Cryonics, the practice of freezing human bodies with the hope of bringing them back to life in the future, has long been a subject of fascination in popular culture. From science fiction novels to blockbuster movies, the idea of preserving life beyond death has captured the imagination of many. However, the reality of cryonics is far more complex and uncertain than its portrayal in fiction.
Located in the small town of Holbrook, halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, Southern Cryonics is home to the first cryonics facility in Australia. The facility recently made headlines for freezing the body of an 80-year-old man, known as „Patient One,“ who passed away in May. The body is stored in a vacuum storage vessel at a temperature of approximately minus 200 degrees celsius, in the hopes that one day it can be revived.
Despite the allure of cryonics, Professor Gary Bryant from the School of Science at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology warns that the concept is more fiction than science. According to Bryant, there is currently no scientific evidence to support the idea that frozen bodies can be successfully revived. In fact, he goes as far as to label cryonics as a „pseudoscience.“
So, what exactly is cryonics and why is it considered impossible by many experts? Cryonics involves freezing a human body in the hopes of reanimating it at a later date. However, the process of freezing a body without causing irreparable damage is incredibly complex. Bryant explains that while certain cells, such as sperm, eggs, and blood cells, can be successfully frozen and preserved, freezing entire organs or tissues is still a significant challenge.
To freeze a body for cryonics, the initial step involves cooling the body to just above zero degrees celsius. Body fluids are then replaced with cryoprotectant fluids to aid in preservation, before the body is slowly frozen using liquid nitrogen. The body of „Patient One“ underwent a similar process, starting with cooling to six degrees celsius after death and then being pumped with an anti-freeze liquid at a funeral home. The body was eventually brought to a temperature of minus 80 degrees celsius with dry ice before being transferred to the cryonics facility in Holbrook.
While cryonics companies continue to freeze bodies in the hopes of future revival, the scientific community remains skeptical of the feasibility of such a process. Bringing a frozen body back to life would require not only overcoming the challenges of freezing and preserving tissue but also finding a way to reverse death itself. As Bryant points out, the idea of reviving a frozen body is a monumental scientific and ethical challenge that remains unresolved.
In conclusion, while cryonics may continue to capture the imagination of filmmakers and novelists, the reality of freezing and reviving human bodies remains a distant and uncertain prospect. As technology and science progress, perhaps one day cryonics will become a viable option for extending life beyond death. Until then, the frozen body in Holbrook serves as a reminder of the complex and enigmatic nature of cryonics.