What’s the Story?
Cryopreservation, the practice of freezing bodies with the hope of future revival, has transitioned from a fringe concept to a captivating possibility for the world’s wealthiest. Mark House, a lawyer affiliated with the US-based Alcor Life Extension Foundation, reveals that the facility currently serves 1,400 members and has cryopreserved 230 individuals. Globally, about 500 people have undergone this process, with most residing in the United States.
Did You Know?
- Alcor Life Extension Foundation is one of the leading cryonics facilities, offering services since 1972.
- Walt Disney is often mistakenly believed to have been cryonically preserved. However, this is a myth.
Costly Immortality: A Luxury Affair
Cryopreservation comes with a hefty price tag, making it accessible primarily to the affluent. At Alcor, the cost of whole body cryopreservation is $220,000 (around ₹1.8 crore), while neuro cryopreservation, which involves freezing only the brain inside a severed head, is priced at $80,000 (roughly ₹67 lakh). These high costs reflect the intricate and advanced technology involved in the process.
Interesting Fact
- James Bedford, a psychology professor, was the first person to be cryopreserved in 1967. His body is still maintained by Alcor.
Wealth Preservation: Immortalizing Wealth
The super-rich aren’t just looking to preserve their lives but also their wealth. Estate lawyers like House are pioneering the concept of “revival trusts” to ensure that those who opt for cryopreservation can also secure their fortunes. Similar to dynasty trusts used in the US to bypass federal taxes when transferring large amounts of wealth, revival trusts allow the wealth to be passed down to oneself in the future.
Did You Know?
- Revival trusts are a new legal concept designed to work around current laws that prevent someone from being a beneficiary of their own trust.
Conundrums: Legal and Philosophical Questions
Cryopreservation and revival trusts raise profound philosophical and legal questions. Key queries include: Are you considered dead when cryonically preserved? If revived, are you legally the same person? From a legal perspective, someone cannot be a beneficiary of their own trust. However, the revived individual in the future can be.
Movie Reference
- In the movie “Vanilla Sky,” Tom Cruise’s character is cryonically preserved after a fatal accident, exploring the emotional and psychological ramifications of cryonics.
The Science Behind Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation involves cooling the body to extremely low temperatures to halt all biological processes, effectively pausing life. The idea is that future medical advancements may allow these bodies to be revived and cured of any ailments.
Did You Know?
- Cryonics borrows techniques from vitrification, a process used in reproductive medicine to freeze embryos and eggs.
Ethical Considerations
Cryonics isn’t without its controversies. Critics argue about the ethical implications of freezing and reviving humans. There’s also skepticism about whether the technology to revive cryopreserved bodies will ever exist.
Interesting Fact
- Robert Ettinger, known as the father of cryonics, introduced the idea in his book “The Prospect of Immortality” in 1962.
The Future of Cryopreservation
As technology advances, the dream of defying death through cryopreservation becomes more tangible, particularly for those with the financial means to afford it. Whether it’s a genuine shot at immortality or a high-tech fantasy remains to be seen, but for now, cryonics continues to capture the imagination and wallets of the world’s richest individuals.
Cryopreservation blends science fiction with real-world science, presenting an extraordinary frontier in the quest for immortality. While the ethical, legal, and technical challenges are immense, the concept remains a fascinating glimpse into a possible future where death is not the end but a long, cold pause.
Did You Know?
Some animals, like the Arctic ground squirrel, naturally undergo a form of cryopreservation during hibernation, surviving body temperatures that drop below freezing.
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