Lamp
Gold Star Holder!!
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2005
- Messages
- 22,996
Saw a programme last night on TV about a US woman who before her death paid $150,000 (or GBP 80,0000) to have her body cryogenically frozen in the hope that at some point in the future she would be "reanimated" (the actual term used) and able to live again. Her husband has also signed up, hoping to be re-united with his wife sometime in the future.
I have real doubts about cryogenic reanimation.
They would need to repair the damage caused to the body due to the freezing process.
They would need to cure the body of whatever killed them.
Even if these are achievable, no one can guarantee or even predict what the effects are or will be on the brain, and what the physchological impact will be.
Are cryogenic companies giving these people false hope ?
Will bodies frozen today still be there in (say) 100 years time ? Will society feel the same way about cryogenics in (say) 100 years time ?
Will any reanimated people be treated differently in future society ?
How can we try to preserve a body when the scientific community knows virtually nothing about the death process.
Cryogenic companies claim that nanotechnology will enable cells to be repaired to facilitate reanimation. Some scientists think nanotechnology to do this is physically impossible.
I like to think that in theory cryogenic reanmimation is possible, but at the moment we're a couple of hundred years (at least) from being able to achieve this.
In my mind, I think anyone having their body cryogenically frozen in 2006 have no chance of successful reanimation. Maybe in 500 years time - but this is assuming we gain massive insight into body and brain death processes, nanotechnology, massive advances in medicine (able to cure cancer, diseases, and massive body trauma injuries). I also feel its a little unnatural. We're meant to die. Our bodies wear out. We're not meant to live for ever. I feel that nature will always win in this respect.
/discuss
I have real doubts about cryogenic reanimation.
They would need to repair the damage caused to the body due to the freezing process.
They would need to cure the body of whatever killed them.
Even if these are achievable, no one can guarantee or even predict what the effects are or will be on the brain, and what the physchological impact will be.
Are cryogenic companies giving these people false hope ?
Will bodies frozen today still be there in (say) 100 years time ? Will society feel the same way about cryogenics in (say) 100 years time ?
Will any reanimated people be treated differently in future society ?
How can we try to preserve a body when the scientific community knows virtually nothing about the death process.
Cryogenic companies claim that nanotechnology will enable cells to be repaired to facilitate reanimation. Some scientists think nanotechnology to do this is physically impossible.
I like to think that in theory cryogenic reanmimation is possible, but at the moment we're a couple of hundred years (at least) from being able to achieve this.
In my mind, I think anyone having their body cryogenically frozen in 2006 have no chance of successful reanimation. Maybe in 500 years time - but this is assuming we gain massive insight into body and brain death processes, nanotechnology, massive advances in medicine (able to cure cancer, diseases, and massive body trauma injuries). I also feel its a little unnatural. We're meant to die. Our bodies wear out. We're not meant to live for ever. I feel that nature will always win in this respect.
/discuss
