Exploring Cryonics

Often referred to as an 'Ambulance to the Future', cryonics is described by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation.

• Cryonics involves the use of cutting-edge technology to preserve legally deceased individuals at ultra-low temperatures, typically in a vacuum-insulated metal container. Rather than relying on electricity, liquid nitrogen is used to maintain these temperatures, providing a safeguard against power failures and reducing maintenance costs.
• Individuals choosing cryopreservation must have a life insurance policy in place, which covers the costs of either neuro-preservation or whole-body preservation upon death.
• There are several institutions and startups worldwide that offer cryopreservation services, including the Cryonics Institute in Michigan, Tomorrow Biostasis in Berlin, KrioRus in Russia, and various other startups in England and Australia.
• While no organization has yet successfully revived a cryopreserved human, the process of cryopreservation and subsequent revival is commonly used in the field of embryology.

The Process of Revival

• According to the Brain Preservation Foundation, successful revival may only require the resurrection of the brain, as it is believed that the brain can survive extended periods of inactivity.
• However, Alcor argues that for successful revival, the technology must be capable of regenerating a body that aligns with the preserved brain using the patient's own cells.
• In the realm of future possibilities, Elon Musk has proposed the concept of cyborgs, which involves integrating human minds into robotic exoskeletons.

The Implications of Cryonics

• The concept of reviving a person after many years presents a myriad of complex issues, as the world would have undergone significant changes during their absence.
• There would also be questions regarding the legal status of the revived individual and the existence of those who exist in the preserved brain's memory.