Herbie Murray
Cryonics, derived from the Greek word κρύος (kryos, meaning cold), is the process of preserving a human corpse or brain at extremely low temperatures (usually −196 °C or −320.8 °F or 77.1 K) in the hope of future revival. While cryonics has been successfully used to preserve and revive organisms from the animal kingdom, the revival of humans from cryosleep remains uncertain due to current technological limitations. Cryosleep is not suspended animation but a form of deep sleep called torpor, which significantly slows metabolic functions. While cryosleep cannot be used to avoid death, it may be used in the future for deep space travel, cancer treatment, and the preservation of donor organs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cryosleep | A form of deep sleep called torpor, which significantly slows metabolic functions |
| Cryosleep in science fiction | Heroes of films like "Aliens," "Avatar," "Interstellar," and "Passengers," have put themselves into suspended animation |
| Cryosleep in reality | Cryosleep is not suspended animation, and we are far from being able to revive cryopreserved human bodies |
| Cryosleep for space missions | Cryosleep could be used for missions to Mars and beyond, but astronauts would be knocked out for weeks or months, not years, and they would still age |
| Cryosleep for medical purposes | Cryosleep could be used to preserve wounded soldiers or donor organs, or to protect healthy cells from radiation damage during cancer treatment |
| Legality of cryosleep | Cryonics is regarded with skepticism by the mainstream scientific community and is considered unethical and illegal in many countries |
| Cost of cryosleep | In 2011, U.S. cryopreservation costs ranged from $28,000 to $200,000, often financed via life insurance |
| Limitations of cryosleep | Revival technology remains speculative, and current technology cannot prevent cryoprotectant toxicity or tissue damage during cryopreservation |
| Future of cryosleep | If future technology can cure currently incurable diseases and achieve rejuvenation, cryonics and cryosleep could be successful |
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What You'll Learn
- Cryosleep is not suspended animation but a form of deep sleep called torpor
- Cryonics procedures can only begin after patients are clinically and legally dead
- Cryonics companies replace all the fluid in a body with antifreeze to prevent cell damage
- Cryosleep may open the door to deep space exploration and travel to Mars and beyond
- Cryosleep could be used to preserve wounded soldiers until help arrives
Cryosleep is not suspended animation but a form of deep sleep called torpor
Cryosleep, as depicted in science fiction, does not exist in reality. The term "cryosleep" is often used interchangeably with stasis or suspended animation, but in reality, it is more similar to the concept of torpor, a state of unconsciousness achieved by hibernating animals. Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in animals, typically marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. This process helps animals survive periods of reduced food availability.
NASA is currently researching ways to induce torpor in astronauts for long-duration space missions. This process, known as therapeutic hypothermia, involves lowering the body temperature to around 32-34°C (90-93°F). The goal is to preserve brain function and structure, but freezing and thawing can damage brain cells. While this form of cryosleep does not involve freezing, it is still a challenge to safely revive astronauts from torpor.
Cryonics, on the other hand, refers to the preservation of a body after death, with the hope of future resurrection or curing the cause of death. Cryonics procedures can only begin after the patient is clinically and legally dead. The body is cooled to -196°C (-321°F) using liquid nitrogen. Cryoprotectants are used to prevent ice formation, but they can be toxic to human tissues. Revival from cryonics remains speculative, and it is not possible to reanimate a corpse that has undergone vitrification as it damages the brain.
While cryosleep in the traditional sense of long-term cryogenic preservation does not exist, therapeutic hypothermia and torpor are actively being researched and used in limited medical applications. The ability to induce torpor in humans may have important ramifications for both terrestrial and space exploration purposes.
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Cryonics procedures can only begin after patients are clinically and legally dead
Cryonics is derived from the Greek word "kryos", meaning "cold". It involves the low-temperature freezing and storage of human remains with the hope that resurrection may be possible in the future. Cryonics procedures can only begin once the patient is clinically and legally dead. Cryonics is regarded with scepticism by the mainstream scientific community and is generally viewed as a pseudoscience.
Cryonics procedures may begin within minutes of death. Cryoprotectants are used to prevent ice formation during cryopreservation. Cryoprotectants like glycerol are used to supplant water and maintain tissue structure. However, most cryoprotectants are toxic to human tissues at the levels required. Cryonics companies replace all the fluid in a body with a kind of antifreeze to prevent cell damage.
The first body to be cryopreserved was that of James Bedford in 1967. Bedford's body was cryopreserved around two hours after his death. As of 2014, the remains of about 250 bodies had been cryopreserved in the United States, and 1,500 people had made arrangements for cryopreservation. Cryopreservation costs in the US can range from $28,000 to $200,000 and are often financed via life insurance.
While the revival of humans from cryosleep remains uncertain, cryobiology is already being used to manage many diseases. Therapeutic hypothermia, a form of torpor or deep sleep, is a well-established medical technique. It slows down cellular biochemical reactions, enhancing cellular survival. It is neuroprotective and inhibits excitotoxicity, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, free radical generation, seizures, and blood-brain barrier disruption.
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Cryonics companies replace all the fluid in a body with antifreeze to prevent cell damage
Cryonics is a pseudoscientific procedure that involves freezing and storing human remains at extremely low temperatures (usually −196 °C or −320.8 °F or 77.1 K) with the hope of future revival when technology becomes advanced enough. Cryonics procedures can only be started after a person is clinically and legally dead.
Cryonics companies like Alcor, one of the world's largest cryonics companies, offer to replace all the fluid in a body with a kind of antifreeze called a cryoprotectant to prevent cell damage. Cryoprotectants like glycerol are used to supplant water in the body and maintain tissue structure by preventing the formation of ice crystals. This process is called vitrification, which puts the cells into a state of suspended animation.
After a person is declared legally dead, the cryonics procedure can begin. The body is first stabilised and supplied with oxygen and blood to preserve minimal brain function until it can be transported to the cryonics facility. At the facility, the body is cooled down to sub-zero temperatures and supplied with a cryoprotective fluid. The water and other fluids are drained from the body and replaced with a cryoprotectant solution to prevent ice crystal formation. The body is then cooled down rapidly to around -125°C and then slowly to -196°C. At this temperature, the body is transferred to a storage unit.
While cryonics offers hope for future revival, it is important to note that there are currently no known cases of humans being successfully revived after cryopreservation. The revival process remains speculative, and it would require repairing damage from lack of oxygen, cryoprotectant toxicity, thermal stress, and freezing in tissues. Additionally, cryonics is costly, with prices ranging from $28,000 to $200,000, and it is viewed with scepticism by the mainstream scientific community.
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Cryosleep may open the door to deep space exploration and travel to Mars and beyond
Cryosleep, or cryonics, is a speculative technology that could enable deep space exploration and travel to Mars and beyond. Cryonics involves the preservation of a human corpse or brain at extremely low temperatures, typically around −196 °C or −320.8 °F (77.1 K), with the hope of future resurrection and revival. While cryonics has been regarded with skepticism by the scientific community and is considered a pseudoscience, it has captured the interest of notable figures such as PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, who expressed a desire to be cryogenically frozen after death.
The process of cryopreservation aims to slow metabolic processes drastically, inducing a state of deep sleep or torpor. This technique has shown promise in the animal kingdom, with successful preservation and revival of organisms like tardigrades. In 2016, Japanese researchers revived two tardigrades that had been frozen for over 30 years. However, current technology has not been able to replicate these successes in humans, and we are still far from being able to revive cryopreserved human bodies.
One of the major challenges in cryonics is preventing ice formation during cryopreservation, as ice crystals can cause cell damage. Cryoprotectants, such as glycerol, are used to supplant water and maintain tissue structure, but most cryoprotectants are toxic to human tissues at the required levels. Additionally, revival from cryosleep would require repairing damage caused by cryoprotectant toxicity, thermal stress, and dehydration, as well as reversing the cause of death.
Despite these challenges, scientists and engineers are collaborating with NASA and other space agencies to develop suspended animation projects for deep space missions. Astronauts could be placed in a state of torpor, resembling hibernation, for weeks or months, rather than being frozen indefinitely. This approach could help manage the challenges of long-duration space travel, such as radiation exposure and limited resources, by slowing metabolic functions and preserving donor organs.
While cryosleep may not completely stop the aging process or enable immortality, it could potentially slow down aging and extend lifespans, making it a valuable tool for space exploration and medical applications. Further research and technological advancements are needed to fully realize the potential of cryosleep for deep space exploration and to address the ethical considerations surrounding its use.
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Cryosleep could be used to preserve wounded soldiers until help arrives
Cryosleep is a form of deep sleep called torpor, which significantly slows metabolic functions. Cryopreservation has shown promise in animals, but current technology has not been able to translate these successes to humans. Cryonics companies replace all the fluid in a body with a kind of antifreeze so that they do not cause cell damage. However, it is not possible to reanimate a corpse that has undergone vitrification as this damages the brain, including its neural circuits.
While normal body temperature is about 37°C, therapeutic hypothermia reduces it to 32°C to 34°C. This technique dates back to ancient times, with Hippocrates reportedly using snow to slow blood flow in wounded soldiers. Cryosleep could also keep donor organs viable for longer.
However, researchers will also have to investigate potential side effects of torpor, like an erratic heartbeat, infections, or blood clots. And we don’t know yet how torpor will affect cognition and memory, or what it will feel like for a healthy person. “Below a certain degree of temperature…there is probably no consciousness anymore,” says one researcher. “But in the beginning, it could be quite odd, maybe even unpleasant.”
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Frequently asked questions
Cryosleep is not a method of avoiding death. Cryonics procedures can only begin after the "patient" is clinically and legally dead.
Cryosleep is a form of deep sleep called torpor, which significantly slows metabolic functions.
No, cryosleep is not suspended animation. Suspended animation involves freezing, while cryosleep does not.
Cryosleep may be used for deep space travel, medical treatment, and organ preservation.
Cryosleep is not currently safe for humans. There are potential side effects, such as erratic heartbeat, infections, blood clots, and cognitive and memory issues.
