Why the sci-fi dream of cryonics never died

https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/10/14/1060951/cryonics-sci-fi-freezing-bodies/

by spking • 4 years ago

3 1 4 years ago

I remember reading about this as a child in the 90s, it seemed like there was a lot of hype (and hope) that this would be possible in a few decades. This was also accompanied by some skepticism and fear, similar to how people talked about cloning and genetic modification. Then there was the legend that Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen (he wasn't).

Interesting read. I was hoping they'd mention suspended animation and studying how some people managed to survive or be resuscitated after accidentally being frozen for lengths of time thought to be impossible to come back from.

Personally, I think if there is a way to bring about immortality it would look more like transferring/uploading consciousness than reanimating a whole human body. Besides which, wouldn't people want new bodies anyway, especially depending on what caused their deaths. (which reminds me of the head transplant that was supposed to happen) There are a lot of different issues also involved with this, besides the ability to succeed, which I find fascinating to think about and discuss.

Perhaps both these options will become possible... maybe neither.

Why the sci-fi dream of cryonics never died

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