Is it possible to be cryogenically frozen after death?

A teenager who tragically died of cancer recently has become the latest among a tiny but growing number of people to be cryogenically frozen after death. These individuals hoped that advances in science would one day allow them to be woken up and cured of the conditions that killed them.

What is cryonics and how can it help us?

The idea is that tiny, artificial molecular machines could one day repair all sorts of damage to our cells and tissues caused by cryonics extremely quickly, making revival possible. Given the rapid advances in this field, it may seem hasty to dismiss the entire scientific aim behind cryonics.

Will people ever be revived by cryonics?

These people will never be revived. Cryonics in its current form is more of a religion than a science. Rather than a divine entity, its followers place their faith in technological progress—believing that future advances will compensate for the terrible damage caused during current freezing techniques.

What are the different ways of cryogenically freezing people?

There are two different ways of cryogenically freezing people. One involves freezing just the brain or the head—the thinking here is that there’s a smaller amount of tissue and you should preserve the essence of the person. It’s also cheaper and easier.

Can we freeze organs for therapeutic purposes?

While transplantation of human organs currently relies on chilled, not frozen, organs, there is a strengthening case for developing cryopreservation of whole organs for therapeutic purposes. Scientist Robert Ettinger beside an antique cryostat at the Cryonics Institute. When Ettinger died, he was frozen and stored there.

Does cryopreservation really work?

Broad statements crop up on all cryonic organisation websites stating that while ‘there are no guarantees’ cryopreservation can work, ‘technology is always improving.'” No one has been brought back to life yet using this method, but that hasn’t stopped people signing up to be frozen.

What do you think about cryonics?

I’ve always found the idea of cryonics completely fascinating. The idea of being frozen after death, in the hopes of being revived after advances in medicine have made every illness curable, is like something straight out of a science fiction movie (or a horror film).

What are the chances of Being cryopreserved being revived?

As such, I would say that the chances of cryopreserved individuals ever be revived is low but not impossible. And then the argument is that the worse possible outcome of being cryopreserved is to remain dead, so cryonics gives you a chance of future revival that will not happen if you are buried or cremated.

Will people ever be revived after death?

If you mean people who have already had their brains, heads, or bodies cryogenically stored after death (or are doing so with current technology): no, they will never be revived. They are dead, and will remain dead forever. Will it ever be possible to store a dead person (or a dead person’s brain) in such a way that they can be revived?

CRYONICS INSTITUTE A teenager who tragically died of cancer recently has become the latest among a tiny but growing number of people to be cryogenically frozen after death. These individuals were hoping that advances in science will one day allow them to be woken up and cured of the conditions that killed them.

Is it possible to be frozen and then unfrozen again?

We see it all the time in movies. A person gets frozen or put in “cryosleep” and then unfrozen at a later date with no aging taking place, or other ill effects. Sometimes this happens on purpose, like to someone with an incurable disease hoping a cure exists in the future, or sometimes by accident, like someone getting frozen in a glacier.

Can cryonics repair the damage caused by freezing?

But there’s another huge hurdle for cryonics: to not only repair the damage incurred due to the freezing process but also to reverse the damage that led to death – and in such a manner that the individual resumes conscious existence. From a purely technical point of view, this added complication might be worth avoiding.

How do cryoprotectants prevent damage during freezing?

During freezing, damage can be avoided by carefully modulating temperatures and by relying on various types of cryoprotectants. One of the main objectives is to inhibit ice formation, which can destroy cells and tissues by displacing and rupturing them.

Can human organs be cryopreserved for therapeutic purposes?

Some complex organs (kidney, liver, intestines) have been cryopreserved, thawed, and successfully re-transplanted into an animal. While transplantation of human organs currently relies on chilled, not frozen, organs, there is a strengthening case for developing cryopreservation of whole organs for therapeutic purposes.