What could we expect in the future? What new technologies could we benefit from? How will society look? Maybe we'll finally be able to travel across the stars, or upload our minds to virtual reality. The future is full of opportunities. Our Tomorrow Bio's members could be there to discover them.

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Supporting Medical Technological Developments

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The human body is made up of different interconnected systems, just like the branches of medicine that deal with them. Every scientific study can benefit from research made in other fields and, at the same time, can benefit other fields with its own research. For example, developments in the field of nanotechnology have impacted modern electronics. Qualities such as size, flexibility, and conductivity are all thanks to nanotechnologies that impact the way devices are manufactured. You know those bendable smartphones? That's due to nanotechnology. Moreover, development in this field could highly influence the success of the cryonics industry.

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Already, cryopreservation has contributed to stem cell research, and in-vitro fertilization. Cryopreservation has also been key to organ transplantation, however the process of rewarming is still complex. To revive a cryopreserved human being, we have to first understand how to thaw cryopreserved organs. This medical discovery could revolutionize both the cryonics and the organ transplant field. With current technologies, lungs and hearts usually need to be transplanted within 4 hours maximum. Liver and pancreas can survive up to 24 hours. If scientists learn how to cryopreserve and thaw these organs, they could store them in organ banks and, hopefully, find a solution to the shortage of organ donors. This technology alone would greatly advance the field of organ transplantation and cryonics, saving lives in two different ways.

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‍Investing in cryonics means investing in scientific research. Understanding more about the dying process, aging and how to reverse this could help the development of other medical practices.

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Joining cryonics means you support scientific research.

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Endorsing Long-Term Thinking

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In the early days of human societies, short-term thinking was very important. Here-and-now was what kept humanity alive. As time progressed, we developed new skills that helped societies advance to become what they are today. One of these skills is long-term thinking. While this quality is rather useful today, on average we're still not very good at practicing this.For example: have you ever bought something that wasn't that necessary but gave you temporary pleasure? Did you ever regret buying it afterwards, realizing that you could have used that money for something more important? This is short-term in action.

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People who sign up for cryonics expect to live in the future, and they want that future to be good. They might ask themselves, " What are the consequences of my actions in 200 years?" Normally we wouldn't ask ourselves this question. It's difficult for the human mind to comprehend the future, especially the distant future.

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Cryonics and biostasis could give us a different perspective on this. Imagine if we knew that a specific behavior we keep could cause pollution and climate change in the long-run. Our egoistic self may not see it as a problem. However, if people knew they would experience the long-term consequences later on in life, they would probably be more willing to change. Society needs to improve its long-term thinking; cryonics could help us do that.

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The Cons of Cryonics

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Now that we've talked about the points in favor, what are the ones that might make you decide not to sign up for cryonics? Is it the costs or perhaps its uncertainty that is stopping you?

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The Price Tag

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The cryopreservation process consists of several steps. Let's have a look at them:

Transportation of the standby team to the patient

Field cryoprotectant procedure (FCP)

Transportation of the patient to the long-term storage facility

Subsequent cooling and completion of the procedure

Long-term preservation

Future revival

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Adding up all these steps, we get a total of €200,000. Why is it such a high price tag? Let's break this sum down.

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At Tomorrow Bio, €80,000 is allocated for fast response. This sum ensures that the standby ( SST) team is on call 24/7, as well as help fund the transportation necessary to reach patients, and transport their body to our storage facility after FCP. If a patient passes away somewhere outside of Europe, these funds can help pay for flights and transportation needed to reach them.

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So, what about the remaining €120,000? This sum goes towards the indefinite care of patients. Since we can't predict when the necessary medical technology will be developed, we don't know how long patients will remain stored. Because of this, cryonics companies like Tomorrow Bio, need to be prepared for anything. This lump sum helps ensure that patients can be stored until revival. The funds are managed by a patient care trust, which makes low risk investments. These can grow and earn 1-2% above inflation, meaning it is more than enough to keep a patient stored for the long-term.

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However you look at it, cryonics at the moment is not cheap. At Tomorrow Bio, we hope that as interest in cryonics grows, the price for this service will decrease.

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Still Waiting For Revival Technology

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There is another main reason why people interested in cryonics may choose not to join: nobody has ever been revived. The technology behind revival doesn't exist yet and it will probably take many years to develop it. While we can cryopreserve and subsequently thaw embryos, semen, tissues and simple organisms, thawing an organism as complex as a human body is still not yet possible. There are potential theories as to what future revival technologies might look like. However, it will take time to develop them.

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This means that by signing up for cryonics, you are trusting that the medical field will eventually be able to cure you of your cause of death, and revive you from biostasis. There are several reasons to believe it might. Looking at the latest advancements in healthcare, today's medical problems could be solved in the future. Yet, most humans are more of "see it to believe it", and revival will be a challenge.

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Conclusion

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Let's try to summarize. Cryonics could potentially save lives and allow people the chance to experience the future. It could also improve our long-term thinking and help the development of scientific research. On the other hand, it isn't cheap and there is no certainty of when or if it will eventually work. To make a decision you need to ask yourself: " Is it worth it to invest my money in a potential technology that could give me more years of life in the future? "

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Do you think it's worth the investment?

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Let us know on our Discord server, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to schedule a call with us. Still unsure about cryonics? Check out Tomorrow Insight for more information about cryopreservation, Tomorrow Bio and more, and see you Tomorrow!

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Here is a list of the main arguments in favor and against cryonics. If you are still unsure, have a look and make an informed decision!

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Until the day he died, in 2011, Robert Ettinger hoped humanity would figure out a way to cheat death. Today, his body is stored in a cryonic vessel filled with liquid nitrogen and frozen to -196 degrees Celsius. He lies in cryopreservation at the Cryonics Institute in Michigan-which he founded-alongside his late mother, his first and second wives, and more than 150 other deceased.

"We're classified as a cemetery, but I would like to think of us as being more like a hospital, caring for patients that are metabolically challenged," says Ben Best, the president and CEO of the Cryonics Institute, in Myles Kane and Josh Koury's short documentary about the institute, We Will Live Again.

"Robert Ettinger's history has a familiar ring: a science teacher and middling science-fiction writer with a grand vision for the future," Kane told me. "But instead of creating Scientology and a legion of believers, he preached faith in the restorative potential of science itself."

Ettinger, known as the "father of cryonics," popularized the idea in his 1962 book, The Prospect of Immortality. ( Isaac Asimov, the renowned biochemist and science-fiction writer, helped Ettinger publish the book.) Cryonicists believe that technology will sufficiently advance to a point where cells can be rejuvenated and the aging process reversed. In practice, legally deceased patients arrive at a cryonics facility packed in ice. Cryonicists interrupt the dying process by draining the blood from the body and perfusing the corpse with a mixture of antifreeze and organ-preserving chemicals, known as cryoprotective agents. The body is then transformed into a vitrified state and lowered into a below-freezing chamber filled with liquid nitrogen, where it lies in wait for a future generation to restore it.

As of 2014, there were more than 300 cryogenically frozen individuals in the United States, another 50 in Russia, and a few thousand "contracted members" who had signed up to be frozen upon death.

"I'm thinking that in 50 to 100 years, people will start being recovered," Best says in the film. "People will be rejuvenated to a youthful condition, and any disease they had, cured."

Kane said that cryonicists don't pretend to know what form these death-evading technologies will take, "so the current focus is on how to best preserve the body so that future advanced generations can successfully revive them."

In the film, Ettinger, whom Kane and Koury interviewed before his death, says that many people mistakenly regard cryonics as an effort to achieve immortality. "I'm not talking about living forever," he says. "I'm talking about waking up tomorrow. When people say they don't want to extend their lives, they're talking without thinking. There are very few people who don't want to wake up tomorrow."

Koury told me that he was pleasantly surprised by Ettinger's confidence surrounding the process-"not that it would definitely happen, but that it was definitely the right decision to take the chance. If it works, we'll have an opportunity to live again. If it doesn't, then the worms get you either way."

In a 2015 article in the Journal of Medical Ethics, the University of Oslo philosopher Ole Martin Moen upheld Ettinger's perspective. "Reviving cryopreserved persons, though it cannot be done today," Moen wrote, "does not require the development of radically new technologies; it requires further refinement and convergence of technologies that already exist ... it is rational to opt for a small chance of survival when the alternative is no chance at all."

Cryonics has also met with skepticism across the scientific community. The main argument is that cryopreservation techniques would cause irreversible brain damage, rendering revival an untenable proposition.

When I asked Koury and Kane whether they were willing to sign up to be cryonically preserved after their own death, neither seemed totally convinced. "It's just not for me," Koury said. "I certainly don't bemoan anyone who chooses to take this path, though. It's a little strange, but not really that much weirder than some of our other traditions surrounding death-embalming and showcasing a dead body is pretty weird."

Kane was slightly more amenable to the idea. "I have to admit that sometimes, when I'm having one of those moments late at night, staring into the existential abyss, I try to envision it," he said. "But it ends up feeling like a Band-Aid for the larger spiritual, eternal mysteries we all must face eventually."

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Cryonicists are banking on the idea that future technology will allow preserved bodies to be brought back to life.

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Cryonics | Description, Process, Popularization, & Facts

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Main Idea: what is Cryonics and what is it eaten with

Arguments/facts:

Cryonics is practice of freezing an individual who has died, with the object of reviving the individual sometime in the future. Cryonic preservation can be performed only after an individual has been declared legally dead.

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Don Vaughan Don Vaughan is a freelance writer based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Cryonics | Description, Process, Popularization, & Facts

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Cryonics is the practice of freezing an individual who has died, with the object of reviving the individual sometime in the future. The process is initiated shortly after death, the body being packed in ice and shipped to a cryonics facility. Some individuals choose to have their entire bodies frozen, whereas others want only their heads preserved.

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Main Idea:

Cryonics is about freezing dead bodies in the hope of bringing them back to life with future technology. The debate usually focuses on practical and moral aspects, but this paper says it's incomplete.

Arguments/facts:

1. Cryonics freezes dead bodies for potential future revival.

2. Debates about cryonics usually talk about practical and moral issues.

3. The paper says the debate is not finished because it ignores how cryonics affects the feelings and processes of those who lose someone.

Dialoge:

Summary:

The page says the discussion about freezing bodies isn't finished because it forgets to think about how it makes the feelings and tasks of those who are sad harder. Freezing bodies can make it difficult for family and friends. The paper uses an example from the "Hope Frozen" documentary to show this, trying to help people understand more about how cryonics affects everyone.

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The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands robinhillenbrink@gmail.com.

² Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands robinhillenbrink@gmail.com.

² Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Cryonics is the preservation of legally dead human bodies at the temperature of liquid nitrogen in the hope that future technologies will be able to revive them. In philosophical debates surrounding this practice, arguments often focus on prudential implications of cryopreservation, or moral arguments on a societal level. In this paper, we claim that this debate is incomplete, since it does not take into account a significant relational concern about cryonics. Specifically, we argue that attention should be paid to the potential implications of cryopreservation for the mourning processes of surviving loved ones. Cryopreservation increases the likelihood of disruption of the practical and mental tasks involved in a successful mourning process, which can negatively impact survivors of the cryopreserved patient. To illustrate my argument, we will draw on a case study from the 2019 documentary Hope Frozen We aim to introduce this concern, in order to gain a more complete view on the potential implications of cryopreservation.

Keywords: Death; Ethics; Ethics- Medical; Family; Mental Health.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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national center for biotechnology information

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Mourning the frozen: considering the relational implications of cryonics - PubMed

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Cryonics is the preservation of legally dead human bodies at the temperature of liquid nitrogen in the hope that future technologies will be able to revive them. In philosophical debates surrounding this practice, arguments often focus on prudential implications of cryopreservation, or moral argumen ...

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Main Idea:

Cryonics means freezing a recently deceased person, preserving their body, until future science can revive them.

Arguments:

- since 1962, average lifespan has increased significantly.

- major companies have focused on reversing aging.

- possibility of cryonics becoming more apparent

Dialogue:

- We don't know how much time will it take for the technology to advance enough to revive a person. Is it worth waiting?

Summary:

Cryonics means stopping the process of decaying after death of a person, and storing their body until the technology progresses enough to revive them. In the future, the average lifespan will be significantly increased, so the revived person would live longer. Many prominent companies are focusing their efforts to reverse aging and cryonics seem to become more possible each day.

Reference:

Retrieved on 30.01.2024 from Cryonics Institute https://cryonics.org/about-cryonics/

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Understanding Cryonics

A Second Chance at Life

Cryonics is a visionary concept that holds out the promise of a second chance at life - with renewed health, vitality and youth.

The concept of cryonics was introduced in 1962 by the Founder of the Cryonics Institute, Robert Ettinger, in his landmark book " The Prospect of Immortality."

Cryonics involves cooling a recently deceased person to liquid nitrogen temperatures in order to keep the body preserved indefinitely. Our goal is to keep the patient preserved until future science may be able to repair or replace vital tissues and ultimately revive the patient. It might seem like an impossible goal to "revive" a "dead" person. However, "dying" is a process rather than an event. A majority of the body's tissues remain intact at a cellular level even after the heart stops beating. The goal of cryonics is to halt that process as quickly as possible after legal death, giving future physicians the best possible chance of reviving the patient. This may include repairing or replacing damaged tissues and even entire organs using advanced computer systems, nanotechnology and medical equipment and procedures.

While no one can be sure abut the path of future technology, we believe that this could happen in a future where our lifespans can be significantly, even radically, extended.

Since 1962, the average lifespan has increased dramatically. Nanotechnology (which holds the promise of future biological repair) has become a major industry. Prominent companies, including Google, have begun focused efforts to retard and reverse aging. The promise of cryonics is becoming more apparent and more exciting.

We encourage you to explore this web site, get the facts and judge for yourself whether or not cryonics is right for you.

Cryonics is much more than just the science of "freezing," because our objective is life after revival, with renewed youth and extended lifespans. We want to make this a reality.
Dennis Kowalski - President

A Guide to Understanding Cryonics

The Prospect of Immortality?

The fundamental goal of cryonics is to give people a "second chance at life." Our aim is to greatly extend human lifespans and improve quality of life through applied technology - both present day and especially emerging future technology.

The process of cryopreservation involves cooling a legally-dead person to liquid nitrogen temperature where all physical decay essentially stops - with the goal of preserving tissues, organs and especially the brain with its associated memories and personality as much as possible. A person held in this state is termed a "cryopreserved patient," because we do not consider the legal definition of "death" as a permanently irreversible state. We believe that the incredible advances being made today in biology, medicine, computers, nanotechnology and much more point to a future where advanced science may be able to revive these patients and restore them to health and even renewed youth.

Essentially, the concept is to "buy time" until technology catches up and is able to fully repair and restore the human body. Cryonicists are people who believe this future is not only possible, but probable, and who have decided to take action in the present for the chance at a renewed life in the future. Cryonics Insitute patients currently cryopreserved at CI include people from all walks of life and all ages - chefs, students, secretaries, professors and many others.

The essential question about cryonics that people want to know is "does it work?"

The important thing to understand is that cryonics is a two-stage process: Stage One involves placing a recently deanimated patient into cryonic suspension. Stage Two involves reanimating the patient.

With over 200 patients currently in stable and secure cryonic suspension at the Cryonics Institute facility in Michigan, (including our founder, Robert Ettinger and members of his family) we can say "Yes," to Stage One. Human beings can, and are currently cryopreserved using a process known as vitrification.

The unknown question at present is whether advanced science will be able to achieve Phase Two: the ability to revive cryonics subjects at some time in the future and repair the damage that still occurs during the vitrification process. The majority of debate (and misunderstandings) on the subject of cryonics involves the question "What are the potential chances for successful Revival?"

While nothing in the future is guaranteed, we at CI believe there is a realistic chance for revival in the future.
Read more about the evidence, arguments and theories supporting cryonics and judge for yourself.

Whether you're simply interested in learning more about cryonics, or considering cryonics for yourself or for a loved one - it's a big decision to make. To help you understand the theory, process and practical details involved, we've put together a list of the most frequently asked questions about the subject.
For an excellent overview of cryonics, review our list of common questions and straightforward answers here.

Cryonics has attracted a huge amount of attention since the concept was first introduced by our founder, Robert Ettinger, in the late 1960s. Cryonics is a more complex concept than simply "freezing people," and understanding it involves a number of inter-related and co-dependent disciplines, including computer science, biology, medicine and nanotechnology. Unfortunately, much of the news coverage has been based on misconceptions and statements from "authorities" who don't understand the scope and complexity of the field. To get a more complete understanding of what cryonics is and what it isn't Read the Top 10 Cryonics Myths.

Robert Ettinger ("The Father of Cryonics") introduced the concept of cryonics in 1962 with the publication of his seminal book, "The Prospect of Immortality." The visionary new concept attracted worldwide attention when Doubleday published the first of several successful commercial editions, including several foreign language editions. Ettinger delved deeper into the subject of cryonics and life extension with his next book, "Man Into Superman," further advancing the cryonics movement.

The idea of greatly extending lifespans through the science of cryonics captured peoples' imaginations and organizations quickly sprang up in support of the concept. Ettinger himself formed The Immortalist Society (originally the Cryonics Society of Michigan, and later the Cryonics Association) in 1967 to further promote and explore the concept of cryonics.

Less than a decade later, in 1976, Ettinger and other members of The Immortalist Society took the next logical step and formed a new organization to put the concept of cryonics into actual practice. Their goal was to offer "The Prospect of Immortality" to the public through reliable and affordable cryonics services. The Cryonics Institute was formed in 1976 featuring the world's first fully-operational cryonics facility, located in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Since then, The Cryonics Institute has been dedicated to advancing the concept and practice of cryonics, attracting members world-wide. Membership has grown to over 1,000 members in dozens of countries, including 117 patients cryopreserved at the Michigan facility.
Read More for the complete history of The Cryonics Institute.

Learn more about the Cryonics Institute, including membership, our services, operations and facility.

The Cryonics Institute is a membership-based organization dedicated to advancing the concept and practice of Cryonics. We maintain a fully-operational Cryonics Facility in Clinton Township, MI offering secure and reliable cryostasis, DNA preservation and other services. Learn more about the Cryonics Institue. Learn more about CI Membership.

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Understanding Cryonics A Second Chance at Life About Cryonics Cryonics is a visionary concept that holds out the promise of a second chance at life - with renewed health, vitality and youth. The concept of cryonics was introduced in 1962 by the Founder of the Cryonics Institute, Robert Ettinger, in his landmark book "The Prospect [...]

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Main Idea:

problems during freezing

Arguments/facts:

Many uncontrolled variables prevent us from developing objective criteria to compare one case with another

Suppose a patient experiences 30 minutes of warm ischemia after legal death occurs. Will this downtime create damage that is irreversible by any imaginable technology?

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When you buy a house, the seller is legally obliged to disclose any known defects. When you review a company's annual report, it tells you every problem that could affect the corporate share value. Since arrangements for cryopreservation may have a much greater impact on your life than home ownership or stock investments, we feel an ethical obligation to disclose problems that affect cryonics in general and Alcor specifically. We also believe that an organization which admits its problems is more likely to address them than an organization which pretends it has none. Thus full disclosure should encourage, rather than discourage, consumer confidence.

Startup Status
As of 2022, Alcor is 50 years old. Our Patient Care Trust Funds are endowed with more than 18 million dollars and are responsible for the long-term care of about 200 cryopatients. In almost every year since its inception Alcor has enjoyed positive membership growth. We are the largest cryonics organization in the world - yet in many respects we are still a startup company. We have fewer than a dozen employees in Scottsdale, Arizona, and rely on a small number of contractors trained in cryonics to respond to remote cases. We serve just over 1,400 members and the protocols that aid our pursuit of the goal of reversible suspended animation continue to be developed. At the present time the technology required for the realization of our goal far exceeds current technical capabilities. Cryonics will not be comparable with mainstream medicine until our patients can be revived using contemporary technology, and we expect to wait for decades to see this vision fulfilled. Nevertheless, we have made important progress by introducing brain vitrification to improve patient tissue structure preservation.

Alcor shares some of the characteristics of startup companies. The organization is understaffed in some important areas and lacks as much capitalization as would be desired to support maximum growth. Limited resources prevent the organization from hiring as many highly qualified and experienced personnel as desired, and sometimes we have to postpone enhancements to equipment and procedures.

Because Alcor must react quickly to circumstances, it cannot always handle multiple tasks simultaneously. We feel a significant impact if, for example, several members experience legal death in quick succession. A heavy caseload generally means that administrative and even technical development work is postponed while member emergencies take precedence.

On the other hand, Alcor staff believe very strongly in the mission of the organization and are extremely dedicated. Alcor transport team members are dedicated to saving lives through cryonics, and behave accordingly. Most of all, everyone at Alcor is concerned with ensuring the security of the cryopreserved patients. The organization's powerful sense of purpose is reinforced by the fact that all Alcor directors and most staff members have made arrangements to be cryopreserved themselves in the future.

Unlike most startups, Alcor is unlikely to fail for financial reasons. Due to the legally independent status of the Patient Care Trust from Alcor, patients can be maintained indefinitely through its portfolio of cash, investments, real estate, and capital equipment. Some wealthy Alcor members have contributed gifts and endowments to help the organization to advance, and in the event of a financial crisis, many of the people who hope ultimately to be cryopreserved would probably provide assistance. In this sense Alcor benefits from its small size, since it maintains an intimate relationship with many members which would be more problematic if our membership was ten times as large.

Inability to Verify Results
When a conventional surgical procedure is successful, usually the patient recovers and is cured. If the same surgical procedure is unsuccessful or a surgeon makes a serious error, the patient may die. These clear outcomes provide prompt feedback for the people involved. A physician may feel deeply satisfied if a life is saved, or may be deeply troubled (and may be sued for malpractice) if errors cause a death that should have been avoidable.

Clear feedback of this type does not exist in cryonics, because the outcome of our procedures will not be known definitively until decades or even a century from now. We have good reason to expect future technologies capable of repairing cellular damage in cryonics patients will be developed, but we feel equally certain that if a patient experiences very severe brain damage prior to cryopreservation, repairs may be delayed, may be incomplete, or may be impossible. The dividing line between between positive and negative outcomes can be unclear at this time.

Suppose a patient experiences 30 minutes of warm ischemia (lack of blood flow at near-normal body temperature) after legal death occurs. Will this downtime create damage that is irreversible by any imaginable technology? Probably not. But what if the ischemic interval lasts for an hour - or two hours, or a day? We simply don't know where to draw the line between one patient who is potentially viable, and another who is not.

Of course we can refer to experimental work that has evaluated the injury which occurs when cells are deprived of essential nutrients. These studies provide some guidance regarding the likely damage that a patient may experience, but they still cannot tell us with certainty if future science will be able to reverse that damage.

Another problem afflicting cryonics cases is that many uncontrolled variables prevent us from developing objective criteria to compare one case with another. Consider these two examples:

Patient A has received blood thinners prescribed by a primary care physician, independent of Alcor, to treat a pre-existing condition. These drugs have the fortunate effect of helping to keep the circulatory system open after legal death is pronounced. Since the patient is in a hospital which allows prompt access by a transport team, postmortem cardiopulmonary support and cooling can begin immediately, and all medications are administered. Blood washout is performed successfully at a local mortuary, reducing body temperature to 3 degrees Celsius. So far, so good: This is a textbook case. However, because the patient is in a remote location and is insufficiently funded to pay for a chartered jet, transport to Alcor must be via scheduled airlines. The patient must wait overnight for the first flight out in the morning. A missed connection causes additional delay, and then all flights are grounded by exceptionally bad weather. When the patient reaches Alcor he is still packed in ice but has experienced a total transport time of 36 hours.

Patient B experiences cardiac arrest while alone at home, and remains undiscovered for several hours. Since she happens to be located very close to Alcor, our team members arrive quickly to administer anticoagulants and clot-busting drugs, supplemented with hand-held cardiopulmonary support. The patient is transported to our operating room and receives cooling and cryoprotective perfusion just two hours after legal death was pronounced.

In the first case, will the long transport time negate the advantage of a rapid initial response and replacement of blood with a chilled preservation solution? In the second case, will the initial hours of warm ischemia outweigh the advantage of the rapid transport to Alcor? We can make educated guesses, but we cannot answer these questions definitively. We have no certain way of knowing which case will work out better, because we have no evidence - no outcome.

We do have some simple ways to determine if a patient's circulatory system allows good perfusion with cryoprotectant. Personnel in the operating room will notice if blood clots emerge when perfusion begins. The surface of the brain, visible through burr holes which are created to enable observation, should be pearly white in color. The brain should shrink slightly as water is replaced with cryoprotectant. When perfusion is complete the patient's features should have acquired a sallow color indicating that cryoprotectant has diffused through the tissues.

These simple observations are helpful, but still the people who work hard to minimize transport time and maximize the rate of cooling can never enjoy the satisfying payoff that a physician receives when one of his patients recovers and returns to a normal, active life. This lack of positive outcome can cause feelings of frustration and futility, sometimes leading to disillusionment and burnout.

Conversely, if a case goes badly, team members will be protected from negative feedback. A team leader can never say to one of the personnel, "Because of your error, the patient has no chance of recovery."

The lack of a clear outcome also prevents us from refuting people who claim that future science will be able to undo almost any degree of damage. The danger of this extreme positive thinking is that it can lead to laziness. Why bother to make heroic efforts to minimize injury, if nanotechnology will fix everything?

Alcor's stated policy firmly rejects this attitude. Team members are very highly motivated to minimize injury because we believe that our members should not bet their lives on unknown capabilities of future science. Alcor generally hosts a debriefing after each case, encouraging all participants to share complaints, frustrations, and suggestions for improvement. Ideally, each case should be a learning experience, and participants should welcome criticism as an opportunity to identify weaknesses and overcome them in the future.

Still the lack of a clear outcome remains one of the biggest weaknesses in cryonics, since it encourages complacency and prevents accountability. The antidote to this problem is a better set of objective criteria to evaluate cases, and Alcor is working in consultation with brain ischemia experts to develop such criteria.
Volunteer Help
During the 1960s the first cryonics organizations were run entirely by volunteers. The field was not sufficiently reputable to attract qualified medical staff, and no one could have paid for professional help anyway.

Today cryonics is making a transition to professionalism, but financial limitations are prolonging the process. Some paramedics are associated with Alcor, and we hope for more in the future. We have an ICU nurse as Medical Response Director, a MD medical advisor, MD contract surgeons, and for field work, paramedics and cardiothoracic surgeons accompanied by clinical perfusionists, depending upon case location, case type, and logistics. Alcor also communicates with a cryobiology laboratory that has made the most important advances in organ preservation during the past decade. Still, sometimes local volunteers with minimum training assist with case response. Funeral directors are also necessary for legal and practical aspects of cryonics case response, and may sometimes be the only participants in "remains" retrieval and transport to Alcor when cryonics cases arise suddenly and/or in distant locations.

In the future, as Alcor becomes more financially secure and is able to offer higher salaries, the organization will attract more medical professionals. At this time, the transition is incomplete.
Limited Support from Mainstream Science
In the 1960s scientists in mainstream laboratories investigated techniques to cryopreserve whole organs. By the end of the 1970s most of this work had ended, and the field of cryobiology separated itself very emphatically from cryonics. The Society for Cryobiology has discouraged scientists from doing work that could advance cryonics, and for 35 years had a bylaw that threatened to expel any member for practicing or promoting cryonics. Consequently the few scientists who are willing to do cryonics-related research live in fear of being ostracized from the scientific specialty that is most relevant to their work.

The rift between cryonics and cryobiology may have been caused initially by fears among mainstream scientists that cryonics had a "tabloid journalism" flavor incompatible with science. In addition many scientists have been dissatisfied with the idea of applying procedures without a complete and full understanding of their outcome. Generally, in medicine, first a technique is studied, validated, and perfected, and then it is applied clinically. Cryonics has, of necessity, done an end-run around this formal approach by rushing to apply a technique based on theoretical arguments rather than validated clinical effectiveness.

During the past decade our knowledge and procedures have advanced far beyond the crude freezing methods imagined by most cryobiologists, and experts in molecular nanotechnology have voiced strong support. As more papers are published describing technical advances, we expect that cryobiologists and other scientists will revise their negative assessment of cryonics. In the future we believe that the arbitrary barrier between cryonics and cryobiology will gradually dissolve, and cryonics research will be recognized as a legitimate specialty of the field. However, for the time being the dim view taken of cryonics by most cryobiologists remains problematic, impairing Alcor's ability to achieve respectable status among other relevant groups such as prospective members, regulatory officials, and legislators.
Limited Legal and Government Support
Cryonics is not explicitly recognized in the laws of any state in the United States (see The Legal Status of Cryonics Patients). This does not mean that cryonics is illegal or unregulated. In fact, Alcor must comply with state laws controlling the transport and disposition of human remains, and we make arrangements with licensed morticians to insure that these requirements are met. Alcor also complies with federal regulations established by agencies such as OSHA and EPA.

Still, the lack of specific enabling legislation for cryonics can cause problems. In the late 1980s the California Department of Health Services (DHS) asserted that because there was no statutory procedure for becoming a cryonics organization, human remains could not be conveyed to a cryonics organization via the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), and therefore cryonics was illegal. Fortunately, the courts were unimpressed by this argument. In 1992 the legality of cryonics, and the legality of using the UAGA for cryonics, were upheld at the appellate level.

In 1990 the Canadian province of British Columbia enacted a law that specifically banned the sale of cryonics services in that province. In 2002 the Solicitor General (Canadian equivalent of a state Attorney General) issued a written clarification stating that the law only prohibited funeral homes from selling cryonics arrangements. Cryonics could still be performed in the province, even with the paid assistance of funeral homes, provided they were not involved in the direct sale of cryonics. This position was affirmed by the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority of British Columbia which stated that a British Columbia funeral provider "is not prohibited from performing any related services such as preparation and transport." The Lifespan Society of British Columbia, a cryonics advocacy organization within B.C., filed several civil claims against the crown between 2014 and 2017 in order to find out what kind of cryonics activities were prohibited. On May 28, 2018, the Lifespan Society received a comfort letter from Consumer Protection British Columbia (CPBC) which reviewed a standard cryonics contract between The Lifespan Society of B.C. and Keegan Macintosh, informing the Society that Lifespan's cryonics activities and cryonics contract were not in violation, as the proposed client seemed to be well-informed about the procedure and not at risk of either coercion or fraud in the circumstances. Based on this, Lifespan was satisfied that the CPBC would not pursue any legal action against a cryonics organization operating within B.C. For more information, see the website of the Lifespan Society of British Columbia.

In 2004 a bill was passed by the Arizona House of Representatives to place cryonics and cryonics procedures under the regulation of the state funeral board. In its original form this law would have prevented our use of the UAGA. The bill was ultimately withdrawn, but may be revived at a later date. Very hostile comments were made about cryonics during the floor debate of this bill. We cannot guarantee that any future legislation will be friendly to cryonics or will permit cryonics to continue in Arizona.

Despite these uncertainties, the United States enjoys a strong cultural tradition to honor the wishes of terminal patients. We believe that the freedom to choose cryonics is constitutionally protected, and so far courts have agreed. We are hopeful that we will be able to continue performing cryonics without technical compromise, under state supervision where necessary, for the indefinite future.
Limited Mainstream Medical Support
Cryonics is not an accepted or recognized "therapy" in the general medical community. To the average medical professional, cryonics is at best an unusual anatomical donation. At worst it can be viewed by some physicians as fraud upon their patient. Hospitals have sometimes deliberately delayed pronouncement of legal death, delayed release of patients to Alcor, or forbade the use of cryonics life support equipment or medications within their facilities. On one occasion in 1988 Alcor had to obtain a court order to compel a hospital to release a patient to Alcor promptly at legal death and permit our stabilization procedures on their premises.

Relations with hospitals and their staff are not always difficult. Usually when nurses and physicians learn that cryonics is a sincere practice that is overseen by other medical professionals, they will be willing to accommodate a patient's wishes, or at least will not interfere with them. Sometimes medical staff will even assist with cryonics procedures such as administering medications and performing chest compressions if Alcor personnel are not present when legal death occurs.

The lack of formal medical recognition or support for cryonics generally means that cryonics patients remote from Alcor must be moved to a mortuary for blood replacement before transport to Alcor. Ideally these preparatory procedures should be performed within hospitals, not mortuaries. Hospitals presently allow organ procurement personnel to harvest organs from deceased patients (a fairly elaborate procedure) within their walls. We are hopeful that similar privileges will be extended to cryonics more often as the process becomes better understood and accepted, but we cannot predict how quickly this change will occur.
High Incidence of Poor Cases
In more than 50 percent of cryonics cases legal death occurs before Alcor standby personnel can be deployed, and is often followed by hours of warm ischemia. This downtime may cause severe cellular damage.

The threat of autopsy, in which the brain is routinely dissected, is an even greater danger. Any person who suffers legal death under unexpected circumstances, especially involving accidents or foul play, is liable to be autopsied. Alcor strongly urges members living in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio to sign Religious Objection to Autopsy forms.

Sometimes cryonicists perish under circumstances resulting in complete destruction or disappearance of their remains. Cryonicists have been lost at sea, suffered misadventures abroad, or even disappeared without a trace. Two members of cryonics organizations were lost in the 2001 collapse of the World Trade Center towers. One was a policeman performing rescue operations.

Cryonics is not a panacea or a "cure" for death. The cryonics ideal of immediate cooling and cardiopulmonary support following cardiac arrest cannot be achieved in the majority of cases. We have good reasons to believe that molecular records of memory persist in the brain even after hours of clinical death, but only future physicians using medical technology which we do not yet possess will be able to determine, finally, whether such a person is really still "there."
What can be done?
If you are:

An attorney interested in protecting cryonics rights in your state...

A scientist interested in advising Alcor, or publicly supporting cryonics...

A medical professional interested in advising or assisting Alcor...

A paramedic or EMT interested in becoming involved in cryonics field work...

A layperson interested in training to do cryonics field work...

Someone with ideas or resources to help address any of the many problems above...

...then please contact us at *protected email*.

...or check out our volunteer opportunities.
This page last updated April 2022.

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Problems Associated with Cryonics - Cryonics Archive

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When you buy a house, the seller is legally obliged to disclose any known defects. When you review a company's annual report, it tells you every problem that could affect the corporate share value.

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Main Idea:

People constantly seek to avoid death, and with future technologies and cryonics, it might be possible, yet there are many arguments against.

Arguments:

- no friends or family of the 'freezee' will be left alive when they are revived

- environmental cost of maintaining suspension.

Dialogue:

- will a person live life to the fullest? or will they die shortly after 'revival'?

Summary:

Besides the arguments that reviving the body is 'against nature', there are more relevant ones such as: the thawed person will not have a family alive when they're revived; people would economise to afford the suspension, thus not living to the fullest. There's no assurance the technology will advance enough to permit revival, either.

Reference:

David Shaw (2009) National library of Medicine - Cryoethics: seeking life after death

retrieved from

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19788649/#:~:text=Among%20the%20arguments%20against%20using,him%3B%20the%20environmental%20cost%20of

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Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Abstract

Cryonic suspension is a relatively new technology that offers those who can afford it the chance to be 'frozen' for future revival when they reach the ends of their lives. This paper will examine the ethical status of this technology and whether its use can be justified. Among the arguments against using this technology are: it is 'against nature', and would change the very concept of death; no friends or family of the 'freezee' will be left alive when he is revived; the considerable expense involved for the freezee and the future society that will revive him; the environmental cost of maintaining suspension; those who wish to use cryonics might not live life to the full because they would economize in order to afford suspension; and cryonics could lead to premature euthanasia in order to maximize chances of success. Furthermore, science might not advance enough to ever permit revival, and reanimation might not take place due to socio-political or catastrophic reasons. Arguments advanced by proponents of cryonics include: the potential benefit to society; the ability to cheat death for at least a few more years; the prospect of immortality if revival is successful; and all the associated benefits that delaying or avoiding dying would bring. It emerges that it might be imprudent not to use the technology, given the relatively minor expense involved and the potential payoff. An adapted and more persuasive version of Pascal's Wager is presented and offered as a conclusive argument in favour of utilizing cryonic suspension.

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national center for biotechnology information

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Cryoethics: seeking life after death - PubMed

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Cryonic suspension is a relatively new technology that offers those who can afford it the chance to be 'frozen' for future revival when they reach the ends of their lives. This paper will examine the ethical status of this technology and whether its use can be justified. Among the arguments against ...

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-Main idea

Cryonics technology also has advantages and disadvantages, the advantages can be very powerful, and the disadvantages can kill people.

-Arguments

1. Will this really work?

2. Can this really turn dead people alive?

-Dialogue

1. Human cells may continue to age during cryopreservation.

2. It may not do anything.

3. It may provide an answer to space colonization.

-Summary

The shortcomings of cryonics are fatal, but it can also bring unprecedented scientific development to mankind. If you succeed in resurrecting a person, then humans will be able to break the laws of nature, but even if you are preserved, you will still age, because cryonics does not live forever.

-References

29th of may 2015

By: Crystal Lombardo

Cryonics Pros and Cons | Vision Launch Media

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Cryonics Pros and Cons - Vision Launch Media

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Can people preserve themselves when at or near death? The goal of cryonics is to create circumstances where people who are dying or have just passed away could be potentially resurrected and cured when technology advances to the point that beneficial care could be provided. These cryonics pros and cons must be carefully evaluated to […]

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Main Idea: What will happen to a person when when he will be unfrozen?

Arguments/facts:

Will they continue to maintain rights?

Is the deceased (cryonics) body considered to be a person?

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Case: Sasha is a 60-year-old neurologist and researcher who is interested in concepts of life, death, and consciousness. Sasha is aware of the ethical complexities that can arise in relation to death determinations, the most common of which is that some people may not recognize brain death as a legitimate type of death (as noted in After much contemplation, Sasha decides that he wants to undergo cryopreservation once he is declared dead. He registers with a cryopreservation lab so that they can support his body's preservation. In order to ensure that this autonomous wish is respected, Sasha develops an advance care plan which states that: (1) if he has a heart attack then he wants all measures to be taken to keep his body alive until cryonics staff arrive and can transfer his body to their laboratory and/or (2) if he is declared dead then he wants his body to be immediately cooled so that there is still a potential for cryopreservation. a previous column). In his recent readings about death and consciousness, Sasha discovered a practice that is referred to as cryonics; this is when a person is declared legally dead, yet their body is preserved by cooling it to a liquid nitrogen temperature so that any further decay is halted. The goal of cryonics is to enable cooled bodies to regain consciousness in the future as a result of anticipated scientific advances.
As mentioned above, the goal of cryonics is to preserve a person's body after they are declared dead with the goal of reviving it through future scientific advances. Robert C. Ettinger originally introduced the idea of cryonics in his 1962 book The Prospect of Immortality. In his book, Ettinger says that most human beings "have a chance for personal, physical immortality" since, at very low temperatures, biologically dead bodies (namely, corpses) can be preserved with minimal deterioration (p.1). And if corpses can be preserved, then irreversible death may be preventable if science learns to revive these bodies and to cure them from diseases that may have previously influenced their death. Ettinger uses the term "suspended death" to refer to a dead body that has been frozen and preserved.

The purpose of Ettinger's book is to argue for the potential to achieve immortality. At the start of his book, he says that his goal is to show that: (1) immortality is attainable; (2) immortality is practical and does not raise any overwhelming new problems (since a revived person will resume life as per usual) and; (3) immortality is desirable.

Regardless of whether new obstacles arise, however, it seems inevitable that some significant ethical questions and issues will occur when it comes to practicing cryonics. For instance, if a person has been pronounced dead and their body is being preserved (and if the person may become conscious in the future), then will they continue to maintain rights (e.g., the rights that are associated with being a citizen)? Relatedly, is the deceased (cryonics) body considered to be a person? Some theorists suggest that persons have certain traits and characteristics, such as being able to think or communicate in a particular kind of way. So, depending on one's conception of personhood, then it seems as though a corpse may or may not be considered a person and their rights will differ depending on how they are classified. Furthermore, how should a revived person's family treat them and what would their obligations be? For instance, would a family member be financially responsible for the revived person?

Another concern that influences all of society is that of resource allocation. Given the scarcity of resources that currently exist in our medical system, it is worth asking how many and what kinds of resources should be allocated to a dead body. Is it ethically defensible to contribute medical, social, and other resources to a person declared dead? Relatedly, if a person is revived, then should they be allocated as many healthcare (and, perhaps, other) resources as individuals who have contributed to society in recent years? In regard to the above case, one might ask whether it would be fair to provide Sasha with scarce healthcare resources in order to maintain his life post-cryopreservation? Some people may argue that Sasha has already had his fair share of resources allocated to him; no more resources ought to be provided to cryopreserved bodies post-revival. These resource allocation questions are classified under the category of distributive justice, which considers what fairness means when it comes to distributing resources.

Another ethically relevant concern is the rights and, perhaps, the dignity of the healthcare team. If a healthcare team member does not agree with the practice of cryopreservation because they think that it is immoral, then should they be involved in caring for someone like Sasha? Should they be allowed to exercise their right to refuse to provide treatment to Sasha on moral grounds (in other words, conscientiously object)? The dignity of the person is also an ethical concern. For example, if Sasha were successfully revived 50 years into the future, would he have family and/or friends to care for him? If not, then would he be able to live a quality of life that is meaningful and promotes happiness? Finally, it is important to consider the principle of non-maleficence (that is, to do no harm) when considering the family members of a cryopreserved person. By preserving their loved one and maintaining hope that they may be successfully revived, a family may be less able to move on with their own lives and accept death, which may potentially cause unnecessary suffering.

Given current and ongoing scientific advancements, cryonics is an important issue that deserves increased attention. Cryonics presents a unique case for the medical system and society, with the prospect of preventing a permanent death. However, it is necessary to carefully consider the multi-dimensional impacts of suspending death, and how the potential negative outcomes of cryonics can be mitigated. Several ethical concerns have been illustrated in this short article, in part, to promote a larger dialogue around the possibility of immortality. Although cryonics is not yet practiced globally, it is increasingly attracting more clientele, and as a result, there is an ethical obligation to carefully consider the potential positive and negative consequences.

Kristina Smith is a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, and is completing a collaborative degree with the Joint Centre for Bioethics at the University of Toronto.

Andria Bianchi, PhD, is a Bioethicist at the University Health Network.

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Ethical issues of cryonics - Hospital News

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By Kristina Smith and Andria Bianchi Case: Sasha is a 60-year-old neurologist and researcher who is interested in concepts of life, death, and consciousness. Sasha is aware of the ethical complexities that can arise in relation to death determinations, the most common of which is that some people may not recognize brain death as a ...

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Main Idea: There are significant obstacles about cryonics, cryologists ignore.

Arguments:

-Preserving integrity of memory.

-"Defrosted rabbit brain was not functional"

- "fixing" defrosted personality

Dialogue:

- will unfreezing a person with full personality really be possible in future?

- will unfrozen humans be all the same after nanorobots' medicine?

Summary:

The current problem of cryonics is keeping human memory intact and brain undamaged after being thawed. To check if recovery is successful, they need a universal decoding language. Its data would be obtained before and after death of a person. The cryologists are currently researching brain's patterns to preserve and know how this particular brain acts. They also need to study how to model, synchronise and transfer neuroinformation.

References:

mourlock (2020) Cryonics - the last hope for death?

retrieved from

https://habr.com/ru/articles/521348/

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В прошлой статье на примере науки "сеттлеретики" мы говорили о переносе сознания на другой материальный носитель как один из вариантов радикального продления жизни, и если после разбора технических недостатков этой концепции ваш взгляд невольно покосился в сторону крионики, то этот материал определенно для вас.

Что нужно знать об этом направлении? Как обстоят дела с крионикой в России и почему до сих пор нет ни одного пациента, который пережил свою разморозку?

Давайте разбираться.

"Быть крионически замороженным - это вторая самая ужасная вещь, которая может случиться с вами"
Ник Бостром, исследователь искусственного интеллекта

Крионика - это имморталистский проект с подвохом. В идеальных условиях, отвлеченных от конкретики актуальности, я бы сказал, что появление и существование такого проекта - это очень хорошо. Но наши условия далеко не идеальны и лучше заранее осознать ряд существенных препятствий, которые почему-то упорно игнорируются ведущими криологами-имморталистами. В сети не так много развернутых, охватывающих все стороны задачи материалов на тему крионики, но практически всем можно порекомендовать эту всестороннюю статью на RationalWiki. Она описывает наиболее полноценный спектр проблем и технических препятствий, которые должны обойти крионисты.

Но в этой части я все-таки собираюсь развернуть коренную, на мой взгляд, проблему крионики, и один из способов ее решения.

Начнем издалека. Главная проблема, которую должна решить крионика, - это не сеттлеретическая проблема резервирования сознания через непрерывную синхронизацию с компьютером, а проблема сохранения целостности памяти и эквивалентности личности до и личности после крионирования. Целостность и эквивалентность являются здесь фундаментальными критериями: нет смысла восстанавливать инвалидов с 70% сохраненных функций мозга или с обилием ложных/исчезнувших воспоминаний.

С недавних пор крионисты часто спекулируют на новости с многообещающим заголовком: " Нейронные связи научились сохранять при заморозке". Новость подается как значимый прорыв в области сохранения долговременной памяти. Прочитаем главное из статьи:

"Команда ученых 21 Century Medicine применила новую методику криоконсервации под названием „альдегид-стабилизированная криоконсервация""...

... "После того, как ученые разморозили мозг животных и удалили фиксирующий раствор и криопротектор, они проанализировали состояние мозга с помощью электронной микроскопии. Оказалось, что замораживание и последующее размораживание не влияет на микроструктуру синапсов, они остаются интактными. Это касается как мозга кролика, так и мозга свиней"...

... "Нам удалось впервые осуществить процедуру сохранения всего того, что неврологи связывают с обучением и памятью. С результатами, полученными сегодня, мне кажется возможным сохранение долговременной памяти" - отметил Джон Смарт, один из сооснователей организации Brain Preservation Foundation"...

Можно согласиться с тем, что сохранение конфигурации нейронной сети (коннектома мозга) - значимое условие для восстановления. Но локализаторы статьи по какой-то причине решили не переводить все интервью Джона Смарта. Произведем это за них:

..."Kenneth Hayworth, president of the Brain Preservation Foundation, <...> emphasises that the defrosted rabbit brain was not functional. "That was never the point," he says. "The point was to demonstrate that the structure of the delicate synaptic circuitry of the brain could be preserved over indefinite time spans"...

... "One limitation of the technique is that the glutaraldehyde used to chemically fix the brain is adeadly chemical, says Joao Pedro Magalhaes at the University of Liverpool, UK, who coordinates the UK Cryonics and Cryopreservation Research Network. This means reviving a brain preserved in this way may not be possible, although some scientists believe nanotechnology may help overcome this hurdle, he says"...

Вкратце, действующее вещество используемого исследователями криопротектора - глутарал - токсично для живых клеток. Это значит, что при всей своей точности сохранения топологии коннектома метод не позволяет восстановить активность мозга - и это даже не было целью исследователей.

Их целью было зафиксировать коннектом, то есть точную силу связей между всеми нейронами. Дело в том, что исследователи исходят из представления о том, что память хранится именно в конфигурации нейросети - в коннектоме - и не зависит от динамики электрохимической активности мозга. То есть если ввести мозг в состояние полной " электромозговой тишины" и после вернуть его в норму (как именно, пока опустим) - память личности сохранится неповрежденной. Однако это представление не является общепринятым в научном сообществе. Принципиальное значение для долговременной памяти могут также иметь пассивные, "служебные" электрохимические процессы, поддерживающие эту память.

По логике крионистов, если "электрически отключить" мозг и снова включить - видимое поведение личности не должно измениться. Естественно, на данный момент этого никогда не происходило - даже в сильной коме мозг сохраняет свою электрохимическую активность. Многие люди склонны также говорить, что человек до и после сна - это совершенно разные личности, что мы будто бы "умираем" во сне. Это - невольная спекуляция на недоказанных гипотезах, которую люди используют, чтобы показать, что они влегкую согласились бы умереть и передать бразды управления "собой" своей цифровой копии; также эта спекуляция полезна для крионики, если воспринимать криоконсервацию как своего рода сон. Конечно, не имея экспериментальных доказательств, мы все можем рассуждать только логически, опираясь на уже известные факты.

Тот факт, что активность мозга непрерывна на протяжении всей жизни, даже во сне и в коме, означает, что личность человека непрерывна. Вы можете не осознавать тех или иных изменений, но они всегда происходят. Во сне - консолидируются воспоминания, перестраивается и уточняется топология коннектома. В коме - мозг управляет гомеостазом тела. А что происходит с личностью человека во время умирания? В процессе заморозки этот важнейший момент никак не контролируется. Одно из решений оживления крионированных пациентов - смоделировать виртуальный коннектом, анализируя срезы размороженного мозга, но будет ли это коннектом того, кто жил, или того, кто умер и, вероятно, потерял часть своего сознания и своей памяти?

Крионисты сегодня "идеально фиксируют" то, что уже произошло с мозгом: деполяризация нейронов, нарушение ионного градиента, автолиз, апоптоз клеток, биодеградация - эти процессы вступают в силу практически сразу после прекращения притока крови в мозг (развиваясь в течение нескольких часов примерно в приведенной последовательности). Синапсы повреждаются - и альдегид-стабилизированная криоконсервация идеально сохраняет поврежденные синапсы. А поврежденные синапсы тождественны поврежденной личности.

Вот представьте, что медицина будущего нашла способ разморозить мозг без повреждений. Известно, что мозг был заморожен не сразу, но степень повреждения мозга неизвестна. Не имея никаких референсных значений, нанороботы медицины будущего смогут восстановить мозг либо "по наитию", либо исходя из данных о типичном живом мозге.

Так, если для восстановления памяти будет иметь значение последовательность "активации" отделов, хранящих воспоминания, то, восстанавливая мозг вслепую, можно начать не с той области. Электрохимическая активность также перезапустится по наитию или по типичным метрикам. Итогом этого может быть то, что на выходе получится совершенно новая личность.

Таким образом, для повышения шансов восстановления криопациентов необходимо предварительно, а не постфактум, использовать нейроинформационные технологии, чтобы получить референсные значения, которые медицина будущего смогла бы использовать в качестве сравнительной базы для разморозки и восстановления. Простыми словами, нужны метрики, проверяющие, является ли размороженный человек по поведению, эмоциональному ответу, нейронному коду и иным даже несущественным характеристикам тем же, кем являлся до заморозки. Но поскольку крионисты придерживаются коннектомной модели памяти и сознания и считают, что личность зафиксирована почти исключительно в структуре нейросети, предварительная оценка личности человека считается ими избыточной. В дополнение к этому современное законодательство не позволяет крионировать людей до установления факта юридической смерти, поэтому между фактической и юридической смертями может пройти слишком много времени, и работники криокомпании просто не смогут позволить себе тратить время на анализы, т.к. счет уже идет на минуты. В идеальном случае крионирование должно происходить еще при жизни.

Чтобы проверить, удачно ли прошло восстановление, тот ли это человек, который был заморожен, совершенно необходимо иметь универсальный язык декодинга, данные которого были бы получены как до смерти и крионирования, так и после размораживания. Предельно важно, чтобы референсные данные о мозге были получены еще при жизни. Подобный универсальный язык предлагает, например, сеттлеретика и весь тот широчайший пласт технологий и наук, лежащий за ней. Что можно было бы сделать - так это на протяжении всей жизни снимать винер-вольтерровский паттерн мозга. Если человек внезапно умрет, не успев переселиться, - хранить паттерн вместе с мозгом. Тогда медицина будущего получила бы очень важный референс того, как ведет себя этот конкретный мозг. Поэтому сторонники крионики сейчас должны изучать и поддерживать не только методы сохранения топологии коннектома, но и методы моделирования, синхронизации и переноса нейроинформации.

Чистая крионика - крионика в отрыве от сеттлеретики - должна быть последней надеждой для тех, кто не успел перенести сознание полноценно, но не главной, как для многих в наши дни. Сеттлеретика и весь пласт стоящих за ней дисциплин - главная предпосылка успеха этой последней надежды.

А что же Криорус?

Говоря о единственной на территории России криокомпании, созданной под началом Российского Трансгуманистического Движения, можно сказать, что находящиеся под ее опекой криопациенты не будут восстановлены не из-за ограничений технологий крионирования, а вследствие безответственности и низкого уровня этики самих основателей Криоруса. Про проблемы РТД было сказано уже многое ( 1, 2), поэтому я не буду здесь на этом останавливаться. Что характерно, столь противоречивые люди стали первыми основавшими реальный, хоть и тоже противоречивый, имморталистский проект в России.

Во всех хитросплетениях истории РТД и Криоруса нам интересны несколько ключевых историй.

Первая история - конфликт между Данилой Медведевым и Валерией Удаловой.

Валерия Удалова - гендиректор "Криоруса". Они создавали этот проект вместе с Медведевым с самого начала, будучи в романтических, партнерских и дружеских отношениях.

Конфликт между партнерами разгорелся на почве супружеской измены Медведева. Личное противостояние постепенно переросло во внутрикорпоративный скандал. После попыток Данилы сместить Валерию с должности гендиректора Криоруса, формально по причинам нецелесообразного расходования средств, последняя самовольно переместила тела и мозги (!) большей части криопациентов в другое хранилище, никому, помимо своих ближайших сторонников, не сообщив никаких адресов. Началась, буквально, дележка криопациентов, последовал период "судебных угроз", который продолжается и до сих пор.

Вторая история - про экономику.

В сторону РТД появлялось множество обвинений в организации сомнительных, полумошеннических проектов ( 1, 2). Один из пострадавших, ютуб-блогер Внук Елькина, даже записал специальное видео с разоблачением Медведева и Удаловой. Из разоблачения становится ясно, что они проводили скам-ICO собственного крипто-токена. Было заявлено, что они собрали $14 млн. на ICO, но на биржах токены так и не появились. Сейчас их можно купить в Телеграме за 2 цента или менее.

Из сайта крипто-проекта можно также понять, что Криорусу было бы гораздо удобней обосноваться в Швейцарии и, вероятно, команда Медведева передислоцируется именно туда, ведь это страна с разрешенной эвтаназией и достаточно обеспеченными гражданами. Одним словом, Криорус может исчезнуть с территории РФ, оставив здесь все свои проблемы. Смогут ли они, в случае передислокации, перевезти пациентов, учитывая продолжительную "дележку" последних - открытый вопрос.

Совокупность этих факторов - неочевидная сторона крайне низкой вероятности успеха крионики. Проще говоря, это человеческий фактор. Отсутствие реального экономического базиса (Криорус, по отчетам до 2018 г. - практически бесприбыльная компания; за последние годы официальная отчетность вообще не публиковалась) заставляет крионистов искать сомнительные способы заработка, обманывать своих сторонников и даже друг друга. По существу, крионисты уже сегодня торгуют воздушными замками - но Данила Медведев и компания переплюнули даже это, торгуя крипто-токенами на владение частями этих воздушных замков. Я искренне надеюсь, что информация о собранных $14 000 000 - лишь проявление хорошей мины при плохой игре и на самом деле ничего собрано не было; в противном случае это можно назвать также сильнейшим репутационным ущербом для всего имморталистского сообщества. Имморталистов стали воспринимать в лучшем случае как фриков, в худшем - как мошенников.

Зачем же мы во всем этом разбираемся, будто бы читая личную переписку враждующих родственников? Одна из причин - развеять иллюзии "тусовок" и "Движений", если они у кого-то еще остались.

Данила Медведев и Валерия Удалова - тип трансгуманистов, которые безумно хотят войти в постчеловеческую элиту, став элитой сегодняшней. Но их личная нравственность не постчеловечна, она нечеловечна. Крайне сомневаюсь, что с таким уровнем внутренней этики эта компания будет ревностно защищать своих пациентов все то время, которое потребуется.

Не стоит здесь занимать ничью сторону, стоит сказать, что люди, взявшие на себя обязанность за немалые деньги сделать все для оживления своих пациентов, должны выстроить такую систему своих внутренних взаимодействий, чтобы ничто не смогло помешать их главной задаче. Команде Криоруса это не удалось.

Учитывая перечисленные технические пробелы и кризис доверия к людям, фактически являющимся гарантами сохранности вашего организма, можно усомниться в том, что крионике как отдельной технологической ветке продления жизни знаменована хоть какая-либо серьезная роль в будущем.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
данила медведев

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продление жизни

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
трансгуманизм

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
сеттлеретика

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
перенос сознания

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Крионика - последняя надежда на смерть?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
В прошлой статье на примере науки "сеттлеретики" мы говорили о переносе сознания на другой материальный носитель как один из вариантов радикального продления жизни, и если после разбора технических...

# data[].attributes.body
-Main idea

Store the corpse intact until the future when technology is advanced, and resurrect the person.

-Arguments

1. In order to prevent the body's cells from decomposing, the corpse is kept in a very viscous container

2. The corpse will save straight humans when technology is advanced enough and can resurrect people

3. Cryonics has not yet been officially addressed by scientists, because no preserved corpse has ever been resurrected for this reason.

-Dialogue

1. If humans can't resurrect these corpses, what will happen to them?

2. How long will it take for humanity to resurrect these people?

-Summary

Cryonics is a technology that has not yet been taken seriously by science. The main use of this technology is to put the deceased in a barrel containing chemicals. In this bucket, the corpse will be kept for as long as you want. Humans will preserve this corpse until the future when technology is more advanced, and resurrect the person.

-Reference

7th July 2023.

By: klimensky

Крионика: трудный путь к «вечной» жизни / Хабр (habr.com)

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Мечты о вечной жизни - неизменный спутник человечества. Страстное желание хотя бы одним глазком заглянуть в будущее и перенестись сквозь время, находит отражение в книгах, становится мощным мотиватором для учёных. Одна из идей, которая уже реализуется на практике - это крионика или криогенная консервация.

Крионика занимается сохранением организмов при низких температурах с целью их возможного восстановления и лечения в будущем. Идея состоит в том, что при низких температурах биологическая активность останавливается, что позволяет сохранить организм в неповреждённом состоянии.

В этом посте обсудим современное состояние крионики, рассмотрим научные и этические проблемы, а также выясним, получится ли когда-нибудь переместиться в будущее в замороженном состоянии.

Коротко о самом явлении

называют процесс консервации (биостаза) умерших или обречённых на смерть людей с использованием ультранизких температур. Цель этой процедуры - перемещение неизлечимых сегодня пациентов в будущее, когда будет доступна технология "ремонта" клеток и тканей, которая позволит восстановить организм и вылечить все сегодняшние болезни, включая старение.

Последователи крионики считают, что смерть - это процесс. И умерший человек на самом деле не мёртв, а лишь обречён. Чтобы спасти его, нужно переместить его в больницу, которая сможет вылечить его. Только находится эта больница не в другом месте, а в другом времени - в будущем.

В соответствии с этим подходом крионика работает с живыми людьми, которых необходимо доставить в больницу будущего, чтобы вылечить. Крионисты считают свою работу разновидностью расширенной медицинской неотложной помощи.

Впервые этот метод нашёл научное подтверждение в работах американских учёных Роберта Эттингера и Эвана Кушра, основавших в 1963 году в Вашингтоне Общество продления жизни.

В 1964 году Р. Эттингер опубликовал книгу "Перспективы бессмертия", ставшую программным документом для последующего развития крионики.

В начале книги провозглашается, что большая часть из ныне живущих людей может вернуться к жизни после смерти. Для этого нужно использовать специальную технологию заморозки, а затем хранить тело при криогенных температурах до тех пор, пока человечество не создаст технологии, которые позволят разморозить и оживить замороженные организмы.

Автор даёт утвердительный ответ на три фундаментальных вопроса:

1. Осуществима ли технически идея заморозки для последующего оживления?

2. Может ли заморозка и неограниченно долгое хранение тел быть осуществлено практически?

3. Будет ли последующее оживление благом для общества?

При этом он обращает внимание читателей на тот факт, что посмертное замораживание осуществимо уже сейчас.

Главное, что нужно помнить, когда речь идёт о крионике - это то, что она (пока) не является доказанной с точки зрения науки. Все процедуры носят экспериментальный характер. Пока никого не удавалось разморозить и вернуть к жизни после смерти из состояния посмертного сохранения.

Ни одна из действующих крионических компаний не знает, смогут ли когда-нибудь их "пациенты" вернуться в ряды живых. Ответственность за оживление вручается будущим поколениям учёных, которые когда-нибудь, возможно, разработают технологию оживления и восстановления полноценного функционирования замороженных сегодня организмов.

Как представитель крионической компании Alcor, "Гарантий нет. Мы не обещаем вернуть вас 27 мая 2082 года или что-то в этом роде. Мы не знаем официально, что это сработает. Мы не знаем наверняка, что наша организация выживет... Может, нас поразит астероид. Нет никаких гарантий. Но это возможность. И кажется, что это лучшая альтернатива".

Другими словами, по мнению Alcor, шансов проснуться из ледяного сна значительно больше, чем после крематория.

Проблемы заморозки

Люди давно обратили внимание, что при низких температурах органические вещества сохраняются значительно дольше. Вполне естественным стало желание заморозить живой организм, а затем посмотреть, получится ли его разморозить.

Ещё во второй половине XVII века английский физик Роберт Бойль, ставил эксперименты по замораживанию-переохлаждению, после чего предположил, что эту процедуру можно провести и с млекопитающими. Открывший анабиоз английский хирург и анатом Джон Хантер во второй половине XVIII века высказал ещё более радикальное предположение: жизнь человека можно продлить на любой срок, если циклически его замораживать и оттаивать. Чтобы проверить свою гипотезу, Хантер попытался заморозить и разморозить рыбу, рыба не ожила, поэтому Хантер отказался от дальнейших исследований в этом направлении.

В начале XX века русский физик П. Бахметьев экспериментировал с переохлаждением куколок бабочек, после чего допустил, что теоретически должны существовать такие условия, при которых замораживание и оттаивание человека могут быть использованы для продления жизни.

Основной проблемой с замораживанием сложных организмов было разрушение клеток из-за холода. Когда замерзает внеклеточная вода, клетки обезвоживаются. В процессе образования льда становится меньше свободной воды. В результате возникает осмотическое давление, которое выталкивает воду сквозь мембрану. Структура белков необратимо нарушается.

Обзор процесса крионической консервации

Сохранить целостность фрагментов живых тканей удалось шведу Линдфорссу и русскому ботанику Максимову в начале XX века. Они использовали при заморозке глицерин. Так были открыты криопротекторы - вещества, которые не давали образовываться льду, защищая таким образом клетки от разрушения при заморозке.

Сегодня в качестве проникающих криопротекторов, которые могут проходить сквозь клеточную мембрану, используют не только глицерин, но и этиленгликоль, диметилсульфоксид и другие вещества. В эти формулы вводятся дополнительные ингредиенты, которые помогают им преодолеть гематоэнцефалический барьер. Он разделяет кровеносную и центральную нервную системы, предотвращая попадание токсинов из крови в мозг.

Любопытный факт: в производстве мороженого для предотвращения образования кристаллов и придания ему более нежной текстуры применяется один из криопротекторов - пропиленгликоль, а другой - этиленгликоль используют в качестве автомобильного антифриза.

Перфузия и витрификация

Важнейшее свойство криопротекторных веществ - их способность витрифицироваться, то есть приобретать при заморозке стекловидную консистенцию.

Стекло - не твёрдое вещество и не жидкость. Это аморфная субстанция, которая, в отличие от жидкости, не кристаллизуется при заморозке. Когда молекулы стекла охлаждаются, их скорость снижается, пока они полностью не перестают двигаться.

Таким образом, чтобы сохранить ткани человеческого организма целыми, перед заморозкой тело витрифицируют. Для этого к артериям подключают трубки и выкачивают кровь из тела, заменяя её на криопротектор. Эта процедура называется .

Во время процедуры перфузии раствор постепенно и поэтапно вводится через сонную артерию с постепенным увеличением его концентрации, замещая кровь.

Нужно следить за давлением раствора, поскольку превышение допустимого уровня может повредить сосуды. Если давление резко подскочило, это значит, что есть тромб, который нужно устранить. Лишний криопротектор выводят через яремную вену. Если концентрация раствора на выходе остаётся такой же, как и на входе, значит, насыщение уже произошло.

Для перфузии головы нужно около двух часов, а насыщение тела занимает четыре-шесть.

При перфузии криопротектор заменяет 60% воды в клетках тела и снижает температуру замерзания оставшейся жидкости. Это гарантирует, что кристаллизации при замораживании не будет.

После этого тело постепенно охлаждают в течение трёх часов, пока его температура не достигнет -124ºC. Это ключевая точка - температура стеклования, при которой жидкости в теле остаются аморфными, но такими вязкими, что их молекулы не могут двигаться.

Без какого-либо движения молекул вся химическая активность в теле останавливается. Биологическое время больше не идет.

Витрификация не является чем-то принципиально новым. Учёные вполне успешно витрифицировали и размораживали человеческие эмбрионы, сперму и другие части тела. Известен также случай успешной витрификации кроличьей почки. Размороженный орган затем вернули в кролика, после чего почка прижилась и продолжила функционировать.

В феврале 2016 года ученым впервые удалось витрифицировать мозг кролика. После разморозки мозг оказался практически в идеальном состоянии: клеточные мембраны, синапсы и межклеточные структуры остались нетронутыми. [...] Это стало первым доказательством, что криоконсервация способна сохранить все, что связано с обучением и памятью.

После витрификации тело продолжают охлаждать, пока через две недели температура не достигнет -196 ºC. При этой температуре азот переходит в жидкое состояние. А для сохранения тела его помещают в сосуды Дьюара и заливают жидким азотом.

Эволюция замораживания

Крионические технологии постоянно развиваются. На сайте компании Alcor приведены 4 фотографии, наглядно демонстрирующие прогресс в этой области.

На первой микрофотографии, полученной методом "замещения замораживанием", видны обширные повреждения тканей кристаллами льда. Именно такие повреждения были характерны для пациентов крионики до 1992 года.

фото 1 - повреждения, полученные в результате замораживания до 1992 года, в тканях мозга после обработки 3-молярным глицерином (раствор 3 моля на литр)

На второй электронной микрофотографии, подготовленной после оттаивания, видны разрывы, окружающие капилляр, и обнажённое клеточное ядро без клеточной мембраны (тёмный округлый объект). Похоже, что повреждения в оттаявшей ткани меньше, чем в ткани, полученной в замороженном состоянии.

Повреждения от замораживания до 1992 года в тканях мозга после обработки 4-молярным глицерином

На третьей электронной микрофотографии, подготовленной после оттаивания, видны разрывы вокруг капилляра, но в остальном структура хорошо сохранилась. При использовании этого протокола повреждение льдом происходит с интервалами по всему мозгу, но большая часть объёма остаётся свободной ото льда.

Повреждения от замораживания 1992-2001 гг. в ткани мозга после обработки 7,5-молярным глицерином

Ткань мозга, сохраненная с помощью современного витрификационного раствора, практически не имеет повреждений при замораживании. На рисунке видны целые нейроны с неповрежденными мембранами и хорошо выраженной структурой. Это превосходная сохранность мозга, которой удаётся добиться у пациентов. Большинство "экспертов", которые говорят о необратимых повреждениях, вызванных процедурами крионики, не знают, что такое сохранение теперь возможно.

Мозг после обработки современным витрификационным раствором. Повреждений практически нет

Хранение

Крионические компании используют разные варианты сосудов Дьюара. Например, в Alcor - это блестящие металлические цилиндры с двойными стенками.

Дьюары криодепозитария "КриоРус" представляют собой двухслойные композитные баки из смеси стеклопластика и каучука. Безвоздушное пространство между внешней и внутренней стенкой дьюара (20−30 см) заполнено перлитом (вулканическая горная порода). Для поддержания вакуума между стенками раз в две недели включается насос. Каждый месяц в дьюар доливается около сантиметра жидкого азота, чтобы заместить испарившийся. В перспективе планируется создать замкнутую систему, включающую машину по сжижению испаряющегося азота и независимую энергоустановку на солнечных батареях.

После завершения перфузии тело запечатывают в изоляционный пакет и переносят в охлаждающую установку, в которой его доводят до температуры жидкого азота.

Когда процесс охлаждения завершается, тело осторожно извлекают из холодильного агрегата, закрывают изолирующий пакет и наклеивают на него бирку с идентификатором. Затем тело переносится в криостат - сосуд Дьюара, заполненный жидким азотом.

Каждый сосуд Дьюара содержит несколько тел. Они располагаются вниз головой. Это сделано для того, чтобы снизить риск повреждения головы в случае, если по каким-то причинам уровень жидкого азота опустится ниже допустимого и не будет вовремя пополнен.

В зависимости от размеров замороженных пациентов в криостате помещается 8-12 тел. Но и это не всё. Поскольку деятельность крионических компаний носит некоммерческий характер, соображения разумной экономии требуют, чтобы всё пространство внутри было задействовано как можно более полно. Так что между телами размещают "нейропациентов" - головы людей, которые решили ограничиться заморозкой мозга, а не всего тела. Это стоит дешевле, так что желающих воспользоваться таким вариантом криосохранения находится довольно много. Оставшееся место занимают образцы ДНК и домашние любимцы, которых решили взять с собой в путешествие в будущее.

Этические проблемы крионики

Многие воспринимают крионику как мошенничество. В рядах критиков находятся не только обычные люди, но и известные учёные. Причём, как ни парадоксально, основным возражением является необратимое повреждение клеток при замораживании.

На этот вопрос у криоников имеется готовый ответ: "Мы не замораживаем людей, мы их витрифицируем. Прежде чем критиковать, стоит изучить вопрос". Но несмотря на справедливость этого ответа, есть и более серьёзный вопрос, ответа на который у криоников нет: есть ли доказательства того, что крионическая консервация действительно позволяет сохранить структуры мозга, важные для долговременной памяти, синаптической связности мозга?

Передача ответственности за восстановление к жизни крионированных тел будущим поколениям - красивый ход, но у практической реализации "оживления" имеется много препятствий.

Финансы. Крионическая компания может разориться, так что всех замороженных "пациентов" просто кремируют, захоронят обычным способом или просто выкинут на помойку. Примерно так уже происходило в период до 1980 года. Крионические организации выполнили 20 замораживаний, но почти все пациенты кроме Бедфорда, который в настоящее время находится в Фонде продления жизни Алькор, были разморожены и похоронены обычным образом. Причина такого грустного итога - финансовая политика, которую они применяли для оплаты хранения пациентов. Деньги за хранение выплачивали родственники пациентов, которые по разным причинам отказывались платить. В итоге - размораживание.

Форс-мажоры. В мире постоянно что-то происходит. Экологические активисты приковывают себя к разным поверхностям, террористы угрожают и требуют выкуп, хакеры атакуют медицинские компании, страны бряцают оружием, защищая свободу и демократию. А ещё случаются ураганы, наводнения и другие стихийные бедствия.

Это делает вероятность разрушения хранилища дьюаров с пациентами крионических компаний ненулевой величиной.

Юридические. Существует ненулевая вероятность того, что законодатели той или иной страны примут изменения в законах, в результате которых крионическая компания окажется вне правового поля.

Такая ситуация едва не произошла в Аризоне в 2004 году. Законодатели штата под давлением общественности внесли законопроект, в соответствии с которым крионические компании должны были бы подчиняться комитету по похоронам. Вполне очевидно, что в случае принятия закона деятельность крионической компании Alcor оказалась бы заблокированной. Маловероятно, что комитет по похоронам, в составе которого много верующих, разрешил бы продолжать "небогоугодную" практику замораживания людей.

Законопроект не был принят в изначальной формулировке, однако Алькору пришлось срочно менять свои документы для приёма криопациентов. Теперь это приходится оформлять как завещание тела для научных исследований криоконсервации. Конституция США декларирует такую возможность как неотъемлемое право каждого гражданина.

Организационные. У криогенной компании может смениться собственник, и если он не будет разделять ценности крионистов, он вполне может решить отказаться от пациентов. Возможен и более неприятный вариант: крионенавистник может провести рейдерский захват и сделать владельцам криогенной компании предложение, от которого они не смогут отказаться. Затем просто ликвидирует её вместе с пациентами.

Хотя все криокомпании декларируют, что управляются и всегда будут управляться убеждёнными крионистами, исключать вероятность описанных событий полностью нельзя.

Неопределённость будущего. В своей деятельности крионисты исходят из того, что технологии будут развиваться, поэтому в будущем появится возможность вернуть к жизни крионированных людей. Однако это оптимистичный прогноз, который может не оправдаться. Вполне реальным выглядит сценарий деградации и погружения человечества в тёмные века. Но даже если этого не произойдёт, нет никаких гарантий, что люди будущего захотят оживлять замороженных предков. Если дивный новый мир не выполнит свою часть сделки, когда "пациента" можно будет оживить, то получится, что ему не повезло, но он никогда об этом не узнает.

Но представим, что оживление всё-таки произошло, и человек проснулся в будущем. Тут тоже возможны разные сценарии:

Новый мир может оказаться хуже старого. Не исключено, что человек очнётся в какой-нибудь ужасной ситуации. Зомби-апокалипсис или другой вариант антиутопии. Никто не знает, что будет через сто или тем более, двести лет.

Новый мир может оказаться скучным. Он не особо продвинутый. Человека просто оживили и оздоровили, но о бессмертии речи не идёт. Он всё ещё может заболеть. Ему придётся найти работу, а актуальных навыков не имеется. Стоило ли ради этого оживать?

Новый мир - сказка. Это очень приятный исход. Всё вокруг поражает воображение. Размороженный человек получил тело здорового человека, которое не чувствует боли или усталости. Все болезни побеждены. А вокруг ожившего друзья и родственники, которые тоже прошли криоконсервацию и невероятно рады вас видеть.

Однако вряд ли жители антиутопического мира будут оживлять криопациентов. Скорее всего, в таком мире никто из клиентов крионических компаний просто не проснётся. Примерно также маловероятным выглядит будущее, в котором оживляют витрифицированных людей, но не могут решить их относительно незначительные проблемы.

Гораздо вероятнее, что будущее будет лучше, чем прошлое. История свидетельствует, что несмотря на склонность к мрачным прогнозам жизнь людей становится лучше. Быть человеком сегодня намного лучше, чем 100 или 500 или 1000 лет назад.

Заключение

По мнению крионистов, смерть - это процесс, поэтому многих людей, признанных мёртвыми, они считают живыми. Крионизация для них - попытка переместить живущего сейчас пациента в больницу будущего, где его жизнь смогут спасти.

Ведь довольно странной выглядит ситуация, когда общество поддерживает звезду, которая борется с раком, но активно осуждает человека, заключившего договор на крионизацию.

В этом плане крионизацию можно сравнить с экспериментальным парашютом в падающем самолёте. Самолёт точно разобьётся, но если воспользоваться шансом и выпрыгнуть, то, возможно, получится спастись. Если же ничего не делать, то гибель гарантирована.

Вероятность наступления новой жизни после каждого из приведенных вариантов, по версии учёных:

Крионика даёт надежду, которой точно нет при традиционных способах захоронения или кремации. Именно поэтому крионизация - не просто блажь людей, у которых есть лишние деньги.
А вы верите, что можно получить второй шанс после заморозки?
Как сказал Михаил Батин, предприниматель, трансгуманист и клиент "КриоРус", "крионика - единственная альтернатива смерти, которая есть сегодня. Лучше, если вас заморозят, а не похоронят или кремируют. Это наилучший выход в худших обстоятельствах".

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Крионика: трудный путь к "вечной" жизни

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Мечты о вечной жизни - неизменный спутник человечества. Страстное желание хотя бы одним глазком заглянуть в будущее и перенестись сквозь время, находит отражение в книгах, становится мощным...

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Main Idea:

Many people may have heard about cryonics and now wonder if it's something for them. So here's a list of pros and cons.

Arguments:

- you can preserve a dying/dead body and pause the processes

- if revival technology is developed, anyone who chose cryonics may live an extended life.

- chance to experience the future.

Dialogue:

- how much time will it take for humans to develop such technology?

- will the bodies be revived and be fully intact?

Summary:

Cryonics is a life-saving procedure, that, although not yet fully developed, can give anyone a chance to live an extended life in the future, where the cures to currently incurable sicknesses will be present. The life will be drastically different comparing to now. Cryonics is a great chance to experience the future. The choice to freeze your body will also give scientists a chance to research how to thaw frozen organs, and then we could keep them in organ banks and there'll be a solution to the shortage of donors.

Reference:

Allessandra Gorla (2022) Pros And Cons Of Cryonics aka Biostasis

retrieved from https://www.tomorrow.bio/post/pros-cons-cryonics

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Are you wondering if cryonics is something for you? This article could help you decide!

You may have heard about cryonics(aka biostasis) and are curious if it's something right for you. Or, maybe you've been thinking about it for a while, and decided it's time to stop cryo-crastinating and act. Whatever your situation is, a good way to understand if you should sign up is to make a list of pros and cons. Not sure what they are? We've got you covered. At Tomorrow Bio, Europe's first biotech company specializing in human cryopreservation, we are well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of this innovative technology. So, here is our list of pros and cons about human cryopreservation.

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What are the pros and cons of cryonics?

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The Pros of Cryonics

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Why should you choose cryonics? The aim of cryopreservation is to preserve a patient so that whatever caused their death can be cured with the aid of future technologies. This way, they have a chance to live an extended life in the future. A noble endeavor. Yet, not all arguments for or against this procedure depend on its future success. For example, both the research and the mindset behind developments within the cryonics field could influence our society, even before revival, in a positive way. Let's analyze these pros together.

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Cryonics As A Life-Saving Procedure

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This is definitely the biggest argument in favor of human cryopreservation. Today in Europe, the average life expectancy is around 81 years. It's projected to increase by the end of the 21st century to 90 years old.

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Life expectancy is predicted to rise well into the future.

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How could this be achieved? One way is by treating illnesses that are still incurable today with new innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, and potentially nanotechnology and nanomedicine. These discoveries can help future societies treat a wide variety of diseases compared to what we can treat today. People who are "doomed" with current medical knowledge could potentially be treated in the future.

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Cryonics is one such technology that can help with this. How? Through human cryopreservation, our members' are preserved in a state where biological processes are paused, cellular decay is halted, and they can be stored indefinitely. Let's imagine that medical developments will eventually find a way to cure brain cancer, even with advanced metastasis. Cryonics members with brain cancer could be cured and revived in the future, and be able to live a longer life.

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This is what a 14 year old British girl chose after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. For the chance at a longer life in the future, she decided cryopreservation was her best (and only) option. In case revival technology is developed, she and anyone who has opted for cryopreservation may be able to live an extended life. Wouldn't this reason alone be enough to decide to join cryonics?

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What if humans could pause themselves and come back when medical technology can treat them?

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A Chance To Experience The Future

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If and when revival technology works, cryonics members will wake up in the future. The world of the future will be significantly different compared to the world they left behind. Let's say a person from 1900 suddenly woke up in 2022. They left a world where flying from place to place was a fantasy, communication via a mobile device was inconceivable, and much of the diseases that were rampant then are treatable in the modern era. Now, imagine life 100 years from now. What could we expect in the future? What new technologies could we benefit from? How will society look? Maybe we'll finally be able to travel across the stars, or upload our minds to virtual reality. The future is full of opportunities. Our Tomorrow Bio's members could be there to discover them.

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Supporting Medical Technological Developments

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The human body is made up of different interconnected systems, just like the branches of medicine that deal with them. Every scientific study can benefit from research made in other fields and, at the same time, can benefit other fields with its own research. For example, developments in the field of nanotechnology have impacted modern electronics. Qualities such as size, flexibility, and conductivity are all thanks to nanotechnologies that impact the way devices are manufactured. You know those bendable smartphones? That's due to nanotechnology. Moreover, development in this field could highly influence the success of the cryonics industry.

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Already, cryopreservation has contributed to stem cell research, and in-vitro fertilization. Cryopreservation has also been key to organ transplantation, however the process of rewarming is still complex. To revive a cryopreserved human being, we have to first understand how to thaw cryopreserved organs. This medical discovery could revolutionize both the cryonics and the organ transplant field. With current technologies, lungs and hearts usually need to be transplanted within 4 hours maximum. Liver and pancreas can survive up to 24 hours. If scientists learn how to cryopreserve and thaw these organs, they could store them in organ banks and, hopefully, find a solution to the shortage of organ donors. This technology alone would greatly advance the field of organ transplantation and cryonics, saving lives in two different ways.

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‍Investing in cryonics means investing in scientific research. Understanding more about the dying process, aging and how to reverse this could help the development of other medical practices.

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Joining cryonics means you support scientific research.

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Endorsing Long-Term Thinking

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In the early days of human societies, short-term thinking was very important. Here-and-now was what kept humanity alive. As time progressed, we developed new skills that helped societies advance to become what they are today. One of these skills is long-term thinking. While this quality is rather useful today, on average we're still not very good at practicing this.For example: have you ever bought something that wasn't that necessary but gave you temporary pleasure? Did you ever regret buying it afterwards, realizing that you could have used that money for something more important? This is short-term in action.

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People who sign up for cryonics expect to live in the future, and they want that future to be good. They might ask themselves, " What are the consequences of my actions in 200 years?" Normally we wouldn't ask ourselves this question. It's difficult for the human mind to comprehend the future, especially the distant future.

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Cryonics and biostasis could give us a different perspective on this. Imagine if we knew that a specific behavior we keep could cause pollution and climate change in the long-run. Our egoistic self may not see it as a problem. However, if people knew they would experience the long-term consequences later on in life, they would probably be more willing to change. Society needs to improve its long-term thinking; cryonics could help us do that.

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The Cons of Cryonics

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Now that we've talked about the points in favor, what are the ones that might make you decide not to sign up for cryonics? Is it the costs or perhaps its uncertainty that is stopping you?

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The Price Tag

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The cryopreservation process consists of several steps. Let's have a look at them:

Transportation of the standby team to the patient

Field cryoprotectant procedure (FCP)

Transportation of the patient to the long-term storage facility

Subsequent cooling and completion of the procedure

Long-term preservation

Future revival

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Adding up all these steps, we get a total of €200,000. Why is it such a high price tag? Let's break this sum down.

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At Tomorrow Bio, €80,000 is allocated for fast response. This sum ensures that the standby ( SST) team is on call 24/7, as well as help fund the transportation necessary to reach patients, and transport their body to our storage facility after FCP. If a patient passes away somewhere outside of Europe, these funds can help pay for flights and transportation needed to reach them.

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So, what about the remaining €120,000? This sum goes towards the indefinite care of patients. Since we can't predict when the necessary medical technology will be developed, we don't know how long patients will remain stored. Because of this, cryonics companies like Tomorrow Bio, need to be prepared for anything. This lump sum helps ensure that patients can be stored until revival. The funds are managed by a patient care trust, which makes low risk investments. These can grow and earn 1-2% above inflation, meaning it is more than enough to keep a patient stored for the long-term.

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However you look at it, cryonics at the moment is not cheap. At Tomorrow Bio, we hope that as interest in cryonics grows, the price for this service will decrease.

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Still Waiting For Revival Technology

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There is another main reason why people interested in cryonics may choose not to join: nobody has ever been revived. The technology behind revival doesn't exist yet and it will probably take many years to develop it. While we can cryopreserve and subsequently thaw embryos, semen, tissues and simple organisms, thawing an organism as complex as a human body is still not yet possible. There are potential theories as to what future revival technologies might look like. However, it will take time to develop them.

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This means that by signing up for cryonics, you are trusting that the medical field will eventually be able to cure you of your cause of death, and revive you from biostasis. There are several reasons to believe it might. Looking at the latest advancements in healthcare, today's medical problems could be solved in the future. Yet, most humans are more of "see it to believe it", and revival will be a challenge.

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Conclusion

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Let's try to summarize. Cryonics could potentially save lives and allow people the chance to experience the future. It could also improve our long-term thinking and help the development of scientific research. On the other hand, it isn't cheap and there is no certainty of when or if it will eventually work. To make a decision you need to ask yourself: " Is it worth it to invest my money in a potential technology that could give me more years of life in the future? "

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Do you think it's worth the investment?

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Let us know on our Discord server, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to schedule a call with us. Still unsure about cryonics? Check out Tomorrow Insight for more information about cryopreservation, Tomorrow Bio and more, and see you Tomorrow!

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Here is a list of the main arguments in favor and against cryonics. If you are still unsure, have a look and make an informed decision!

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Main Idea:

People constantly seek to avoid death, and with future technologies and cryonics, it might be possible.

Arguments:

- the potential benefit to society

- the ability to cheat death for few more years

Dialogue:

- will a person live life to the fullest? or will they die shortly after 'revival'?

Summary:

With cryonics you might be able to cheat death for a few more years, there will be a prospect of immortality if revival is successful. An adapted version of Pascal's Wager is offered as an argument in favour of using cryonics.

Reference:

David Shaw (2009) National library of Medicine - Cryoethics: seeking life after death

retrieved from

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19788649/#:~:text=Among%20the%20arguments%20against%20using,him%3B%20the%20environmental%20cost%20of

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Abstract

Cryonic suspension is a relatively new technology that offers those who can afford it the chance to be 'frozen' for future revival when they reach the ends of their lives. This paper will examine the ethical status of this technology and whether its use can be justified. Among the arguments against using this technology are: it is 'against nature', and would change the very concept of death; no friends or family of the 'freezee' will be left alive when he is revived; the considerable expense involved for the freezee and the future society that will revive him; the environmental cost of maintaining suspension; those who wish to use cryonics might not live life to the full because they would economize in order to afford suspension; and cryonics could lead to premature euthanasia in order to maximize chances of success. Furthermore, science might not advance enough to ever permit revival, and reanimation might not take place due to socio-political or catastrophic reasons. Arguments advanced by proponents of cryonics include: the potential benefit to society; the ability to cheat death for at least a few more years; the prospect of immortality if revival is successful; and all the associated benefits that delaying or avoiding dying would bring. It emerges that it might be imprudent not to use the technology, given the relatively minor expense involved and the potential payoff. An adapted and more persuasive version of Pascal's Wager is presented and offered as a conclusive argument in favour of utilizing cryonic suspension.

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national center for biotechnology information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cryoethics: seeking life after death - PubMed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Cryonic suspension is a relatively new technology that offers those who can afford it the chance to be 'frozen' for future revival when they reach the ends of their lives. This paper will examine the ethical status of this technology and whether its use can be justified. Among the arguments against ...

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-Main idea

How does cryonic works, what's the main idea of cryonics, and facts about it.

-Arguments

1. Cryonics is the practice of preserving human bodies in extremely cold temperatures with the hope of reviving them sometime in the future.

2. Your heart beat will stop while the scientist are doing cryonics, and you're "legally dead".

-Dialogue

1. What if you die in the cryonics?

2. Can they really resurrect people?

3. What if in the future no one can resurrect these people, will they forever stay in the cryonics container?

-Summary

Cryonics is a way to let a person to turn them alive, but the person will not be resurrected right away, if not, in the future.

"Legally dead" people will be left in a container and wait until the day that scientists can help them.

-Resource

By: Stephanie Watson

How Is Cryonics Performed? - How Cryonics Works | HowStuffWorks

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Cryonics is the practice of preserving human bodies in extremely cold temperatures with the hope of reviving them sometime in the future. The idea is that, if someone has "died" from a disease that is incurable today, he or she can be "frozen" and then revived in the future when a cure has been discovered. A person preserved this way is said to be in cryonic suspension.

To understand the technology behind cryonics, think about the news stories you've heard of people who have fallen into an icy lake and have been submerged for up to an hour in the frigid water before being rescued. The ones who survived did so because the icy water put their body into a sort of suspended animation, slowing down their metabolism and brain function to the point where they needed almost no oxygen.

Cryonics is a bit different from being resuscitated after falling into an icy lake, though. First of all, it's illegal to perform cryonic suspension on someone who is still alive. People who undergo this procedure must first be pronounced legally dead -- that is, their heart must have stopped beating. But if they're dead, how can they ever be revived? According to scientists who perform cryonics, "legally dead" is not the same as " totally dead." Total death, they say, is the point at which all brain function ceases. Legal death occurs when the heart has stopped beating, but some cellular brain function remains. Cryonics preserves the little cell function that remains so that, theoretically, the person can be resuscitated in the future.

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Dozens of people are frozen in cryogenic storage facilities, waiting to be revived when science is able to cure whatever killed them. But if they're dead, is revival from a frozen state even possible? Find out.

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-Main idea

Could humans live for ever of the power of cryonics?

-Arguments

1. How much time will it take to revive a person?

2. Is it possible to revive a person?

-Dialogue

1. When you wake up in the future, you may lose all you had in the past.

2. Even if you gone to the past, you can't stop death, you will still keep getting old

3. “The biggest difficulty is not whether it is possible to recover a whole person from ultra-low temperatures – there is a reasonable chance that will happen in the future. It is the fact that they will be dead. If they were dead when they were frozen, they will still very much be dead when you thaw them out.”

-Summary

Cryonics has pros and cons, and it is not 100percent safe. Breaking the laws of nature will be punished by God. Just like losing all the things you adore, losing your family...etc. In the future won't be anyone you know.

-Resource

By Tom Ireland

July 17, 2020

Cryonics: Could you live forever? - BBC Science Focus Magazine

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A new facility will store tens of thousands of cryogenically-frozen people. The hope is to one day bring them back to life, but just how realistic are its aims?