Humanity has constantly pushed the boundaries throughout history. For example, it has crossed mountains and oceans, or gone into space, reached planets, or on the contrary, gone underground, discovered vaults. However, the biggest boundary it has faced has always remained the same: death. So is it possible to cross this boundary? Do you think there is a place beyond death? Yes, according to some people, it is possible. This question, which pushes the boundaries of science, also manages to be the focus of many people.
History in Ice
Human freezing, or cryonics, first came to the agenda in the USA in the mid-20th century. The idea of cryonics emerged with the hope of bringing people back to life at a later time by lowering body temperature to low levels after death. Science fiction writer Robert Ettinger essentially put forward this concept with his book The Prospect of Immortality, published in 1962. Robert Ettinger believed that the concept of cryonics would be adapted to life with the advancement of technology. Indeed, the foundations of cryonics were laid.
At that time, a group of people believed that this could happen. Individuals and scientists interested in the concept of cryonics came together and started to operate. On January 12, 1967, American psychology professor Dr. James Bedford volunteered for cryonics after being diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer. Immediately after his death, the freezing process was carried out with liquid nitrogen. This process was carried out at a time when there were no specific procedures in the field of cryonics. Bedford was protected by arrangements made by a group called the “Life Extension Society”. This event, which was the first freezing process, went down in history as the “Bedford Case”.
Frozen Future: The Story of Cryonics and Alcor
This journey full of unknowns after death is only a stop for some, while for others it is the beginning of the journey. This hopeful journey began with the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, which was established in 1972, bringing bold ideas to life. Founded by Fred and Linda Chamberlain, this organization has become one of the most prestigious organizations in the world within the scope of cryonics. This organization based in Arizona, USA moves, stores or freezes only the heads or the whole bodies of those declared medically dead in the hope that with future advances in medicine and technology, the dead will be revived. Alcor’s mission is to freeze not only people but also pets, aiming to reunite them with their loved ones one day in the future. Bedford, which went down in history as the first freezing process, is considered the starting point of this field. The first freezing process, which was carried out with basic methods before Alcor was established, was brought to the facility in the 1990s after Alcor was established and protected with modern methods. Today, Bedford is still preserved with advanced technologies in cryogenic tanks.
Alcor’s general procedures begin immediately after death. In order to prevent damage to organs and tissues after death, blood circulation is supported artificially and ice crystal formation in cells is prevented with the vitrification method. At this stage, body fluids are replaced with a special solution, cooled to -196°C and placed in tubs filled with liquid nitrogen. Alcor offers two options: Full body preservation or brain preservation only. Still active today, Alcor currently serves 1,443 active members and 245 cryopreserved individuals with increasing demands.
Cryonics process is not only a scientific experiment but also brings with it deep ethical, biological and philosophical questions. Is resurrecting an organism just a physical transformation, or does the phenomenon we call self go beyond the brain? When we bring a person back to life, do their memories wake up with them, or will a new and bright door open for the future? Will we be able to get answers to these questions in the future? Of course, a new one is added to these endless questions that will never stop in minds: Will this whole process really be successful? What if this process fails? Modern technology does not yet offer us a definite result. However, Alcor continues to be a beacon of hope for all humanity beyond all this.
You can learn the full story of Alcor through their website
Is it possible to have both a past and a future in one body?
That is why cryonics is becoming a vision of human existence when death has not struck its final chord. Organizations like Alcor are building a future beyond dreams by bringing science and hope together. A human body can be frozen, but then where does the soul come into the picture? Moreover, one day someone close to you, or your home, or any home that is dear to you, or any place you frequent, or even your work routine, will be as far away from you as they are beyond the horizon today. Freezing a body is not just performing an activity: it can be a struggle with life.
The question then becomes, who would be willing to do what is necessary to bring it back? And are you ready for it?
If you are wondering more about immortality in biology, we suggest you to read our article about the Immortal Jellyfish
I am Damla Aras. I am a third year student at Marmara University Bioengineering. I aim to find answers to questions that arouse scientific curiosity and raise awareness in these areas by writing articles on biotechnology, genetics and biology on the Biyologyto platform. I present complex scientific topics in a simple and engaging way by blending knowledge with daily life, and I aim to be a source of both information and inspiration for readers.
