Редактирование: Cryonics

[[File:Cryonics tatoo.jpg|400px|thumb|right|[[Todd Huffman]]'s tattoo explaining the initial steps to prepare for cryonic preservation.<ref>''Cryonics Magazine'' [[Alcor]] Life Extension Foundation. Volume 334 July-August 2012.[https://issuu.com/alcorlife/docs/cryonics2012-4] "Todd has had
the instructions from his Alcor medicalert bracelet tattooed on his torso. (Note: the above information is altered in minor ways for reasons of privacy
and to prevent harassment.)"</ref>]]

'''Cryonics''' is a controversial [[life extension]] technique that aims to preserve neural activity and life typically of a recently deceased person through use of preservation techniques and low temperatures so that resurrection may be possible in the future when technologies have improved.

== Overview ==
<blockquote>''That is not dead that can eternal lie,''<br>
''and with strange aeons even death may die.''<br>
- H.P. Lovecraft</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Margaret, Paul, I wish you the very best and it is my most fervent desire that we meet again, hopefully in a time and place where we can laugh and reminisce about the dark ages from which we were so lucky to have made our escape from...''<br>
- [[Mike Darwin]]</blockquote>

Cryonics is the preservation of dead persons at temperatures low enough to practically stop decomposition, with the intent of future [[cryonics revival|revival]]. While there is experimental [[#Evidence|evidence]] attesting to the conservation of vitrified tissue and the possibilities of repair; the decision to undergo cryonic preservation after death is an act of ''faith'', not of science.

The two main ideas behind cryonics are [[infodeath|Information-Theoretic Death]] and the technology vitrification. The first idea is the idea that our criteria for death has changed as our technology and our understanding of biology has changed. In the 1800s, a person who drowned was considered dead. Information-theoretic death is the 'ultimate' death, the one that we know ''as fact'' is irreversible, and does not depend upon a changing understanding of nature. Information theoretic death is reached when the body (Especially the brain) has been damaged to the point that it is beyond repair; where repair means having enough structure and contextual information to bring the brain, along with the personality, memories and attitudes that it contains, back to a functioning state. If tissues have been properly preserved, this revival could be accomplished through [[#Revival|a variety of ways]], but even the best methods leave behind irreparable [[#Tissue Comparison|damage]], which means memory loss and personality changes, and other neurological (Motor control) damage. The latter is sufficiently generic to be repaired when that kind of technology arrives, the former is unique to each person and impossible to recover.

The second idea, vitrification, is a process through which tissue is lowered to cryogenic temperatures without freezing or forming ice. The most widely believed myth about cryonics is that when people are frozen, ice inside their cells bursts and destroys tissue irreparably. This is false on two points: Modern cryonics uses cryoprotectants which prevent ice damage by vitrifying instead of freezing, and the water that forms ice is mostly outside the cells. A common argument against cryoprotectants is that they are toxic: While true, this only affects the prospects of suspended animation through vitrification, since cryonics [[Cryonics patients|patients]] would probably be revived through more complicated means than just thawing them and applying CPR once a cure for what killed them is found.

== Scientists' Open Letter on Cryonics ==

<blockquote>
''To whom it may concern,''<br>

''Cryonics is a legitimate science-based endeavor that seeks to preserve human beings, especially the human brain, by the best technology available. Future technologies for resuscitation can be envisioned that involve molecular repair by nanomedicine, highly advanced computation, detailed control of cell growth, and tissue regeneration.''<br>

''With a view toward these developments, there is a credible possibility that cryonics performed under the best conditions achievable today can preserve sufficient neurological information to permit eventual restoration of a person to full health.''<br>

''The rights of people who choose cryonics are important, and should be respected.''
</blockquote>

* [https://www.biostasis.com/scientists-open-letter-on-cryonics/ Full text and list of signatories]

== Criticism ==
''Main: [[Arguments against cryonics]]''
<blockquote>''Interestingly (and somewhat to the author’s surprise) there are no published technical articles on cryonics that claim it won’t work.'' <br>- [[Ralph Merkle]]</blockquote>

Most criticism of cryonics arises from fundamental misconceptions (For example, that cryonics involves freezing) and ignorance of current [[#Cryoprotectants|cryopreservation]] techniques and procedures.

* Scientific American{{cn}}

'''Abstract:''' <blockquote>The preservation of cells, tissues and organs by cryopreservation is a promising technology nowadays. However, the primary purpose of this science has been diverted to a doubtful technology, cryonics. Cryopreservation techniques are now being adapted with the aim of preserving people’s bodies after death in hope that in the future, medicine will be able to revive them. In this report we analyze both scientific and social issues involved with this technology. We first studied the events taking place in the cells during regular freezing. Various research experiments show that freezing causes damage to the cells. Therefore, vitrification presented by cryonics companies as an alternative, seems to be reasonable. We also looked at all the difficulties of this procedure and at the injuries that such a treatment could cause to the human body. Studies show that the vitrification procedure suppresses the injuries related to freezing but the use of cryoprotectants, although necessary, is toxic to the cells. Organs, such as kidneys, are the largest entities ever vitrified and thawed with success. By analyzing all present scientific data, we conclude that there is a limit to the size of living matter that can be cryonised effectively; therefore we conclude that it is not possible to cryonize an entire human body with the current technology without causing severe damage to it.</blockquote>

* [http://rudar.ruc.dk/bitstream/1800/6115/1/Final%20-%20Group%207%20-%20Evelina%20and%20Juliette.pdf Paper]

While definitely great progress from most cryonics 'criticism' to date, the paper seems to address the well-known fact that reanimation from cryopreservation is impossible (Or nearly so) due to the toxicity of [[#Cryoprotectants|cryoprotectant]] solutions. The most discussed methods of revival, [[#Molecular Nanotechnological Repair|Molecular Nanotechnology]] and [[#Whole Brain Emulation|Whole Brain Emulation]] are not discussed.

== Philosophy ==
''Main: [[Problems with mind uploading]]''

While it's sad that people focus on philosophical issues instead of the myriad technical and social problems that plague cryonics, along with its attachment to a history of failure and incompetence, philosophical concerns should still be addressed.

By far the biggest philosophical concern people put forward against cryonics is the issue of continuity of consciousness. In these debates, people can easily talk past each other by using different definitions of what constitutes consciousness and how this relates to personal identity. In general, we have two definitions of consciousness:

* '''Real Definition:''' Consciousness is self-awareness, and thus becomes discontinuous during sleep, unconsciousness, et cetera.
* '''Alternate Definition:''' Consciousness is defined as a subset of (Or the totality of) brain activity, and thus a person's consciousness remains continuous during sleep and what is usually called 'unconsciousness', and only stops when brain activity ceases (Medico-legal death, not necessarily [[Anders Sandberg's Transhuman Terminology#INFORMATION-THEORETIC DEATH|Information-theoretic]]).

But what is relevant is not the definition of consciousness, but how this matters to personal identity. Again, here we have two opinions:

* '''Definition 1:''' Personal identity is a person's personality and memories. Consciousness is fundamental to life, of course, but its continuity is not fundamental to personal identity (It uses the Real Definition of consciousness).
* '''Definition 1:''' Personal identity is a person's personality, memories, and continuous consciousness (It uses the Alternate Definition of consciousness). When consciousness becomes discontinuous, the identity 'stops' and ceases to exist.

Under Definition 1, cryonics patients will be the same person (± brain damage). Under the second definition, when they are repaired, the patients are fundamentally different people who claim to be the same as the original and only shre personality and memories.

== Problems ==
* Delay and Ischemic Injury
* Lack of Regulation
* Storage Safety
* The Tyranny of the Singularity
* Multi-Century Commitment

== Roadmap ==

=== Cryoprotectant toxicity ===

* Non-toxic cryoprotectants
** Fractures would still be a problem when around T<sub>g</sub>.
*** Fractures in some cases will require vascular surgery (Katherine Mills; severed aorta) and in the worst cases organ transplantation & spinal cord replacement/regeneration (Janice Foote, almost severed lung, spinal cord severed in 3).
* The [[Prometheus Project]] tried to achieve reversible brain cryopreservation, but this didn't pan out.

=== Research into Alternatives ===

* Alternatives to cryonics may produce low-cost solutions for long term storage of [[Cryonics patients|patients]]
* May also increase chances of revival and better preserve the tissues
* Things like [[plastination]] may be more easily accepted by the mainstream neuroscience community

== Publications ==
* [[Cryonics Magazine]]<ref>http://issuu.com/alcorlife/docs</ref>
* [[Long Life Magazine]] (Formerly ''The Immortalist'' (Formerly ''The Outlook'')).<ref>http://www.cryonics.org/resources/long-life-magazine</ref>

== Cryonics topics ==

* [[Celebrity cryonics]]
* [[Cryonics alternatives]]
* [[Cryonics glossary]]
* [[Cryonics patients]]
* [[History of cryonics]]
* [[Cryonics in popular culture]]
* [[Cryonics organisations]]
* [[Cryonics postmortems]]
* [[Cryopreservation]]
* [[Cryonics revival]]

== People ==

* [[Mike Darwin]]
* [[Eugene Leitl]]
* [[Gregory Fahy]]
* [[Jerry Leaf]]
* [[Max More]]
* [[Robert Ettinger]]
* [[Fred and Linda Chamberlain]]
* [[Curtis Henderson]]
* [[Evan Cooper]]

== See Also ==

* [[Life Extension]]
* [[Life Extension Society]]
* [[Immortalism]]
== Resources ==
=== Books ===

{{Publication
| Title = The Prospect of Immortality
| Cover = ProspectOfImmortality.jpg
| Author = Robert Ettinger
| Date = 1962
| Description = 
* [http://www.amazon.com/The-Prospect-Immortality-Robert-Ettinger/dp/097434723X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342730201&sr=8-1&keywords=the+prospect+of+immortality Buy]
* [http://www.cryonics.org/book1.html Read online]
}}

{{Publication
| Title = The First Immortal: A Novel Of The Future
| Cover = The First Immortal.jpg
| Author = James L. Halperin
| Date = 1998
| Description = 
* [http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Immortal-Novel-Future/dp/0345421825/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342730192&sr=8-1&keywords=the+first+immortal Buy]
* [http://coins.ha.com/s/d/tfi.doc Download]
}}

{{Publication
| Title = Man into Superman: The Startling Potential of Human Evolution -- And How To Be Part of It
| Cover = Man into Superman.jpg
| Author = Robert Ettinger
| Date = 1972
| Description = 
* [http://www.amazon.com/Man-into-Superman-Startling-Potential/dp/0974347248 Buy]
* [http://www.cryonics.org/book2.html Read online]
}}

{{Publication
| Title = Connectome: How the Brain's Wiring Makes Us Who We Are
| Cover = Connectome book cover.jpg
| Author = Sebastian Seung
| Date = 2012
| Description = 
* [http://www.amazon.com/Connectome-How-Brains-Wiring-Makes/dp/0547508182/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342730102&sr=1-11&keywords=Cryonics Buy]
}}

=== Links ===

* [https://www.alcor.org/library/will-cryonics-work/ Will Cryonics Work? Examining the Probabilities] By Steven B. Harris and Mike Perry, 1989
* [https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/NEpZGLNMGc447ez34/how-likely-is-cryonics-to-work How likely is cryonics to work?] By JeffTK, Less Wrong, 2011
* [http://bach.ai/in-defense-of-cryonics/ In defence of cryonics] By [[Joscha Bach]], 2015
* [http://cryoeuro.eu/ CryoEuro Wiki], an excellent collection of documents on Cryonics. Maintained mostly by [[Eugen Leitl]].
* [http://www.21cm.com/articles/organ_cryopreservation.html ''Organ Cryopreservation''] by [[Gregory Fahy]].

=== Video ===

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuLjw8Arm88 Life after Death] a video by the [[#American Cryonics Society|American Cryonics Society]].
* [http://vimeo.com/15201177 A visit] to TT, featuring John Rodriguez.
* '''Alcor Conferences'''
** '''2006:'''
*** [http://vimeo.com/10001647 Cryonics: Neuropresrvation vs. Whole Body Panel Discussion]
*** [http://vimeo.com/22750032 Ralph Merkle, Ph.D. - Nanotechnology and Cryonics (25 min)]
*** [http://vimeo.com/22766034 Brian Wowk, Ph.D. - The Cryobiological Basis of Cryonics (42 min)]
*** [http://vimeo.com/22723062 Aubrey de Grey, Ph.D. - SENS: A Precursor to Cryonic Revival (36 min)]
*** [http://vimeo.com/22759085 J. Storrs Hall, Ph.D. - Cryonics: A Door into Summer (24 min)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L5uKOrfozZI Cryogenics Pioneer Robert 'Bob' Ettinger Dies, Body Frozen Next to Mother, First and Second Wives]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6GsqTq39Jko ''The Limitless Future''] (Cryonics history)
* [http://americancryonics.org/videolib.html ACS Video Library]
** [http://www.youtube.com/v/MuLjw8Arm88&rel=1 Life After Death: Nobody Gets Out of Here Alive] (Footage of a suspension, interview with Jim Yount).
** [http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-7217600641593229672&hl=en Sally Jessy Raphael interviews Richard Marsh, Margaret Bradshaw, Avi Ben-Abraham (1987)]
** [http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=2563180146206252497&hl=en ACS 20th Anniversary Celebration in 1989]
** [http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=2203275200226562382&hl=en Faith Daniels Show about Cryonics (1993)] (With [[#Jerome Butler White|Jerry White]], [[Fred and Linda Chamberlain]], Charles Platt, his wife, and Carlos Mondragon.

=== Audio ===

* [http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/354/mistakes-were-made/ ''Mistakes Were Made''], This American Life interview with [[Robert Nelson]].

== References ==

<references/>

[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Immortalism]]
[[Category:Cryonics]]
[[Category:Technology]]
== External links ==
* {{wikipedia|Cryonics}}
* [http://waitbutwhy.com/2016/03/cryonics.html "Why Cryonics Makes Sense" by Tim Urban] on [[Wait But Why]]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/EACryonics/ Effective Altruism & Cryonics] on Facebook
[[Category:Life extensionism]]
[[Category:Cryonics]]
[[Category:Emerging technologies]]
[[Category:Pages imported from Transhumani requiring cleanup]]