This is a very high level introduction to cryonics and why you should consider protecting yourself and family with cryonics preserving yourself after legal death with the intent that in the future medicine will be able to repair any damage. Ourextremely short summary is that there are no guarantees cryonicswill work, but that a large number of very smart people believe that there is a much greater than zero chance that cryonics will be successful in saving many peoples lives.
What is Cryonics?
Cryonics is the field of scientific research that seeks to use technology to cool living tissue, organs, and organisms to the point where decay stops. Later the process is reversed. In IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) embryos are routinely stored using cryopreservation at liquid nitrogen.
In a similar fashion, cryonics attempts to cool a person immediately after declared death so that any cellular decay stops. Later when medical technology improves in theory they would be able to correct whatever problem killed you. For example, if you suffered a heart attack (myocardial infarction) and your heart was damaged, the premise is that in the future they would be able to repair that damage and revive you.
What are the chances Cryonicswill work?
No one knows, but they are greater than zero. Some, such as Arthur C Clarke the author of 2001 A Space Odyssey, and who proposed satellite communications in 1945, among other scientific advances estimated the success rate as high as 90%, others say 30%, others have said less than 1%. However, certainly nobody can say it is zero. What this means is that there is at least a chance. Many people wont care to take that chance, but for each person it is their own decision.
Who offers Cryonics?
Several non-profits offer cryonics now, with Alcor being the largest as of 2015. The Cryonics Institute also has a large number of members.
Alcor http://www.alcor.org
Cryonics Institute http://cryonics.org (and American Cryonics Society)
KrioRus http://www.kriorus.ru/en/
Alcor statistics:http://www.alcor.org/AboutAlcor/membershipstats.html
Cryonics Institute statistics: http://www.cryonics.org/ci-landing/member-statistics
How do you usually pay for Cryonics?
You buy an insurance policy that pays for the procedure. You can always change what you would use the policy for later if needed, so you wont be throwing the policy away.
Cryonics in film/TV
Cryonics has appeared in pop culture for decades. Some examples are: Vanilla Sky, Planet of the Apes, Empire Strikes Back (Han Solo frozen), Star Trek, Austin Powers, Avatar
Who hasused Cryonics?
Alcor has over 135 cryopreserved patients:
Ted Williams, major league baseball player.
Hal Finney, well known computer scientist.
Dick Clair, writer for The Facts of Life, Mamas Family and others.
Who is planning to by cryogenically preserved?
Among many others, a few people who have signed up are, as of 2015:
Marvin Minsky, professor at MIT, a giant in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Eric Drexler, nanotechnology pioneer
Ray Kurzweil, inventor
Ralph Merkle, internet pioneer
Luke Nosek, engineer, venture capitalist
Peter Thiel, a PayPal founder
Larry King, radio and TV personality
Isnt Cryonicsagainst nature or religion?
Before there were antibiotics, people made the same argument, but now few would refuse antibiotics to stop an infection. Before CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, people wouldnt even try to save someone who wasnt breathing due tochoking, drowning, shocks or other causes. Presently, around92000 people are saved each year in the United States using CPR. Many Doctors were against both anesthesia and sterilization before surgery, today we know that they are great tools. So what is the answer? No one can say for sure, but if nature prohibited it, many would say that people wouldnt have thought of ways to extend life.
So should you sign up for Cryonics?
That is a completely personal opinion. Many people believe that cryonics has a very good chance of being successful. You can always start with an associate membership atAlcor.
Video: Six minute Introduction to Cryonics
Larry King on Cryonics
Link:
Cryonics | Cryonic.org
Recommendation and review posted by Guinevere Smith
