Cryonics and Frozen Bodies

• Cryonics is the practice of freezing bodies in the hope of future rebirth.
• The concept was first presented in a report by Cidinha Campos on Programa Fantástico in 1973.
• The initial report was lost in a fire, but the program continued to explore cryonics over the years.
• Currently, there are 190 people frozen and 2,000 on the waiting list for cryogenic preservation.

Science behind cryonics

The science behind cryonics and how bodies are preserved at extremely low temperatures.

Cryonic Preservation Process

• Cryonic preservation involves a combination of engineering, chemistry, physics and biology.
• Alcor, located in Arizona, USA, houses tanks full of bodies frozen at -196°C (-320°F).
• The company refers to preserved individuals as “patients” and not “corpses.”
• The ability includes preservation of the entire body and preservation of only the head.

Ancient History and Hope for Revival

The early history of cryonic preservation and the hope that science will one day be able to revive these preserved individuals.

First cases and hope for revival

• The first officially recorded case of human cryopreservation dates back to 1966, in California.
• Initially, there was hope that science would find a way to revive these preserved individuals.
• Alcor currently has 47 full-body patients and capacity for five head-only patients.

Personal motivations for cryonics

The personal motivations of individuals who choose cryonics preservation and their desire for a second chance in life.

Personal motivations

• Vinícius, a 29-year-old Canadian, is paying to be cryopreserved.
• He has always been interested in longevity and health, wanting to have a second chance at life.
• Initially, his friends thought it was strange, but later they became intrigued by the idea.
• Cryonics companies have competitors in Europe and the United States.

Cryonic Preservation Process

The process of cryonic preservation, including immediate cooling after death and replacement of blood with a protective mixture.

Cryonic Preservation Process

• After death, the body is immediately cooled in an ice bath before being transported to the cryonics facility.
• The blood is replaced with a protective mixture that protects the cells during freezing.
• The final step involves placing the bodies upside down in large containers filled with liquid nitrogen.

Challenges and future possibilities

Some challenges faced by cryonics, such as the formation of ice crystals, and discuss future possibilities, such as connecting preserved brains to robotic bodies.

Challenges and future possibilities

• The formation of ice crystals during freezing poses a significant challenge to cell preservation.
• Researchers are working on methods to prevent ice crystals from forming and protect cells during freezing.
• The ultimate goal is to revive preserved brains by connecting them to new bodies or humanoid robots.

Water as the enemy of cryonics

Water as a major obstacle in cryonics due to its ability to form harmful ice crystals.

Formation of water and ice crystals

• Water, which makes up about 70% of the human body, forms ice crystals when freezing.
• These ice crystals can cause serious damage to cells.
• Cryonics researchers aim to overcome this challenge by developing cryoprotectants that prevent the formation of ice crystals.

Cryopreservation in other fields

Cryopreservation techniques used in other areas, such as preserving coral reefs and creating a sperm bank for corals.

Cryopreservation in other fields

• Cryopreservation is also used to preserve coral reefs and create a sperm bank for coral species.
• Various cryoprotectants are used externally and internally to protect cells during freezing.

The effects of freezing on different substances

The effects of freezing on different substances, specifically alcohol and sugar solutions. They transfer the contents of four tubes containing different substances into jars of dry ice.

Solutions for freezing alcohol and sugar

• When transferred to jars of dry ice, the tomatoes and grapes in the control group become extremely hard, while the other tubes containing alcohol, sugar and a mixture of alcohol and sugar manage to maintain some level of integrity.
• Scientists aim to achieve vitrification, where living material resembles the glass-like frozen state without biochemical reactions or cellular aging.
• Vitrification can be useful for preserving organs for transplantation without the need for rushed procedures.
• Researchers at the University of Minnesota successfully vitrified a mouse kidney using a protective mixture and transplanted it into another mouse after three months of frozen storage.

Resuscitation and cryonics experiments

Resuscitation and cryonics experiments. It mentions the rebirth of worms after 46,000 years in the Siberian ice, as well as human cryopreservation efforts.

Resuscitation experiments

• The worms were revived after being frozen for 46,000 years in the Siberian ice.
• The people shown in frozen tanks were legally dead when they were cryopreserved.
• Cryonics technicians work quickly to improve the quality of vitrification, cooling patients’ bodies using ice baths and performing chest compressions to circulate cooler blood.

Cryonic Procedures

• After declaring the patient officially dead, he is placed in an ice bath to lower his body temperature, especially his brain.
• Surgeons access major blood vessels through thoracic surgery to pump preservation fluids instead of blood.
• Once all steps are completed, the patient is transferred to a permanent storage location, such as the Cryonics Institute in Michigan or Alcor.
• Some families even charter planes to quickly transport bodies for cryopreservation.

The Church of Perpetual Life and Longevity

The Church of Perpetual Life in Florida, founded by a businessman named Bill Faloon. The church focuses on sharing information about how to live longer, healthier lives and has connections to cryonics.

The Church of Perpetual Life

• The Church of Perpetual Life was founded in 2013 in Florida by Bill Faloon.
• Despite its name, the church has no religious affiliation, but emphasizes eternal life in the present.
• Many members of the community are interested in both longevity and cryonics.
• Bill Faloon and his 26-year-old son take several supplements, medications, exercise regularly, and have plans for cryopreservation if their current efforts fail.

Cryonics costs and future possibilities

The costs associated with cryonics and future possibilities, such as an “Ark of Time” facility for long-term preservation.

Cryonics costs

• At companies like Alcor, individuals pay around one million reais to freeze the entire body or 450 thousand reais to preserve just the head.
• Some people see it as a form of life insurance paid out over many years in the hope of being revived in the future.

Future Possibilities

• If successful, rebirth after cryopreservation would involve safely thawing bodies or heads, eliminating the toxic effects of preservation fluids, curing diseases that caused death, and potentially transferring brain information to another medium, such as cloud storage.
• There are ambitious projects, such as building an “Ark of Time” facility in Texas to safely store thousands of bodies frozen for thousands of years, but this remains a distant dream.