Cryogenics
Kindall Carter
What is cryogenics?
Cryogenics is not technically freezing, at least not with water. Vitrification is the process of adding chemicals called cryoprotectants to cells in order for them to be preserved at very low temperatures (-120 degrees Celcius or more) without the formation of ice. It is possible to vitrify organs as large as a human brain, preserving the structure without freezing.
Why is Cryogenics Important?
Cryonics is mostly used to preserve the parts of the brain that contain memories and personal identity. It's for people beyond the help of today's medical technology can be preserved for centuries until future medical technology can restore their health. To me, unless a person hasn't lived a full life, being preserved for decades doesn't sound like it would be enjoyable once revived.
History of Cryonics
The first case of someone being cryopreserved was in 1967, but research had been done since before 1947 by French biologist Jean Rostand.
Professor Robert CW Ettinger
When he was in the hospital in 1947 for battle wounds, he research of cryogenics was being done by French biologist Jean Rostand. Ettinger wrote a short story about cryopreservation of the human body being a sort of one-way medical time travel.
Jean Rostand
This is Jean Rostand, French biologist and philosopher.
Ethical Concerns
So far, there is no technology for the long-term preservation of life. Even the technology now has not been proven to work.
Relation to Other Areas of Science
Cryonics revolves around life. It includes the study of organisms in their natural habitat, like Ecology.
The Future
The technology and medicine we have now isn't enough to heal patients with a termial disease or cancer, but hopefully in the future, if the process of cryopreservation works, patients that have been preserved can be restored to their full health.
Cold-Chamber
This is a cold-chamber as I call it. It's used to store vitrified neuropatients in liquid nitrogen.
Conainer
This is one of the aluminum containers used to store the neuropatients.
Liquid Nitrogen
This is the individual containers being immersed in the liquid nitrogen.
Sources
Wowk, Brian. "Ethics of Non-ideal Cryonics Cases." Ethics of Non-ideal Cryonics Cases. N.p., Fall 2006. Web. 08 Sept. 2015.
"Alcor: About Cryonics." Alcor: About Cryonics. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Sept. 2015.
"History/Timeline." Cryonics Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2015.