Cryonics: Freezing Bodies for the Chance at Living Again in the Future
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Imagine a future where medical technology has advanced to the point where we can revive those who are currently considered legally dead. This concept is at the very heart of cryonics, which in practice involves preserving the bodies (or sometimes just the brains) of the deceased at extremely low temperatures, often in liquid nitrogen, with the hope of bringing them back to life in the future.
The ultimate ambition of those practicing in the field of Cryonics is to put a halt the decaying process of the body and keep the biological structures intact. Then eventually when advancements in medical technology in the future catch up, they will be able to restore the preserved individual to life and full health once more.
The process of cryonics begins immediately after legal death is declared. The body or brain is carefully cooled using a cryoprotective solution in order to minimise damage from ice formation that could happen as part of the freezing process. Once the body is cooled, it is placed in a specially designed storage container and submerged in liquid nitrogen at temperatures below minus 196 degrees Celsius (or minus 321 degrees Fahrenheit).
Upon the death of a person who has made prior arrangements for cryonics, the cryonics organisation to which they have registered with is immediately notified, who are trained and respond promptly. The cryonics team then begins the “stabilisation” process by administering medications and cooling the body. These medications are important to prevent blood clotting and minimise tissue damage, while cooling slows down the metabolic processes that could result in cell death. The body is then placed in a special “ice bath” to maintain a low temperature during transportation to the cryonics facility. Once the body arrives at the Cryonics facility, the body (or brain) is carefully cooled using a cryoprotective solution in order to minimise damage from ice formation that could happen as part of the freezing process.
Once the body is cooled, it is placed in a specially designed storage container and submerged in liquid nitrogen at temperatures below minus 196 degrees Celsius (or minus 321 degrees Fahrenheit), with the hope one day the person will be woken up again when future scientific advancements allow.
The hope is that this revival would not only bring individuals back to life but also offer the opportunity to treat age related diseases, reverse aging processes, and even explore the possibilities of transferring consciousness to advanced synthetic bodies or potentially downloading consciousness into the cloud.
Cryonics presents some unique legal and ethical challenges. The practice is not widely regulated, and the legal status of cryonically preserved individuals varies between countries. Questions arise around the rights and responsibilities of reviving individuals, the allocation of limited resources in a future where cryopreserved individuals could potentially return, and the ethical implications of extending life indefinitely.
While cryonics remains a speculative field with many uncertainties and challenges, its advocates remain hopeful that future advancements may pave the way for the resurrection of those who have chosen to be cryopreserved.
Whether cryonics will become a reality or simply remain confined to the realms of science fiction, is a debate that continues to rage, however until the technology can be proven or disproven to work in the future, it offers hope to individuals who one day dream of waking up to a new and exciting future, and where they can live on.
