cryonics

cryonics
Name	Cryonics
Caption	A storage dewar used for long-term preservation.

cryonics. Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals with the intention of future revival, based on the premise that future advances in nanotechnology, molecular repair, and medicine may restore health. The practice occurs after legal death is declared, with the goal of preserving brain structure and function. It is considered speculative and outside the mainstream of cryobiology and medical science.

Definition and principles

The core principle is that identity and long-term memory are stored in the durable structure of the brain, a concept supported by some interpretations of connectomics and neuroscience. Proponents argue that information-theoretic death, the irreversible loss of this structural information, is the true endpoint, not the cessation of heartbeat or brain activity. This framework is heavily influenced by the writings of Robert Ettinger, who founded the Cryonics Institute, and Eric Drexler, who popularized concepts of molecular nanotechnology. The practice is distinct from cryogenics, the broader study of low-temperature physics, and cryopreservation of cells or tissues for short-term medical use.

History and development

The modern concept was first proposed in 1962 by Robert Ettinger in his book The Prospect of Immortality. The first human preserved was James Bedford, a Berkeley psychology professor, in January 1967 by the Life Extension Society. Early efforts were conducted by the Cryonics Society of California and the Cryonics Society of New York. The field faced significant setbacks, including the well-publicized failure of the Chatsworth facility in the 1970s. The founding of Alcor Life Extension Foundation in 1972 and the Cryonics Institute in 1976 provided more stable organizations. The 21st century saw the establishment of KrioRus in Russia and the Southern Cryonics facility in Australia.

Scientific basis and criticism

The scientific rationale hinges on vitrification, a process using cryoprotectant agents like ethylene glycol to prevent ice crystal damage, a technique advanced by cryobiologists like Gregory Fahy at 21st Century Medicine. Critics, including many in the Society for Cryobiology, argue that ischemic injury during the minutes or hours before preservation causes irreversible damage. Skeptics like Michael Shermer and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry contend that the promised future technologies are purely speculative. Mainstream cryobiology journals, such as Cryobiology, have published research on vitrification but generally distance the field from revival claims.

Procedures and preservation

The ideal procedure begins with cardiopulmonary support and rapid cooling immediately after legal death, often performed by a specialized standby team. The patient is transported to a facility where cryoprotective perfusion replaces blood with a vitrification solution. The body is then cooled in a computer-controlled chamber to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196°C). Long-term storage occurs in a vacuum-insulated dewar, often at facilities operated by Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona or the Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Michigan. Neuropreservation, which involves preserving only the brain, is a lower-cost option offered by some organizations.

Legal and ethical considerations

Legally, cryopreservation can only begin after declaration of death by a qualified physician, adhering to laws such as the Uniform Determination of Death Act in the United States. Patients typically arrange and fund the procedure through a cryonics contract and a living trust, often designating a organization like Alcor Life Extension Foundation as beneficiary. Ethical debates involve questions of informed consent, the use of resources, and definitions of personhood. The field has also been the subject of notable legal cases, including the Ted Williams controversy and the Dora Kent case, which involved the Riverside County Coroner.

Organizations and costs

The two largest organizations are the Cryonics Institute, co-founded by Robert Ettinger, and the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, whose past presidents have included Fred Chamberlain. In Europe, KrioRus operates near Moscow. Costs vary significantly; Alcor Life Extension Foundation charges approximately $200,000 for whole-body preservation and $80,000 for neuropreservation, typically funded via life insurance policies. The Cryonics Institute offers lower-cost options, around $28,000 for whole-body. These fees cover the initial procedure and indefinite storage in facilities like the Alcor Scottsdale, Arizona complex.

Category:Life extension Category:Emerging technologies Category:Cryobiology