SOURCE FEATURES PAGE
NY Times Nanotech at National Interest Level 3
Alcor Asilomar Conference in June 2000 4
Staff A4M Conference 1999 10
Linda Chamberlain So. Cal. ACT Team “Dry Run” 18
Mike Perry New Alcor Patient Maintenance System 40
Fred Chamberlain CryoTransport Case Report, Part I 48
Editorial - “Growth”...... 2
Letters to the Editor ...... 3
Nanomedicine on Sale at Discount...... 14
The Donaldson Perspective...... 36
Book Review; The Computer and the Mind...... 37
Film Review - Bicentennial Man ...... 39 Alcor update - 16 Lifequest - 21
CONCERT Alcor Director Joins Nanotech Firm ...... 16 by Thomas K. Meyer...... 21 CONSTRUCTION SITE Alcor U.K. News Update ...... 17 by Linda Chamberlain...... 25 A PLACE BY THE SEA Alcor Membership Status ...... 17 by Fred Chamberlain...... 30
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 1 Growth Mark Your Calendars Today! June 17-18, 2000 is on Alcor’s Horizon The Fourth Alcor Conference For decades, amazement has been expressed by new Members who learned how few on Life ExtensionTechnologies others have elected cryostasis as an option and “safety net.” Register before March 1, The concept seems so self- evident, so reasonable, that 2000 and then make your Asilomar they cannot understand why so room reservations with few have made this choice. Asilomar immediately, to Conference Center At the same time, we have heard from these same people, be sure of on-site lodging. Northern California over and over, “We didn’t think it was actually being done yet!” Up to the time they visited Full Details on Pages Alcor, did they base their ideas 4 through 9, Including about cryotransport on poor Details on media exposure? Did they just Conference Location, rely on comments from others? Speaker Topics, Abstracts, At some point, then, did the “once is enough” idea give way and Registration Forms. to a more positive vision, that the future offers an endless For Latest Updates, adventure? See Alcor’s Website at By early 2001, Alcor’s http://www.alcor.org new contractor, BioTransport, with large “Conference” Inc., plans to engage in system- atic marketing, offering Link on Entry Page, cryostasis services openly and Maps of Area, positively. From this, we Offsite Lodging Info, and expect a geometric rise in Links to Asilomar- “short notice” operations, as Related Sites well as strong acceleration of Alcor Membership growth. cryonics is a quarterly publication of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation BioTransport will integrate
its operations with those of the Contents copyright © 2000 by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, except medical community as quickly Co-Editors where otherwise noted. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, its Board as possible, using new capital Fred & Linda Chamberlain of Directors, or its management. Our thanks to Lisa Lock, an Alcor Mem- for this as well as marketing ber, for detailed proof-reading and other editorial assistance with this issue. and technology development. Submissions may be sent via e-mail ([email protected] or [email protected]) in Volume 21:1 ASCII, Word, or PageMaker format. Mailed submissions should include a Still, the underlying message PC diskette with the file in any previously mentioned format (although printed text alone will be considered). All submitted media become property of the will be that cryostasis is a Alcor Life Extension Foundation unless accompanied by a self-addressed reasonable option, which a stamped envelope. The Alcor Life Extension Foundation assumes no re- 1st Qtr. 2000 sponsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or art. Send all corre- hundred years hence will be as spondence and submissions to:
conventional as CPR is now. Cryonics Magazine Survival and growth have Alcor Life Extension Foundation ISSN 1054-4305 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110 always gone together. Our goal Scottsdale, AZ 85260 is survival! Let’s Grow! about the cover CGI art by Tim Hubley Fred & Linda Chamberlain
2 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Letters to the Editors
Dear CRYONICS, averages; tell 100 people about Before I signed up in 1970, I felt the same as the writer of this letter something and though 99 may I want to see Alcor and cryon- ignore it, there’s a good chance to CRYONICS, talking about the ics in general grow; but I understand one individual won’t. I take my idea with many people. Some of that, as of this moment, about a own advice - I carry a copy of them were relatives with terminal thousand or so people are members CRYONICS all the time, it makes illness. None of them got in touch of Alcor. Hardly a trend. Maybe a great conversation piece: “Imag- with the existing groups of the day and none were suspended. there is some way we could push a ine that! A magazine about little. I call up all the local talk radio FREEZING people!” Only when my mother died shows and try to discuss cryonics and was not suspended for lack of with the hosts. No real response Sincerely, prearrangements, did I see the comes from this, but I’m stubborn. necessity to plan ahead; after that, Perhaps word of mouth is the Never T. Late I became energetically involved. Presently, those with active best way to inform people of the 910 Portland Place existence of cryonics; it is apparent Boulder, Colorado 80304 arrangements are perhaps one or that most are only very vaguely two in each million people (in the aware of it- cryonics is like the (Never T. Late is an actual name, legally U.S.). By the time one person in spacestation - “someone may be changed, according to the writer. This is each hundred chooses it, we will working on it.” There seems to be an increasingly common practice.) have grown by a factor of about a consensus that Walt Disney is in ten thousand. Over the next 30 to suspension, though he is not. Editor’s comment: 40 years, such a transition might I think we should swallow our take place. Keep carrying those fear of being rebuffed and tell Alcor’s membership is a bit issues of CRYONICS with you, everyone we meet about cryonics, short of 1,000, more like 500 (see and we’ll keep trying to make yes, EVERYONE. It’s the ‘law’ of elsewhere in the issue for figures.) them better “door openers!” (F) NANOTECHNOLOGY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL In the last issue of Cryonics A Clinton Initiative Tech stressing the importance of expanding basic research in both the we noted that on June 22, 1999, in a Science of Smallness physical and biological sciences. As Ralph Merkle and others appeared part of the speech, Clinton was to before the 106th Congress Sub- This was the title of an article by announce a plan to ask Congress to committee on Basic Science to John Markoff for the New York finance a National Nanotechnology testify concerning the potential of Times, published January 21, 2000 Initiative, which would encourage nanotechnology. A follow-up of on its website (URL at the lower left.) basic research in a wide range of Markoff noted that the Clinton nanotechnology-related areas. where that seems to be leading administration would soon announce Specifically, Markoff said, “The appeared in the New York Times an ambitious program to accelerate President will set out these ‘grand recently. It’s fascinating that the basic research in nanotechnology and challenges’: Shrinking the entire long-range goals of basic molecu- commented as follows: contents of the Library of Congress lar manufacturing are now being “Nanotechnology is widely into a device the size of a sugar cube; presented by a U.S. President as a considered an extremely promising assembling new materials from the area of science and engineering, but it ‘bottom up’ — from atoms and challenge, in a similar spirit to that has realized only limited commercial molecules; developing ultralight which launched the space industry. success to date.” materials that are 10 times as strong as steel; creating a new class of computer (See: http://www.nytimes.com/library/ Markoff’s report said President Clinton would make a speech at Cal tech/00/01/biztech/articles/21chip.html) (Continued on page 14)
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 3 June 17-18, 2000: Register Today! Fourth Alcor Conference on Life Extension Technologies www.alcor.org The world is changing Even aging itself is under rapidly. Only a few years very heavy attack by today’s ago, most people considered biological and medical the cloning of mammals to be technologies. no more than science fiction. Repeated successes in this The Fourth Alcor Conference area, however, have made it a on Life Extension Technologies reality today. is a meeting of scientists, technologists, and individuals More important, medical who are working in fields technologies like cloning and leading toward the expansion the use of embryonic stem of human health and longevity. cells to regenerate tissues, promise to make it possible This conference will cover to reverse all the major topics relevant to degenerative diseases within these pursuits. our own lifetimes.
Primary Sponsor: Alcor Life Extension Foundation Co-Sponsor: Foresight Institute Academic Sponsors: American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Medicina Interna Geronto Geriatria y Medicina Anti-Envejecimiento, A.C. Corporate Sponsors: Patrons of the Conference:
Principal Sponsor: Steve Bridge Fred Chamberlain Future Electronics Linda Chamberlain Event Sponsors: David Greenstein, OD James Halperin Foundation Ravin Jain, MD Voxtran, Inc. Eric King General Sponsor: Philip Longpre BioTransport, Inc. Gary Meade, Esq. Irene Olberz Supporting Sponsor: Charles Reddeck NanoTechnology Magazine Michael Riskin, CPA, PhD Hoffman Cryonics Insurance Corrine Serra Basic Sponsor: Michael Tecca Life Extension Vitamin Supplies Austin Tupler
4 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Asilomar Conference Center Monterey Peninsula, Northern California, USA
Large, vaulted ceiling, natural wood dining room
Modern, stone/wood condos- walking distance to beach Conversation areas throughout condos On-site Lodging and Meals Package: To Register for Conference: Includes three excellent cafeteria-style meals Includes Social on Friday evening, June 16, 2000, each day, maid service, and use of after-dinner Panel on Saturday evening, and swimming pool. Prices dictated presentations on Saturday and Sunday. The by accommodations selected. Conference will conclude with two tracks on Non-conference guest reservations accepted. Sunday afternoon, June 18.
Why Register Early? Asilomar is a special, secluded environment that is highly sought after for confer- ences. They tend to sell out all rooms far in advance. Alcor was on a waiting list for one year before we re- ceived a confirmed date for this conference. Part of our contract with Asilomar is that we need to estimate the number of lodging rooms and meals 180 days in advance in order to make them available to attendees, and we have to guarantee the number of rooms 30 days in advance (or incur charges). Those who make reservations after March 1, 2000, may not be able to obtain on-site lodging.
Staying on-site at Asilomar is a memorable experience. Once you are there, meals are included and very convenient. There is no driving and no hurry. Everything is close and convenient. Attendees who want to bring their families find it to be a wonderful vacation for non-attendees. Attendees and their families can come early or stay late to enjoy the general Monterey Peninsula and take advantage of Asilomar's economical food and lodging package. But reservations must be made well in advance.
Don't be disappointed by trying to make reservations at the last minute only to learn that they no longer have accommodations that will fit your needs - or worse, that they are sold out completely. Save money, as well, by registering for the Conference in advance. Registration forms available on-line. Do it today.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 5 Speakers DNA Microarrays, or “gene chips,” are one of the most powerful methods in biotechnology for simultaneously Glenna Burmer, MD, PhD analyzing the expression of thousands of human genes in LifeSpan BioSciences human diseases. Data will be presented on genes that are up- regulated or down-regulated in aging, those that are drug Identifying Aging Genes targets or potential diagnostic markers, and those that are by Using DNA Microarrays clearly aging associated. This technology is changing the way discoveries are being made in both anti-aging and medicine in general.
Fred Chamberlain, BEE Bioimpedance is an electrical characteristic of biological structures where tissues with intact cell membranes behave Alcor Life Extension Foundation very differently from tissues that have undergone cell membrane breakdown. Means of comparatively evaluating Bioimpedance cryostasis protocols, as well as monitoring and comparing specific cryotransport operations, will be discussed.
K. Eric Drexler, PhD Emerging nanotechnologies will lead to cellular-scale Foresight Institute robotic surgical devices able to sense and repair tissues The Conservative Treatment with molecular precision. Those of us who stay intact of Transient Inviability; or, until this technology arrives could achieve and keep good Your Computer Crashed — health indefinitely. Shall I Throw It Out? A broad range of problems in cryobiology is being probed. Gregory M. Fahy, PhD A central aspect is our attempt to demonstrate successful 21st Century Medicine cryopreservation of mammalian organs, particularly the kidney. Construction of perfusion equipment, new surgical approaches, our new surgical staff, and initial results of Cryobiological Research at perfusion with novel, low-toxicity vitrification solutions 21st Century Medicine will be described.
The definition of “death” has changed radically in the West in the last thirty years. Cryostasis will be a part of a James J. Hughes, PhD group of therapeutic modalities that will force a new Univ.Chicago, Dept. Medicine personal identity-based concept of rights. One possible outcome might be that the resuscitated cryonaut would be Our Evolving Definitions legally and phenomenologically different from the person of Death: Looking Ahead who was placed into cryostasis.
Human beings are made from molecules, and how those Ralph Merkle, PhD molecules are arranged makes the difference between good health and bad, between youth and old age, and between life Zyvex Corporation and death. With nanomedicine, we should be able to rearrange molecular structures in most of the ways permitted by physical Nanomedicine and Cryostasis law, including the ablity to reverse freezing injury, saving the lives of most of those put into cryostasis today.
Circadian rhythms are well-known scientific phenomena. Richard Morales, MD Recently, we have learned how to reset our internal clocks Private Practice with diet, exercise, sleep, and hormonal manipulation. Some of the breakthroughs in this area and their application Setting Your Internal Clock to anti-aging medicine will be discussed.
6 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Fourth Alcor Conference on Life Extension Technologies
Robert Newport, MD The fear of death interferes with an individual’s rational process, BioTransport, Inc. especially in relation to acting to preserve and extend life, and possi- bly via cryotransport, be resuscitated. The work of Stanislow Groff, The Fear of Death and MD, my own personal working with depressed and anxious patients in Its Impact on the a private practice of psychiatry, and a review of current research on the Rational Process effects of stress on early brain development will be discussed.
The gene expression profile of the aging process was analyzed in mice, Tomas A. Prolla, PhD revealing that aging resulted in a differential gene expression pattern University of Wisconsin indicative of a marked stress response and lower expression of meta- bolic and biosynthetic genes. Most alterations were either completely Gene Expression Profile or partially prevented by caloric restriction, the only intervention of the Aging Process known to retard aging in mammals. Gene expression profiling of the aging process provides a new tool to test aging interventions.
Gregory Stock, PhD Long before biological reconstruction of a frozen body (or brain) is UCLA, School of feasible, technology would have to advance sufficiently for uploading to Medicine occur. Moreover, such developments will be sufficiently powerful to dramatically transform the world in a way that would make biology a far Who’s Afraid less interesting substrate for life than silicon and its progeny. The incentives for a biological rather than a technological awakening from of Freezer Burn? cryostasis are unlikely ever to exist, so cryonauts — if they are someday resuscitated — are almost certainly bidding adieu to corporeal existence.
Natasha Vita-More An after-dinner presentation by Natasha Vita-More on her current Author, Artist book project followed by a panel discussion. Many have written about the technologies of extending life but not why we would want to live A Talent for Living: longer. There is an art to living - how we maintain our well being and Cracking the how we bring aesthetics into our lives. We can approach life merely as a series of events or as a creative and challenging exploration. The Myths of Mortality panel will examine the cultural myths preventing mainstream accep- tance of extreme life extension and discuss how to crack them.
Technologies such as the identification and isolation of pluripotent Michael West, PhD stem cells, genetic and cell engineering techniques, and advanced in- Advanced Cell somatic cell nuclear transfer, will lead to means for developing Technology tissue therapies that will overcome the present difficulties related to immune compatibility and graft rejection, and thus the requirements Human Therapeutic for use of immunosuppressive drugs and/or immunomodulatory Cloning protocols. These technologies set the stage for human therapeutic cloning as a potentially limitless source of cells for tissue engineer- ing and transplantation medicine.
Antifreeze proteins and ice nucleating proteins found in nature are Brian Wowk, PhD able to respectively prevent or catalyze the formation of ice while 21st Century present in very small quantities. It has recently been demonstrated Medicine that synthetic molecules are able to perform similar functions. The availability of inexpensive synthetic molecules for blocking ice Molecular Control formation opens new frontiers for control of ice in industry and of Ice Formation agriculture and for eliminating ice in cryopreservation.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 7 Conference Registration
The Fourth Alcor Conference on Life Extension Technologies
Print or Type - Fax or Mail to: Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Dr. Suite 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 FAX: 480-922-9027 VOICE: 877-GO ALCOR (toll-free) www.alcor.org (Register On-line)
Name: ______Day Phone (______) ______Last First MI
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How did you hear about this conference? [ ] Alcor publications [ ] Alcor Web Site [ ] NanoTechnology Magazine [ ] Mailing [ ] A4M magazine [ ] NanoTechnology Magazine
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This Conference Registration fee is in addition to the cost of the lodging Register Early and Save! package, which must be reserved 30% Discount off any fee below for Alcor Life Members directly through Asilomar (see next 10% Discount off any fee below for Regular Alcor Members page or see the Alcor website). Make checks payable to Alcor. Per Person If Registered: Checks and bank drafts must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. Early Bird Special $250 before March 1, 2000 General Registration $300 before June 1, 2000 Because our own staff needs to travel At Door $400 after June 10, 2000 to Asilomar, we cannot make on-line or fax registrations after Friday, June 9, 2000. After that time, registrations must be made at the door.
For your convenience, it is not Fee x Number of Attendees = Amount Enclosed $ ______recommended that registrations be mailed after June 1, 2000. Any registrations not received prior to June 9 will not be processed (and Use your VISA or MasterCard to register by phone (480)905-1906. attendees will have to re-register at the door, at that price. Name as it appears on credit card: ______
VISA or MasterCard Number: ______Refunds of registration fees are subject to a $50 administrative fee, Expiration Date (Month/Year): ______which must be requested in writing, postmarked before May 15, 2000.
8 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Asilomar Use Only ASILOMAR CONFERENCE CENTER HOUSING REGISTRATION FORM Please type or print clearly. One form per person please. Name of conference: ALCOR FOUNDATION #232390 Arrive: June 16, 2000 Depart: June 19, 2000
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HOUSING RATES & INFORMATION Full Time Participation ONLY Rates are for Three (3) night(s) and include all meals beginning with dinner on the first day and ending with lunch on the last day. Check in: 3PM Check out: 12 noon Housing Type: Please indicate first and second choice. Rooms are assigned on a first come, first served basis. If your room choice is not available, you will be reassigned and the appropriate room charge will apply.
RATES ARE PER PERSON & INCLUDE HOUSING, TAX, AND MEALS FOR COMPLETE CONFERENCE Single Room Double Room ¾ to a room Youth Rate (per person) (per person) (per adult) (Ages 3 – 17) Deluxe $413.00 $260.00 $212.00 $155.00 Historic $332.00 $230.00
_____ Please assign a roommate for me _____ I will share a room with______(Your roommate’s registration must be received 30 days prior to arrival or another roommate will be assigned)
Vegetarian _____ Disability access required______Disability ______To secure your room reservation for above dates, mail this form with check for full payment by April 14, 2000, or fax with Credit Card # If you need additional information about Asilomar call (831) 372-8016 Asilomar Conference Center P.O. Box 537, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 Fax: (831) 642-4261 PURCHASE ORDERS and TELEPHONE RESERVATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! FAXED RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED ONLY WITH CREDIT CARD PAYMENT. PLEASE FAX ANY CHANGES
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1. No smoking allowed in sleeping or meeting rooms. Also there are no TVs or phones in the rooms. 2. All rates are for full-time participation and include housing, tax and meals. 3. Any charges accrued with the processing of foreign checks or sending faxes overseas will be the responsibility of the conference attendee. 4. All cancellations are subject to a $25 per person processing fee. Cancellation after April 14 is subject to forfeiture of all fees if space is not resold. In the case of cancellation on the day of arrival or early departure, all fees are forfeited.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 9 A4M December 1999 Annual Conference of the American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine
Overview and those who see the emergence of preserving biological structure of fundamental medical treatments in the event of irreversible cardiac At the A4M Conference in Las for aging and expect to benefit Vegas, December 11-13, 1999, the personally from this. While sup- world’s largest association of anti- posed “cures for aging” are as old aging physicians heard new ideas as Methuselah, A4M ushers in a on how molecular nanotechnology new dimension, where the promise of future science and practical Robert will contribute to the practice of Bradbury medicine over the next half century. medicine of today are harder to This annual conference (at the distinguish from each other. Tropicana Hotel in 1999) was Nanotechnology had been attended by more than two thou- presented at A4M before, so the sand physicians and scientists as refinement of this for the purpose well as interested lay people and of medical applications was quite arrest, through cryotransport. was the seventh of its kind so far. natural to the attendees. Robert Bradbury Tropicana Nanomedicine “Genomes, Biobots, and Hotel Nanobots: Implications for 21st Century Medicine” A recently published book by Robert A. Freitas Jr., the first Robert Bradbury spoke on this volume of three, received a lot of subject early Sunday morning, and attention. Two speakers presented the presentation was well attended. talks in which this book became Bradbury’s topics moved smoothly the focus. The idea of from gene chip assessments of nanomedicine was presented as a health to “biobots” (modified plausible pathway to extended microorganisms with useful health A4M Conferences started in lifespans as well as a radical way roles), to “nanobots” (manufac- the wake of FDA acceptance of the to survive accidents. Although the tured devices fully under software use of Human Growth Hormome two talks approached the topic of control). (HGH) as a treatment for “aging.” nanomedicine from different Bradbury described Robert While this seemed like a perfectly technological points of view, both Freitas’s conceptual device, the reasonable step, given the benefits of them strongly endorsed the idea that could be demonstrated for it, “respirocyte,” in some detail. the outcome has been a shift in [The repirocyte is conceived as a thinking to characterize aging as a tiny automated module, smaller disease, rather than a “natural order than a red cell (design diameter of events” to be accepted and even Robert A. is one micron), holding reserves Freitas Jr. of oxygen at extremely high welcomed by those who grew old. pressures (1000 atm). The Part scientific congress and functional requirement will be part trade show, A4M conferences for it to release oxygen into the serve both medical professionals local area of the blood stream
10 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 above) a projection that by the year 2060, average lifespans will exceed a millennium. There was a point to all of this, and it turned out to be cryon- ics. Bradbury, in wrapping up, strongly advocated cryonics arrangements for older persons Respirocytes (and pointed out that even younger individuals might need it). He (See: http://www.foresight.org/ discussed Robert Freitas’s book Nanomedicine/Respirocytes.html) (Nanomedicine) in detail. At the Alcor booth, our stock virtually indefinitely, unlike red of Nanomedicine, Volume I was and scavenge carbon dioxide in cells which have a natural exhausted in what amounted to a the event of cardiac arrest. No lifespan of 4 months. This device blood will need to circulate in cannot be built today. However, “feeding frenzy” of purchasing in order to sustain life, for many when future advances in the the minutes following the first of hours. This advance is expected engineering of molecular these presentations. By the time the to vastly reduce deaths from machine systems permit accidents, as well as from SCD; its construction, the artificial dust had cleared, we had paid “sudden coronary death”. The respirocyte may find dozens of orders for 42+ more copies. summary from the website cited applications in therapeutic and above is as follows: critical care medicine, and elsewhere.”] Ralph Merkle “This paper presents a prelimi- “Nanomedicine” nary design for a simple nanomedical device that func- Robert Bradbury presented a tions as an artificial erythrocyte, flow chart indicating that sources The following day, Ralph duplicating the oxygen and of mortality will start to “dry up” Merkle (Alcor Director as well as carbon dioxide transport the key coordinator of Alcor’s functions of red cells while over the next few decades, to a largely eliminating the need to point where probabilities of death Scientific and Medical Advisory manage carbonic acidity because will shrink, leading to (as stated Board) spoke on the impact of CO2 is carried mechanically, nanotechnology on health care rather than chemically, in the blood. The baseline respirocyte through nanomedicine. can deliver 236 times more In addition to a detailed oxygen to the tissues per unit treatment of nanotechnology in volume than natural red cells, and enjoys a similar advantage terms of its fundamentals, Ralph in carbon dioxide transport. presented his interpretation of our current-day cryotransport program “The respirocyte is constructed of tough diamondoid material, as a “clinical trial,” in which the employs a variety of chemical, only choices are to be part of the thermal and pressure sensors, experimental group (arrangements has an onboard nanocomputer for cryotransport) or to remain as which enables the device to display many complex responses part of the “control” group (this is and behaviors, can be remotely the easy choice—just do nothing). reprogrammed via external For the physician group, this acoustic signals to modify existing or to install new proto- was exactly the right message. On cols, and draws power from the heels of Bradbury’s talk the abundant natural serum glucose previous day, the attendees seemed supplies, thus is capable of operating intelligently and Ralph Merkle even more receptive to the idea of
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 11 extended lifespans. Several of the This too probably contributed BioTransport directors were on to the number of copies distributed. hand also. Those present most of the time included Fred & Linda Chamberlain, Russ Cheney, Bruce Cohen, Kat Cotter, D.O., Robert Newport, M.D., and Karla Steen. Ralph Merkle, a director of Alcor and one of the speakers on Nanomedicine, was at the Alcor Bruce Cohen & visitor booth frequently. The author of cryonics as an “unproven, yet still Nanomedicine, Robert A. Freitas rational approach to conditions Jr., was also present to sign books Karla Steen & visitor that cannot be treated by present after both of the talks on this topic. day medicine.” Robert Bradbury, whose first Alcor/BioTransport As with Robert Bradbury’s presentation stirred up the initial earlier talk, Merkle emphasized surge of traffic to the Alcor booth, Booth at A4M the importance of Robert Freitas’s also spent much of his free time Nanomedicine and presented an with us. Although the booth space was overview of its contents. As a paid for by Alcor, BioTransport result, many additional attendees contributed to the booth effort and later visited the Alcor booth, thus was allowed “equal time and asking, like others the previous space.” day, about buying copies. Bruce Cohen, as a Director of BioTransport, Inc., acted as the Distribution of the primary coordinator of booth preparations. He provided a large, 4th Qtr. 1999 high-luminance readerboard, Issue of Cryonics which could be easily seen from the far side of the exhibit area, with scrolling messages about both Alcor staff members and Rob Freitas and Linda Chamberlain Alcor and BioTransport. volunteers at the booth handed out The support of the speakers BioTransport’s PowerPoint copies of the current issue of on Nanomedicine and its author no projector cycled high-intensity Cryonics to a receptive flow of doubt helped to convey a picture slides at the booth, inviting those physicians and other seekers of of high intensity and intelligence who passed to participate in a to those who stopped by. Also, the network of physicians (see next sheer numbers of other Alcor and page.) Graphics from within BioTransport people must have Nanomedicine were also projected, contributed to the rate at which arousing interest in the book. copies of Cryonics were handed A new ATP (Air Transportable out and discussed with those who Perfusion) System constructed by passed by. BioTransport, Inc., was exhibited The cover of that issue (you as a working display, circulating a may recall) was captioned: (blue colored) liquid to and from a Nanomedicine, Theme “patient simulator.” Questions on Kat Cotter, D.C. & visitors for a New Millennium this opened the door to discussions
12 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 of Alcor’s standby, transport and network, which allows terminal a practical standpoint, Alcor will cryoprotection protocols. Since patients to be referred for further be the only likely source of refer- many of those who stopped by evaluation if appropriate. The goal were physicians familiar with is to help more of those consider- extracorporeal bypass, this display ing cryostasis to remain alive. In helped generate additional interest reciprocal fashion, we expect that and confidence that our procedures those who accept such referrals are were not simply “straight freezing” more likely to suggest that their or primitive operations performed truly terminal patients consider the by morticians. cryotransportoption. The physician’s network idea arose in BioTransport, and Robert Newport, M.D. (a Director of BioTransport) conducted most of Russ Cheney the discussions of this concept with the attendees. A physician’s rals to such a network in the near network also serves Alcor’s needs future. (most Alcor Members who fall ill Once services are offered to will need to explore other options the public by BioTransport, start- before entering hospice status). ing in 2001, it is likely that most of In view of this dual purpose, it the traffic in the physician referral Robert Newport, M.D. & visitor made sense to promote the network will shift to BioTransport. physicians’s network as a joint effort of Alcor and BioTransport, Papers Given Physician Network using Alcor’s greater credibility (length of existence, numbers of A wide variety of talks were members, Medical and Scientific Several dozen M.D.’s regis- presented, some theoretical but Advisory Boards, etc.). And, from tered for a physician referral many on a practical level, for other practitioners or those who might be seeking treatment for difficult illnesses. We wish we could cover this comprehensively for you here, but in the absence of that we can at least point you toward the A4M website for more details and a preview of what’s coming next December (A4M’s Conference for Year-2000 will be at the new Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, featuring canals inside with gondo- las, etc.).
www.antiagingexpo.com and Alcor Booth (L-R) Linda Chamberlain, Ralph Merkle, Kat Cotter (facing away), www.worldhealth.net Carol Shaw, and Robert Newport, M.D.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 13 Nanotechnology Initiative followed this with an observation that to merge in the public mind. Perhaps (continued from page 3) it is, “rapidly developing as a promis- this could hasten investments in the ing approach to a wide range of fundamental technologies we need for chip millions of times as fast as sciences and technologies. For the recovery of cryostasis patients. today’s Pentium 3; doubling the example, researchers at both corpora- Markoff’s report mentioned that efficiency of solar cells; using gene tions and universities have made the National Science Foundation, the and drug-delivery technologies to significant strides in the last year Pentagon, the Energy Department, detect and target cancerous cells; and toward building computers that would NASA, the Commerce Department, developing new technologies to be several orders of magnitude and the National Institutes of Health remove the smallest contaminants smaller and more powerful than are all financing nanotechnology from water and air.” today’s silicon-based machines.” research. He pointed out that the new According to Markoff, this will The report did emphasize that National Nanotechnology Initiative double federal spending in the field nanotechnology was perceived as calls for increasing spending by these over the next five years. Clinton’s having “great potential in biomedicine agencies — as much as 400 percent in plan was expected to call for in- in applications ranging from improved the case of NASA — in next year’s creased spending in nanotechnology drug delivery to disease detection.” budget. Markoff was thus able to research to $497 million in the coming Robert A. Freitas Jr.’s Nanomedicine conclude as follows: fiscal year, about 70 percent of it was not specifically mentioned, but “There has been an explosion of going to university scientists for basic the comment helps pave the way for nanotechnology-oriented research research. more interest in Freitas’ book. proposals coming from university Thomas A. Kalil, special assistant Markoff generalized concerning campuses in the last year, a govern- to the president for economic policy, nanotechnology, saying at one point, ment official said, and it has only been was reported to say: “nanotechnology has already created possible to finance a fraction of them “Nanotechnology is a perfect billion-dollar markets for devices like under the current spending limits. example of the kind of investments ink-jet printer heads and accelerom- “Spending under the new pro- that President Clinton and Vice eters for automobiles”. Then he gram will be broken down into President Gore believe are necessary returned to more long range goals, financing long-term fundamental for America’s future. It’s long term, saying, “researchers are optimistic research; support for grand challenge high risk and high payoff.” about even bigger payoffs. For efforts; the creation of new research Markoff’s use of the term example, researchers believe they are centers; the establishment of a re- nanotechnology included a wide on the track of new materials that are search infrastructure, and the study of range of advances rather than funda- as much as 10 times as strong as ethical, legal and societal implications mental breakthroughs in molecular steel, yet weigh only a fraction of it.” of nanotechnology.” manufacturing. He characterized Current advances of a practical nanotechnology as “the ability to nature and the ultimate promise of manipulate and move matter,” and nanotechnology are thus continuing Nanomedicine, Volume I: Basic Capabilities NANOMEDICINE by Robert A. Freitas Jr. “ON THE WEB” AT (The first of a three-volume technology series) www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine and (The text to the right is www.nanomedicine.com reprinted from Volume 20, No. 4 of Cryonics) This is an extraordinary book in many ways, but particularly from the point of view of the open statement of possible application to the recovery of persons cryotransported to the future. With the publisher's permission, we are reprinting the following final paragraphs of the "Afterword" section. Some of the ideas will be familiar to you, but they are stated with a depth of background (3,728 references) unlike anything we have seen before (the extraordinary detail of the preceding chapters, in which the scope of application to medical repair becomes strikingly apparent).
Now, you may enjoy the conclusion, even before you probe the depths of what Nanomedicine has to offer. We think anyone with even a slightly positive outlook on the future of cryotransport will want a copy of this book. And, anyone who wants to see what medicine will look like as the next few decades roll by, will want to have a copy too!
14 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY NANOMEDICINE, VOLUME I Use your VISA or MasterCard to purchase: Call 877-GO-ALCOR (877-462-5267), fax this order sheet to 480-922-9027, or mail to: Alcor, 7895 E. Acoma Dr. #110, Scottsdale, AZ 84260. Number of books ______x price ______= ______(FROM THE "AFTERWORD," WITH PERMISSION) Plus $4.00/book handling and shipping (US only) = ______"A New Medical Technology and a New Era of Medicine" Add 20% for shipping overseas = ______"We are left, then, with a fairly clear set of conclusions. Living systems exist. Living systems can usually heal and cure Total = ______their own injuries, unless those injuries are severe enough to prevent the living system from functioning. Too often, we suffer injuries that are indeed this severe. Alcor offers a 10% discount to all on this important new book. Molecular nanotechnology is feasible. As Alcor members receive a 20% discount! (Indicate Alcor No.) we master the ability to design molecular machines that can continue to function Don't miss out -- order yours today! when the living system around them has Full retail price $89.00 (10% discount = $80.00) (20% discount = $71.00) failed, those molecular machines can restore the function of the living system. They can support and sustain the pro- Name: ______cesses of the living system until that living system can once again function on Mailing Address: ______its own. Whether this is done by a temporary assist from respirocytes or by any of the myriad other techniques City: ______State: ______Zip: ______discussed in Nanomedicine, the underly- ing message is clear: life and health can email: ______be restored and sustained in the face of greater injury, greater damage, greater trauma, and greater dysfunction than has phone: (______) ______Alcor # ______ever before been realized. This will usher in a new era in medicine--an era in which Name as it appears on credit card: ______VISA or MasterCard Number: ______Expiration Date (Month/Year): ______Signature: ______
health and long life will be the usual state us down even in the prime of our lives. of affairs while sickness, debility and They do not always wait their turn and death will be mercifully rare exceptions. politely arrive only when expected. How “The future capabilities of can today's dying patient take advantage Robert A. Freitas Jr. nanomedicine give hope and inspiration of a future medical technology that is as to those of us who still have decades of yet only described in a handful of [Rob will be signing copies of life to look forward to, but some are not theoretical publications? How can we Nanomedicine at Alcor’s so fortunate. Many others who rightfully preserve the physical structure of our Conference next June as well should live several decades more might bodies well enough to permit that future as discussing his ideas on an find that chance cuts short their expected medical technology to restore our health? time. Heart attacks and cancer can strike informal basis.] (Continued on Page 54)
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 15 Alcor’s Mission: The Preservation of Individual Lives Alcor Update Medical Director: Thomas Munson, MD
Medical Advisory Board: G. Mario Isidron, MD Ravin Jain, MD Anthony Pizarro, MD Robert R. Newport, MD Alcor Director
Scientific Joins Nanotech Firm Advisory Board: K. Eric Drexler, PhD Bart Kosko, PhD James B. Lewis, PhD Ralph Merkle, PhD Marvin Minsky, PhD Noted Nanotechnologist Dr. Ralph Merkle joins Zyvex PARC after ten years was difficult, but the Patient Care chance to get involved in a serious startup Trustees: in such a major role was irresistible." David Brandt-Erickson Zyvex LLC announced in a press release Gary S. Mead, Esq dated October 8, 1999, that Dr. Ralph Merkle has spoken about nanotechnology Carlos Mondragon Merkle has joined the company in the to numerous groups, including the World Warren Robertson, CPA newly created position of Principal Fellow. Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Robert A. Schwarz and the U.S. Congress. He presented his Alcor Board of Dr. Merkle is a leading proponent of the most recent paper, "Molecular building developing field of nanotechnology. He blocks and development strategies for Directors: is also known for co-inventing public key molecular nanotechnology" at the Seventh Stephen Bridge cryptography, winning the Kanellakis Foresight Conference on Molecular Linda Chamberlain Award from the ACM in 1997. He has Nanotechnology, held in1999 at the Westin Hugh Hixon published a number of important papers on Hotel in Santa Clara, California. Ralph Merkle, PhD Gary Meade, Esq nanotechnology, last year winning the Michael Riskin, CPA, PhD prestigious Feynman Prize. About Zyvex
Advisors to the Jim Von Ehr, President & CEO of Zyvex, Zyvex was started in mid-1997 with the Alcor Board: in Richardson, Texas, said "We’ve known goal of building the key tool for creating Ralph for several years, and are absolutely molecular nanotechnology, the assembler. Kathleen Cotter, DC thrilled to have a person of his stature join That device is expected to revolutionize David Greenstein, OD Joe Hovey us. His research has pointed to a number of manufacturing by building atomically Carlos Mondragon promising mechanisms by which precise materials and machines for little Judy Muhlestein nanotechnology might be achieved, and in more than the cost of the raw materials Mark Muhlestein conjunction with our excellent research and energy that goes into them. Such Robert R. Newport, MD scientists and laboratory, I’m quite con- machines could manufacture extremely Stephen Van Sickle fident we’ll achieve our nanotechnology strong nanocomposite materials, inexpen- Alcor Officers: goals." sive solar cells, or even medical nanorobots that might someday cure most President: Dr. Merkle, commenting on the move, said diseases and control or reverse aging. The Fred Chamberlain "Nanotechnology is developing more privately held company is engaged in Vice President: Stephen Bridge rapidly than expected. I’ve been looking for research and development of molecular Treasurer: a place where I can get more directly nanotechnology, developing what it Michael Riskin, CPA, PhD involved in making it happen, and Zyvex believes to be the three key technologies Secretary: has demonstrated their total commitment to for the field: mechano-chemistry, Linda Chamberlain that goal. The decision to leave Xerox nanopositioning, and system design.
16 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Alcor U.K. News Update Alcor
Alcor U.K. Website: Alcor U.K. Members Membership Status are being asked to provide a photo of themselves for the website, which is now being set up. Please email to David Alcor has 488 Suspension Members (including 105 Flude
Alcor and themselves by putting a link to www.alcor.org Subscribers Subscribers Applicants MembersApplicants on their sites. Most of our new members come from Members people who visit the sites on the internet. Country Country Argentina 0 0 1 New Zealand 0 0 1 Alcor Europe Internet Newsgroup: Australia 13 1 6 Russia 0 0 4 Austria 1 0 1 South Africa 0 0 1 Dalibor den Otter of the Netherlands Group has set up a Brazil 1 0 1 Spain 6 0 0 NewsGroup for European Members. To learn more, please Canada 12 5 14 Sri Lanka 0 0 1 email Dalibor at
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 17 Southern California ACT Team Carries Out Dry Run CryoTransport
by Linda Chamberlain, Assistant CryoTransport Manager
On Sunday, October 24, 1999, mem- bers of the Southern California ACT Team carried out a training exercise coordinated by Robert Newport, MD. This was a mock cryotransport begin- ning with a “call” from Alcor Central (part of the exercise) and including all aspects of cryotransport up to washout.
This training exercise will be part of all future certification training and continuing education for ACT-B (Basic) and ACT-A (Advanced) classes, as “Module 6” (there were previously five Modules: Coordina- tion and Communication, Infection Control, External Cooling and Car- diopulmonary Support, Cryotransport Dr. Kathleen Cotter checks the Thumper while Regina Pancake sets up the Medications, and Checklists and portable ice bath (PIB) and spray cooling device (SCD). Operations Management).
Module 6 will allow trainees to bring whole picture before actually having Dr. Newport developed a scenario together the separate elements into a to perform their skills in the field. prior to the exercise that would not
Diana Marks, Russell Cheney, and Dr. Team moves patient into portable ice bath. Cotter discuss medications.
18 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 only challenge the team members’ ability to carry out their skills but also require them to be resourceful in unexpected and stressful situations.
The team knew that they were going to participate in the development of this new module. They had been told to study their manuals and be pre- pared to carry out a dry run involving the entire transport process, but they were given no details in advance. They gathered at the home of Russell Cheney, the Southern California ACT Coordinator, ready for action.
Dr. Newport’s scenario definitely produced heightened stress among the team members when the call came in from Alcor Central that (1) Dr. Newport himself had had a heart attack (they would not have him to lead the team); and worse (2) Alcor Central was already involved in a Regina Pancake, Peter Voss, Louise Murray, and Russell Cheney work on preparing the medications (left) while Dr. Cotter examines the patient (Dr. Newport), and Russ Cheney cryotransport on the East Coast and and Michael Riskin bring the portable ice bath into the imaginary emergency room. had deployed all of their personnel to that location (they were really on (clad in a wet suit and prepared to be placed their own, with only their own MODULE SIX: into the icy water of the portable ice bath knowledge and skills to rely on). when the time came) was laid out in the REALISM IN imaginary emergency room on Russell Despite initial shock and hesitation, CRYOTRANSPORTT Cheney’s patio. the team organized and moved out to rescue their patient: Dr. Newport Michael Riskin, PhD, a team member who is a professional psychologist with exten- sive counseling experience, was called upon to communicate with the attending physi- cian (also played by Dr. Newport, when he was not being the patient) by telephone while the Alcor team drove to the hospital.
Concluding the exercise, participants spent an hour discussing the operation, what went well, what did not go well, and how to do things even better the next time, real situa- tion or mock exercise. In the future all certified ACTs will have at least one Module 6 dry run each year.
Fred and Linda Chamberlain from Alcor Central participated in the exercise by taking photos, evaluating the team mem- bers, and participating in the final review.
Clockwise from left: Michael Riskin, Dr. Cotter, Russell Cheney, Diana Marks, Regina Pancake, Louise Murray, and Peter Voss participate in post exercise dis- cussion and review (not shown are Dr. Newport, Linda and Fred Chamberlain).
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 19 New Newsletter of Alcor U.K. Group (See Discussion on Page 17)
20 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Visions of the Present, Visions of the Future, Visions of Unbounded Life LifeQuest Fiction, including stories reprinted from the late 1980’s
Most of the stories which follow appeared in LifeQuest, a semi-annual collection of life extension fiction, from May 1987 to November 1990. They ranged from practical cryotransport dilemmas to far-reaching possibilities of uploading, nanotechnology, and the deep-time aspects of living in space colonies. The contributors comprised a rapidly broadening group of authors at the time publication ceased in 1990.
Now, in a special section of each issue of Cryonics, we bring you reprints from past issues of LifeQuest, along with new stories contributed by authors from our wide readership and other sources. If you are a professional science fiction writer, or even if you are not, we invite you to submit your stories for possible inclusion. In this issue, LifeQuest welcomes its first new author, Thomas K. Meyer, with a story (CONCERT) to help us better appreciate ourselves and the “fix” we’re in at this point in human history!
Table of Contents
CONCERT by Thomas K. Meyer (Original Publication) ...... 21
CONSTRUCTION SITE By Linda Chamberlain From Issue #1, May 1987 ...... 25 CONCERT A PLACE BY THE SEA by Thomas K. Meyer by Fred Chamberlain From Issue #2, Nov. 1987 ...... 30 Pi-Ling 23 adjusted her swivelchair and watched as the fossil, officially an ‘ancient,’ arose. She consulted deep memory and realized BACK ISSUES OF LIFEQUEST that she had interviewed him as a student some 235 years earlier. His Issues #1 & #2 are already real name was the antique “John,” a bizarre-sounding word of biblical “On the Web” ...... 35 origins, though he had changed it early in the 24th century.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 21 The crowd hushed as he made IV, had engineered the first mass the steps to the stage. People his way to the stage. His appear- thoughtlink, intertwining the stared, people flinched. Pi-Ling’s ance was startling, for he was an thoughts and feelings of the musi- unease grew exponentially. This early caucanegroid melange, utterly cian with those of the audience wasn’t right. lacking in oriental features. His members. Ten of the century’s John picked up Ramju’s skin had been toned in the latest most creative artists had woven cerebral transmitter and fitted the fashion and his hair had been magical tales of sound and thought delicate ring around his neck. Its genetically altered and straightened - sleekpipe, guitar, intensiharp and luminescence exaggerated his centuries earlier. But his broad dooldrums playfully intertwined curious facial features and several nose and rounded eyes were decid- with the memories of the musicians audience members chuckled. Then edly original. He was a recluse, Pi- - schoolyard slights, lovely sun- he made his way to the back of the Ling knew, like virtually all re- rises, annoyances of the bureau- stage, into the shadows. For an maining fossils and she wondered cracy, rapid-motion flower open- agonizingly long minute he was what might have brought him out ings, wretched teleport delays. The invisible. Then - there he was, of seclusion. excitement had left Pi-Ling a bit pulling a massive black object He was a good man. A good flushed, a bit dizzy. toward center stage. Pi-Ling sense of proportion and humor. And now this! It was custom- squirmed. A—a—a—damn, she Slow, like all fossils, but decent and ary to offer anyone in the audience knew the name for it. She quickly modest. They were all modest. a turn, but it was also customary downloaded her music library. A They had reason to be. Despite not to accept. She had never seen it piano! Very old. Very, very cranial nanoimplants they could happen. Several people had already heavy. Forerunner of the never attain the capabilities of the started to exit and were forced by electroclavier. Ancient composers 28th-century’s human production. protocol to return to their seats. - Beethoven, Mozart, Bach - Their early brains had been hard- They were particularly unhappy at astonishing output for the cere- wired in a different world, almost a this breach of etiquette. brally-unenhanced. Could John different universe. This John had What could he possibly think have known them? A rapid date- been born before the beginning of he was doing? He could practice check said no. But he hadn’t the third millennium. One of a any instrument every day for five missed them by much! handful left through the grace of hundred years and his fossilized Ramju IV slumped back into cryonic preservation. How could brain could not possibly permit his lounger, defeated, sulking. anyone expect this being to adapt? him to match the skills of today’s Who could have expected the The crowd murmured. Several humans! A disaster. A horrible presence of a deranged fossil at the people transmitted mildly deroga- disaster. Ramju IV rose from his concert? John seemed eternally tory thoughts to friends across the director’s lounger and moved young, like all the others, so hall. Pi-Ling grew uneasy. She carefully toward John. He too was Ramju hadn’t noticed him entering was tough, but she alone in the unsure how to deal with this with the crowd. But now his true audience knew this man and hence situation, but he knew that regard- age was apparent. He walked was appalled at the embarrassment less of what happened next his slowly, though he didn’t need to. he was sure to suffer. great triumph would go unnoticed He hesitated, without reason. His The concert had been a tre- next to this strange development. shoulders were stooped, though his mendous success to this point. Ramju acted as if he were trying to body was as fresh as everyone’s. Instruments of all eras were strewn help the fossil, as if he were sick, That was the most curious thing. about the stage and illuminated by although no one was sick, ever, He seemed to carry a tremendous a marvelous limelight effect recre- anymore. The fossil smiled, and invisible weight. Pi-Ling ated from the mid-nineteenth tapped the palm of his hand on the remembered that now, the most century. The decade’s most bril- top of Ramju’s back several times unsettling thing from the old liant experience-designer, Ramju (what did that mean?) and climbed interview. The weight of thought
22 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 he carried. Heavy, just like the born with this ability due to their felt his first trembling grade school piano. For the first time she felt prenatal music download, so for kiss and flowed with the passion afraid. Something bad was going them it was routine. To John, it of his late youth. A divine, intense to happen. As a historian, she was a great wonder to be able to warmth cloaked her, held her understood what he had been play as a concert musician, despite captive with its strength. through in eight centuries. But she the fact that his skill level did not Suddenly she was spinning hadn’t felt it. In a moment she meet 28th century standards. His high above an elaborately-garbed would. joy for the pure joy of playing was couple, John resplendent in long, He sat upon the hoverbench more intense than anything else Pi- black tails of a monochrome and adjusted his gleaming frock. Ling had felt that day. In fact, it photograph and an ebony-skinned His hands brushed lightly upon the would have made the concert woman whose bright eyes would keys and for a moment she thought noteworthy in and of itself. But not move from his face. Her white he had changed his mind. Then then the piece began in earnest. veil swayed with her movements. his stubby dark fingers moved A river, the blue Danube, Upon her nose sat ancient thick across the keyboard, stumbling at flowing with life, a life, his life. corrective lenses, giving her a first. The tempo picked up. Pi- From the murky Schwarzwald ludicrous appearance. But John Ling consulted her archival im- source his consciousness waxed wasn’t laughing. The feeling that plant. End of second millennium. forth. Pi-Ling saw his childhood. enveloped Pi-Ling was indescrib- Germanic. Strauss. Auf der She felt raw brutality and uncer- able - it was excitement; it was schonen blauen Donau. A fine tainty, crushing poverty beyond fear; it was joy; it was amazement work. Not the greatest of the anything 28th century humankind - all rolled into one. She twisted great, but very fine. Quite short, had experienced. A younger and turned in the air, airy fairy, as much shorter than the ‘competi- brother, who looked much like the ritual was performed in a tion.’ Embarrassingly short. John, was pummeled with fierce house of worship. The woman’s John’s abilities were not blows from a snarling band of bright eyes stared back at John, innate. His playing was adequate, desperate youths. Crimson stains moistening, excited and happy. but flawed under his inexpert surrounded his supine body. Pi- This archaic bonding ceremony guidance. And yet - and yet - what Ling reeled, felt hot blood flowing was something no longer experi- was this thing - this immense pride from her forehead, which had enced, yet the twirling of Pi-Ling’s which Pi-Ling felt? Pride? The smashed against the seat in front mind suggested to her that she and player’s pride. His excitement and of her. Hunger, intense burning her contemporaries were missing his amazing contentment to be hunger of a child in the days when something of great importance. able to play this piece so well, food came by the sweat of one’s The river flowed into fear, the despite the fact that it was awk- brow. Dry mouth. Her jaws exhausted fear of this man each ward compared to all who had clenched involuntarily and a day as he tried to support what had gone before. He had been raised purple welt rose from her lower become a family in the face of a without a music implant. He had lip. Then a massive feast. A large raw, primitive world. Work. never learned to play an instru- bird, an actual living and sentient Hard, tedious toil. Back-breaking ment as a child and had no inher- creature, which had been slaugh- manual labor which had been ent musical abilities. And now, tered, plucked of feathers, eviscer- banished by machines for centu- with his implant, he had this great ated and heated for hours until ries. Pi-Ling’s limbs ached; her sense of joy from playing, which edible. Her stomach churned back felt as if it would snap. She was transmitted in full force to Pi- sourly. yearned for rest. Ling and the audience. Then—relaxation. Her arched Then, the worst of the worst. The others before him had body melted back into the lounger. The shining little face of a child. played so much better, yet they felt Somehow John had risen from The youngest of five and extraor- nothing of this. They had been these dregs to become a man. She dinarily beloved of John. Smallish
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 23 auburn curls and laughing eyes. Personal Health Alarms roused held much unknown danger. But Tears streamed down Pi-Ling’s her. Aching, she pulled herself unlike all other surviving concert- cheeks. John running toward the upright and looked around. Bod- goers, Pi-Ling did not have the girl, gasping. A motorized vehicle ies lay everywhere, contorted into memory erased. She became smashing into her, flinging her grotesque shapes, many in fetal sullen, pensive, restless. Disinter- high into the air. Now it was Pi- position. Blood trickled from est in the petty doings of her Ling turning somersaults in an icy under the seats. The stench of contemporaries dogged her. river, gasping drowning. She was vomit and urine had the air It was just a matter of time. convulsing in the most ghastly sanitizers roaring at full blast. Pi- Early in the Fourth Millennium the pain she had ever experienced. Ling stared helplessly as rarely- Supreme Council voted 1145 yea, The child was dead - permanent activated EmPersonnel burst into 855 nay in favor of forced resettle- death. Never to return. No nano- the auditorium, stopped ment of all ancients to the newly- repairers. Not even pseudo-organ dumbstruck and began calling for discovered, primitive world of Beta implants. John could do nothing more assistance. She caught a 6. A positive outcome for every- but scream an agonizing 800-year glimpse of the fossil standing on one, the Council insisted. For once, scream. stage, his mouth open in astonish- it may have been right. When The concert went on to a long ment, before sliding back into departure time came, Pi-Ling was life filled with much love for his unconsciousness. the only non-fossil to tag along, for other children, a mostly-happy The Ramju Debacle, as it reasons the rest of humanity failed relationship with his mate-for-life. came to be known, caused the last utterly to comprehend. An arduous climb to business great accidental mass-death of the success. Many, many other Third Millennium. Some 384 permanent deaths. Then, finally, persons suffered permanent death the cryonic preservation which and many more required extensive served as his bridge to the world of memory re-engineering to reverse today. Pi-Ling felt none of it. Her the debilitating psychological body lay limp, slumped half-in, effects. Once again it became half-out of the lounger. clear that the fossil population had The screaming of a thousand little to offer in today’s world and
How to Submit Stories to LifeQuest
Please send submissions to should be in color if available, as tional information on submis- Cryonics magazine, Alcor Life these are compatible with Alcor’s sions may be found inside the Extension Foundation, 7895 E. website. LifeQuest stories may front cover of Cryonics. Acoma Drive #110, Scottsdale, be published on Alcor’s website AZ 85260, or email them to barring agreed restrictions to the You can help others see why [email protected]. contrary. what Alcor does makes sense, by sharing your feelings, your If in hard copy format, please Alcor’s anticipated rights in- deepest insights with them, in also include a diskette (textfiles clude one-time publication in the form of LifeQuest fiction or one of these: Microsoft Word Cryonics magazine and website (short stories) or poems. If you 97 & 6.0/95, or Pagemaker 6.5. inclusion, nothing more, unless have a vision, put it in writing, Graphics (jpg/gif preferred) provided for in writing. Addi- and submit it for consideration.
24 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 the room. “We’ve gone over this a hundred times. Even a piece of steak doesn’t last more than a month or so in the freezer. It’s bad enough having to face the death of our only daughter without you torturing yourself, and me too, with these unrealistic dreams.” Bill turned, left the bedroom, CONSTRUCTION SITE and walked heavily toward the By Linda Chamberlain stairway. The sound of Bill falling down the stairs was like the sound (Reprinted from LifeQuest Issue #1, May 1987) of a boulder tumbling down a hillside. Terrified, Carolanne bolted straight up in the bed. I n the dark, red glow of the nose. “Bill, I want to talk some Stumbling in the darkness of the dying fireplace, Bill’s lean, high more about having Bo frozen.” room, she made it to the doorway cheekbones appeared to have been “Carolanne.” Bill’s voice and switched on the lights. chiseled from stone. His dark eyes asked her to stop. “Bill!” she screamed as she were moist as he looked at the “Bill, please!” flew down the stairs and crouched barely visible picture of his daugh- “It doesn’t do any good to over her husband. “Bill, are you all ter, Bo, riding her rocking horse. keep going over this.” right?” Soft, sobbing sounds came “I know it’s still experimental, Bill opened his eyes and a wry from Carolanne, who lay beside but what do we have to lose, Bill?” smile formed at the corners of his him, her head resting on his shoul- Carolanne sat up on the bed and mouth. Seeing the terrified look der. Bill stroked Carolanne’s hair, looked into Bill’s face as she in her eyes, he reached up and dark brown curls that were almost placed her soft fingertips against pulled her down onto his chest. invisible in the shadowy darkness his cheek. “Looks like I had too much wine.” of the room. “What do we have to gain?” “Are you all right?” “She’s only two years old,” Bill brushed away her hand and sat Carolanne pulled back to look at Carolanne whispered hoarsely. up on the edge of the bed with his him. “Did you hurt yourself?” “She’s so playful. So beauti- back to Carolanne. “My leg.” ful.” Her voice choked and she “Hope?” “Don’t move.” She kissed him buried her face in Bill’s shoulder Bill let out a long sigh as he lightly on the nose and ran for the again. smoothed his hair back from his phone. “I’ll get an ambulance.” Bill turned and kissed his face. wife’s tear streaked face as he “It’s Bo’s only chance.” *** pulled her even closer. His own “Carolanne, most hospitals eyes began to flood. “How could still won’t get involved in freezing Bill looked down at his broken Bo have cancer?” said Bill as he people. That must mean some- leg in disgust. Carolanne, standing grabbed several tissues from the thing.” beside his hospital bed, picked up box on the table beside their bed. “Some do. Jane and Terrence his hand and smiled softly down at He cleared his nose and took had her father frozen last year. We him. “After climbing on all those another large gulp from his wine- could take Bo to that hospital.” roofs, it’s kind of silly to have glass. Bill stood and turned to look broken your leg falling down your “Bill?” Carolanne grabbed at down at his wife, her tear-stained own stairs.” The grin on her face the tissues and cleared her own face almost lost in the shadows of was full of love.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 25 “It was stupid,” said Bill, The nurse had pulled the chair interiors of the work areas were disgust still on his face. over to Bill’s bed. “Let’s go see also full of floating objects of The door opened and a tall, the construction, first, okay? Trust varying sizes and shapes, some of large-boned nurse walked into the me,” she said with a wry smile and which were much larger than the room, carrying a chart in her a little jerk of her head. He did not machines that were working there. hands. “Good morning,” she said notice the nurse reach down to his Inside this particular work area, with a cheery brightness on her removable cast and switch on a though, there were no machines. broad, boxy face. “I’m Mrs. small device. The other nurses had Not yet. Collins. How’s the leg this morn- been switching it on and off so The walls were made up of ing?” much he’d ceased being aware of it. hundreds of tiny bead-like, inter- “How long will I be laid up?” Bill looked at Carolanne again locking spheres. Bill’s attention Bill asked. “I have an important only to get that questioning look as was drawn to a small, expanding job to finish. I can’t stay in the she threw her hands in the air. opening on the side wall. It hospital.” appeared to be under disassembly “Broken legs don’t take as ***** from the outside. One by one, the long to heal as they used to, Mr. beads were being removed. Bill Cross. Since about the ‘30s we’ve Bill’s hands, gripping the watched as two, then three, and been using molecular repair arms of the wheelchair as he finally six to eight arm-like projec- machines to assist healing. Are leaned toward the viewing screen, tions began poking through the you familiar with the medical uses were large and callused from his hole. of nanotechnology?” work. His dark, full beard did not Dragging its power and “Vaguely,” Bill answered. hide the high cheekbones or the communications cable behind it, a “Not too much.” excitement in his chocolate eyes. spherical automaton floated slowly “You’re in construction work, Carolanne watched Bill as much as into the work area through the aren’t you?” asked the nurse. she watched the viewing screen. porthole in the wall-beads it had “I build houses.” Unlike mining and con- just created. Once inside, it “Great,” said Mrs. Collins struction on the surface of the repaired the hole in the wall and with a smile breaking from her full earth, there was no gravity here to then pitched and rolled while lips. “You’ll enjoy this.” The retard and complicate this work. searching for the correct orienta- nurse handed her charts to All this activity was in free fall. tion to assume in this free-fall Carolanne and pulled a wheelchair These machines didn’t lumber work situation. out of the closet. about like hulking giants on rough, Numerous anchor arms began “Enjoy what?” asked Bill, crude roads freshly excavated for emerging from the sphere on the looking at Carolanne, who re- the job. They looked more like side next to the wall, searching and sponded with a question on her weightless Olympic gymnasts examining the wall’s surface. face and a shrug of her shoulders. whose special training and skills After the sphere had securely “We have a viewing room just had been borrowed and redirected attached itself to the wall, a com- down the hall, Mr. Cross, where for this special task. They floated. puter inside the sphere began you can watch some construction The irregularly shaped work directing the sphere in the task of that’s going on here at the hospital. area was about the size of a small building and deploying the robotic Dr. Van Deusen, who set your leg bedroom. A similar work area, appendages that would do the last night and started your treat- which had been on the screen work under its pre-programmed ment, would like your opinion. earlier, was filled with hundreds of control. Being in construction yourself, I machines, each relatively no larger Small arm-like projections think you’ll enjoy seeing this.” than the size of Bill’s fist, each telescoped from the surface of the “But what about my leg? laboring at its individual task. In computer-sphere into the center of How long before I can leave?” addition to the machinery, the the work area. These robot arms
26 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 began disassembling components defective and couldn’t function, Dr. Van Deusen, their intrigue with from the objects around it, gather- while the reassembled objects the drama on the screen had elimi- ing these disassembled parts into functioned perfectly. nated all sense of waiting. clusters of like kind. As the assembly progressed, The observation room was Bill sensed that the projec- the remote assemblers began to put cheerful. It had been decorated tions and arms kept precise geo- out their own tethers and conveyer with yellow and beige chairs and metrical maps of their movements belts, at the ends of which other nicely matching tables of rich dark about the workspace. It was like assemblers and disassemblers mahogany. Lamps with glass the highly automated modular began to develop. A network of bases full of dried flowers sat on housing factories Bill had visited robot appendages, rather like a the tables, more for decoration on tours, but much more complex. living, working scaffolding, thus than use, as the bright overhead The nurse said this construction grew within the work area, all lights provided all the illumination was going on here at the hospital, controlled by the original com- necessary. At the moment, the but what were those things any- puter-sphere that first entered the ceiling lights were dimmed so they way? It would take hundreds of cell. could see the construction activity acres to contain all this activity, The display shifted from work on the screen better. wouldn’t it? Bill didn’t have a area to work area. Other computer The door opened and a tall, clue! spheres continued to enter new white-haired physician entered. Several openings began to work areas. Bill could envision His face was round and florid and appear in different areas of the thousands—or could it be tens of his deep, blue eyes sparkled more spherical automaton’s surface. thousands?—of computer-spheres, from merriment than from illumi- Out of these openings grew slen- disassemblers and assemblers, all nation. The corners of his mouth der, rigid, cylindrical pigtails working in concert in an uncount- broke open in a broad smile as he spreading in different directions, able number of work areas, to looked at his patient, so occupied following the paths of the disas- repair those work areas and all the by the ballet on the screen that he sembly robots. Alongside the floating, functional parts within had not even noticed the doctor’s pigtails grew broader, flatter them. entrance. He nodded a greeting to appendages that would function “Are they excavating beneath Carolanne. like conveyor belts. At a distance the hospital?” Carolanne asked “My apology, Mr. and Mrs. from the computer-sphere of about Bill. Cross, for keeping you waiting,” ten times its own diameter, pods at “I don’t know what it is,” Bill said Dr. Van Deusen in a hearty, the ends of the pigtails opened like replied. “It’s ridiculous, but what rich voice that filled the room. hands with eight opposing fingers, else can it be?” “Ahhh, Dr. Van Deusen.” in four sets of two. “What are those things, Bill whirled his wheelchair to Back at the main computer- anyway?” greet the doctor. “It may not look sphere, the parts it had been “Nothing I’ve ever seen on the like it at first glance, but that is, disassembling and stockpiling surface of the Earth,” replied Bill. without a doubt, a hard-hat area!” were being passed along by the Bill and Carolanne exchanged Bill’s face glowed with apprecia- conveyer belt fingers to the robotic looks of astonishment. tion for what he had been observ- assemblers at their ends. Here, ing on the screen in front of him. these pieces were being assembled ***** “It’s not exactly the kind of back into the same types of objects construction work I understand from which the parts had just been Carolanne drew back from the you do. You build houses, don’t disassembled. The difference, screen and noticed her sur- you?” Bill nodded. “But I obvious from the dynamic behav- roundings. From the time the nurse thought you would appreciate it.” ior being viewed on the screen, had left Bill and Carolanne here in The smile on the physician’s face was that the original objects were the observation room to wait for was like that of a father watching a
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 27 small child fascinated with some technicians study the repair pro- constantly, like an orchestra leader new wonder he had discovered. cesses, but we can view it in this keeping track of dozens of musi- “What in the world is it?” room, too, so patients can better cians, except here we’re talking asked Bill, staring back at the understand what’s going on. about millions of repair devices. construction work on the screen. “In this viewing room, we The cast computer directs only the “I’ve never seen anything like it.” have the computer switch back to overall objectives for each of the “That’s the healing process one particular repair site frequently computer-spheres inside and going on inside your leg, Mr. and we display it in extremely outside the cells. The nano- Cross. You’ve probably noticed high detail, with color graphics, so computers inside the main spheres the nurses switching the device on you can watch the repair as it determine the specific actions they your cast on and off. We’re happens at that location.” take to accomplish their local monitoring progress in your leg by “Are those... ah... repair objectives,” answered Dr. Van telemetry through a sterile micro- machines... robots?” Bill asked Deusen. lead that penetrates to the vicinity without looking at Dr. Van Bill was getting the picture. of the break.” Deusen; his dark, fascinated eyes “The computer on the cast is like “That?” Bill turned his remained glued to the scene. someone who hires a contractor to wheelchair back to face the screen. “Well, yes and no,” answered fix a busted brick wall after some “That’s going on inside my leg?” the doctor. “A robot is a machine drunk smashed into it. The con- “It’s just one small application that does routine tasks. It depends tractor, like the computer-sphere in of what we call nanotechnology.” on how you look at what these the cell, figures out what needs to Dr. Van Deusen walked up to machines are doing. In some ways be done, then puts a crew together, stand beside Cross’s wheelchair. it’s mechanical and routine, but in like these disassemblers and “What kind of technology?” other ways, that description is assemblers, to do the actual work.” Carolanne asked. inappropriate because the whole “Right,” said Van Deusen with “Nanotechnology. Nano operation requires a lot of artificial a broad smile. “From the informa- means very small. A billionth. intelligence from the tiny, local tion obtained when the Nanotechnology refers to those computer inside that main sphere disassemblers first encounter a types of technologies that work on at the repair sites.” molecular structure, the computer the molecular level. In this case, “Those pigtails,” Bill pointed figures out which parts are okay we’re watching molecular repair at one of the repair machines on and which parts are malfunctioning. machines inside your cells.” the screen, “must be kind of like Then the computer gives directions “That’s actually going on extension cords connecting the to the disassembler about which inside Bill’s leg, right now?” main computer to its robots?” cellular parts to leave alone and Carolanne asked the doctor in- “Yes,” said Van Deusen. which ones to take apart.” credulously. “Do you have nano- “Those main spheres are the smart Bill continued from where TVcameras in there? How could ones. They have tiny nano- Van Deusen had paused, “So, the you do that?” computers inside, which are contractor has the brick wall torn “What you’re watching is a receiving directions from the down. Then he looks over the computer simulation. The exact computer on your cast through the bricks, picks out the ones still positions of repair machines and micro-lead in your leg.” good enough to use, and has the their working surfaces are avail- Carolanne smiled with de- bad ones ground up into sand and able from millions of repair sites, light. “How does the computer on made into new bricks again?” and a small computer in your cast Bill’s cast know what each one of “That’s right,” said Van is constantly switching from one those little computer spheres Deusen. “The disassembled site to another, keeping track of inside the cells is coming up molecular components...” the process. This information is against?” “The busted bricks that were usually piped to a lab where “It switches from site to site turned back into sand?” asked
28 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Carolanne. down, facing them. “The com- of his rough, large hands over hers “Yes,” answered Van Deusen. puter-spheres inside your broken and looked up at her before he Bill smiled at Carolanne leg have been encountering a lot of turned his questioning eyes to Dr. and continued, “Then the sand is plaque in your arteries, Mr. Cross. Van Deusen. Carolanne felt a bolt sent down the conveyor belt to the We feel you should consider of anticipation, like a jolt from a assembler with instructions about having this removed before it hot 220 volt line run through her. how to first rebuild the bricks, and progresses any further.” “Dr. Van Deusen,” Bill started then rebuild the wall so it looks “I have ather—ah—heart in a very deliberate and serious like new.” disease?” tone of voice, “our two-year-old “That’s more or less the way “Atherosclerosis. Yes. The daughter, Bo, is dying of cancer. it works, yes.” Van Deusen was accumulation of plaque in your Why weren’t we told about these pleased they were catching on so arteries.” repair machines for curing her easily. “Molecule by molecule, “How,” Bill swallowed. cancer?” the parts of the cell are repaired. “How bad is it?” Dr. Van Deusen took a deep Cell by cell, the bone, the muscles, “Your condition is not seri- breath. “Repair machines are not blood vessels, and all the damaged ous, yet, Mr. Cross,” Dr. Van perfect yet, Mr. Cross. When you parts are repaired, or Deusen smiled reassuringly. “We signed the treatment release to ‘remanufactured’, if you’ll go recommend preventive measures authorize their use for the repair of along with the notion. The most early so that it won’t become the tissues in your leg, you were fascinating thing, which many of serious.” giving us permission to do some- us can’t stop marveling about, is “Does that mean surgery?” thing very well proven out. There how these little things make copies asked Carolanne. are very few dangers with this of themselves, almost like highly “No.” Van Deusen turned his procedure, but there are still sophisticated viruses, yet we head and looked up at the screen. limitations. If the repair machines control their coming and going, “Molecular repair machines can do don’t do the whole job, your body their degree of proliferation, all by that job, too, Mrs. Cross.” is strong otherwise and can finish that computer on your cast.” “You mean,” Bill said, “like the job. The artery job is a little “Dr. Van Deusen, are there turning bricks into sand, these more complicated. That’s why we limits on the kinds of repairs that repair machines just gobble up the wanted you to see the simulation. can be done this way?” the look in plaques and I’m okay again?” Cancer is even more difficult. Bill’s eyes revealed that his mind “Basically, yes. Repair Perhaps your daughter’s doctors was racing with the possibilities. machines can seek out any biologi- want to try some more conven- Carolanne stopped breathing cal structure that is not normal, or tional approaches first. Is your as she realized what was going that is malfunctioning, and can daughter in this hospital?” through Bill’s mind. either eliminate that structure, such “No,” said Bill, “but it looks “Fundamentally, no,” an- as plaque, or, like a brick wall, like she should be. Can you refer swered Dr. Van Deusen. “It’s rebuild it to make it work correctly us to someone here?” really a matter of engineering and again. Molecular repair machines “I’ll be glad to have someone the applications are mushrooming have almost replaced surgery and from that section of the hospital everyday.” drugs in medicine. This is 2053. come by your room and see you,” “What about things like The day is not too far off, Mr. said Van Deusen. cancer and heart disease?” asked Cross, when surgery and drugs Carolanne cleared her throat. Carolanne. will be as distant as witch doctors’ “What’s the difference between a “That’s exactly why I had you beads and rattles.” broken leg and cancer, I mean, as brought down here today, Mr. and Carolanne’s delicate hand was far as these repair machines are Mrs. Cross.” Van Deusen pulled a resting on Bill’s shoulder; he could concerned?” chair over next to Bill and sat feel her tremble. Bill placed one “The repair machines may be
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 29 able to eliminate the tumor, but we quivered as she held her breath and “Doctor,” Bill hesitated, still don’t know exactly what waited for Dr. Van Deusen’s “would Bo really have a chance if causes every kind of cancer. We answer. we had her frozen?” can’t guarantee that her cancer will “Yes,” said Van Deusen. “Like I said, Mr. Cross, many not recur. Although our repair “However, I’m an internist, not a of us are very positive about that. machines are getting better every specialist in cancer or But, I’m not an expert in that field. day, they’re still quite slow. cryopreservation of patients. But I’ll ask Dr. Killian from that Sometimes the disease process if you’d like more details I could section to drop over and see you.” works faster at tearing down have one of the doctors from those Bill looked up at Carolanne tissues than the repair machines sections come by your room also.” and smiled. “Yes, Dr. Van can keep up with.” “You do that here too?” Bill’s Deusen,” he said, “we’d like that. “So,” Bill continued, “some- face was on fire. We’d like that very much!” times a person with something like “Yes. This hospital is one of cancer dies anyway?” the leading facilities in the country “Yes,” said Dr. Van Deusen. on the use of molecular repair “But, if such a person were to devices. Our successes in that area be frozen,” Bill’s voice wavered, have made some of us very posi- “these repair machines could be tive about the prospects for pa- used after they were unfrozen to tients who have themselves repair the freezing damage?” cryopreserved. However, I should Tears were forming in add that not all our colleagues Carolanne’s eyes and her lips share that belief.”
blades came and went as he worked could almost see by the sounds as his way into the narrow corner by Lloyd assembled some of the new, the roses, brief whirrings revealing automatic home appliances he was the tight pattern required to trim the licensing for manufacture in South little space. Later this afternoon, Korea. The closing of drawers and Sheila thought, she’d prune the shutting off of motors told her, roses, feeling the softness of each about eleven each night, when by Fred Chamberlain bud, each flower in the process. Lloyd was at a stopping place, and The thorns would still be small this she’d reach over and switch on the (Reprinted time of year, needle sharp, so she’d electric blanket so his side of the from LifeQuest be extra careful. If only she could bed would be warm. Issue #2, Nov. 1987) actually see them once more! For Sheila, sounds and smells “All done, Sheila,” said Lloyd were the essence of life. She could Swinging the wide windows as he came in, hot and soaked with still remember the pleasures of open, Sheila let the cool spring air perspiration. He passed her on his vision, but all the doctors told her flow past her into the living room. way to take a shower, the pattern the blindness was permanent. Rich smells of cut grass gave her a of his footsteps tracing a map in Permanent? Nothing was perma- delicious picture of the freshly her mind, telling her wordlessly nent, she thought. Sooner or later mowed lawn, cuttings still lying in where he was headed. A robotics they’re going to learn how to make streaks waiting to be raked. inventor, Lloyd spent much of his me see again, and when they do, Not more than fifty feet away, time in a workshop off the garage. I’ll be ready and waiting! she imagined, her husband was Sheila left the intercom open, Lloyd was understanding but almost finished. The clatter of whenever she was near it, and had resigned himself to the idea
30 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 that Sheila would never regain her help thinking she looked abso- We’ve grown to almost three sight. That’s why he found it lutely gorgeous. At thirty-five, her hundred members, and it’s still the incomprehensible, at first, that she figure was like that of a twenty same as when there were only a would want a place by the sea. year old, and she kept her hair in handful of us. Organ banking is “But the waves would be so perfect condition. The thing Lloyd on the verge of becoming a reality. exquisite to hear,” she’d say each couldn’t understand was how she Why can’t people see what we do, time it came up. “And the sounds managed makeup so expertly. and what it would mean to them?” of the seagulls, the smell of fresh “It’s just a matter of feel,” she’d “Jay, you’ve been president of salt air? It would be heaven!” said. “I start out by washing very this group for a long time,” said Lloyd had promised he’d start completely and then only use so Sheila. “I don’t see why it’s a looking soon. He marveled at much. The people at the clinic mystery to you! It’s just a matter Sheila’s capacity for enthusiasm helped me understand what the of credibility! People follow their and activity, despite her handicap. limitations were, and that was leaders, watching what they do. The one thing he did not share was absolutely essential!” They’re like sheep; it doesn’t have her conviction that life would be “Amazing,” he’d said, and to make any sense. If enough extended so her blindness would Lloyd continued to be amazed at respected political leaders sud- someday be curable. how Sheila took care of herself. denly decided to have their right “Once in a while we get a His friends would ask if it were a hands amputated, all of us who’d spontaneous remission,” the burden of any kind for him, and still have two hands would be surgeon had said. “Light seems to he’d say, “You’ve got to be kid- regarded as freaks!” start filtering in, and then vision ding! Sheila looks like a movie There were chuckles from comes back. Maybe three cases in star, she’s brilliant, and stays around the room. “But Sheila, that ten thousand. Otherwise, it’s informed on things. I can’t keep up doesn’t help us figure out how to totally inoperable. It could be fifty with her in most of it. There’s just change it!” said Barry, a burly fire years before we’re able to reach this one thing she’s convinced of...” fighter. “Everyday I see people that part of the optic nerve safely. As she left the house, Sheila slipping away, dying, because of I’d advise against any expectation stopped at the rose bushes and took this ‘follow the leader’ thing. I of her ever seeing again.” a perfect bud for her dress. She can’t even get my folks to come to “They’re here, Sheila!” called knew exactly how each thing she these meetings. They think we’re Lloyd, as he saw the light blue wore looked, and what matched, all crazy!” station wagon pull up out front. and could do things with her “I’m afraid we have to be Once more, he’d made an excuse imagination most women couldn’t patient, Barry,” Sheila replied, her not to attend the meeting. do standing in front of a mirror. voice serious. “We think because “But they’re such nice She walked carefully down the we’ve seen this it should be easy, people,” Sheila had said repeat- stairs to the street, gratefully but I think it’s just the opposite. If edly. “I’m sure you’d like them!” taking the hand that helped her we knew exactly what it took to see “Until the medical community into the car. “My favorite day of cryotransport in a positive light, I endorses it, I wouldn’t touch it the month,” she murmured as the feel very sure this alone wouldn’t with a ten-foot pole!” Lloyd would car moved off. solve our problem. It might make say. The very idea of being frozen it seem even more hopeless! at death was bizarre and grotesque ***** “Suppose you put me on the to him. He would go along with deck of the sinking Titanic. I Sheila’s wishes, since it gave her “Folks, we’re all familiar with wouldn’t be able to see the ship hope, but that was the extent of it! the problem!” Jay said, as the pointing nose down in the water, He would only go so far! meeting started. “No one has the but I’d be able to tell everyone is Sheila came out, dressed for slightest idea of what we’re up to, upset. Now suddenly suppose I the meeting, and Lloyd couldn’t and we can’t seem to get through. can see! Does that change the
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 31 condition of the ship? Not at all!” really didn’t mean to put you on the “My father died six months Sheila took a deep breath and spot, but I’ve got the same problem before I joined,” Susan exclaimed continued. “Most people out there with Larry! I can’t just walk away, suddenly. “He was only fifty six! I are doomed, like dinosaurs going but I don’t know what to do! I’m went to the cemetery each day for into an ice age. Some of us are afraid that if something were to months! He’d slipped away from more like mammals, and we might happen to me, I wouldn’t even be me and I was very angry about it. survive! We all look pretty much frozen! He’s so antagonistic about Then, without really connecting the the same on the surface, but it I can’t bring the subject up, yet in two things, I saw a TV interview on underneath, in our minds, there’s every other way we’re very happy cryotransport, and that was it! Do something that’s very different together! He’s probably upset I’m you suppose each of us has a from person to person. If we could not home now, even though I told similar sort of history?” see that ‘something,’ we’d have him I’d have dinner out and would “That’s hard to say!” said the impression that some of us are be okay. You seemed to under- Sheila. “Jay just read Ettinger’s dinosaurs, some are mammals, and stand this so well I thought maybe book and was off and running. some...” she smiled, “are insects!” you could help!” Did he have some other experience After the laughter died Sheila touched her chin for too? We don’t know! But down, one of the younger women a moment. Her forehead wrinkled whether it’s a special viewpoint or asked, “What about Lloyd, Sheila? slightly in a puzzled way, and her whether it’s something that hap- You can’t seem to get him inter- face reflected a mixture of curios- pens to us, it’s very rare. How do ested! Does this make him some ity and humor that was uncommon we get any good out of it? How kind of dinosaur? What do you among even those who had their can we help others see it?” think Lloyd’s hang-ups are?” sight. Then she said, hesitantly, “Maybe we have to reach Sheila was silent for a “If you wanted to see through a out for those special viewpoints in moment. Then a tear rolled down very long, narrow tube, you’d have some other way?” said Susan in a her cheek. She dabbed at it care- to have your head in just the right wondering tone. “Maybe we have fully, trying not to smear her position, wouldn’t you?” to create situations in people’s makeup. Her voice was unsteady “Sure,” said Susan, “but...” imaginations that help them as she said, “Susan, Lloyd and I “So if your eyes weren’t understand it without a personal are very close in some ways, and I lined up just right, you’d miss it!” disaster? Suppose we got people don’t really understand it! It’s so continued Sheila. “In my case, to imagine a loss of some kind, painful, I have problems dealing after I lost my sight, I became very personal, and then brought up with it. No, I don’t think Lloyd is desperate to see again... tranquiliz- cryotransport?” a ‘dinosaur,’ but I’m afraid some- ers for almost a year. Finally, it “I don’t think so!” said day I’ll lose him! I wish I could was the hope of living long Sheila, shaking her head, smiling. tell you how that fits in with the enough to see again that got me “People protect their feelings too dinosaur example!” interested in cryotransport. What well! They’d smell that and close about you, Susan? Is there some up like clams. Maybe it’s not too ***** kind of special ‘lining up’ that different from ‘dinosaur’ and took place in your life about the ‘mammal’ after all?” The meeting took up one time you got involved?” “I don’t want to leave business item after another, and Susan looked at her hands Larry,” said Susan, “but I can’t give before long it was over. Susan for a moment, then glanced up at up my chance to be around to see asked Sheila if she’d like to go out Sheila. There was something at the future either! You have the to dinner, and the two of them left the edge of her mind she could same problem! What are you going together. almost put her fingers on, but it to do?” Later, waiting for their seemed to keep slipping away. “I don’t know,” said Sheila, meals to arrive, Susan said, “I Then she had it. “but you’re right. Eventually,
32 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 something has to change!” She “I’m really concerned about talk and doesn’t seem to be breath- considered her own situation and him, Susan,” she said, after the ing well! I’m terrified! Can you was dismayed. Unlike Susan, she next meeting. Susan had been help call an ambulance?” was very dependent on her hus- making fifty-mile round trips to Susan panicked. “I’ll call band. “I’m thirty-five, in good take Sheila to the meetings, and Jay,” she cried. “He’ll know what health,” Sheila said. “For now, I now was even more worried about to do!” She hung up and rang guess I’ll have to keep my fingers Sheila being so far away, with Jay’s number. “Sheila’s husband crossed. I’m sure Lloyd would do someone who might be in danger. is having some kind of medical what he could to cooperate. He “Isn’t there anything we crisis,” she blurted. “I know he’s knows it would mean more to me can do to get him interested?” not signed up, but we have to do than anything else, if something Susan asked. “Do you ever talk something!” should happen. I’ll just have to about long range things at all?” “Barry’s an EMT in the fire live very carefully!” “Very seldom,” said Sheila. department near there,” Jay said. “How I’d love it if we could! But “They’d handle this anyway! ***** he’s always been interested only in Let’s call him, and then I’m going his inventions, and they’re the out there, too! Sheila’s blind and The months passed, the kind of things that take just a few under stress! We don’t want meetings came and went, and it months. Sometimes I think he’s something happening to her in the seemed as if the same discussions never looked very much further midst of this! Hang on, I’m going took place over and over. Sheila’s ahead than that!” to do this with a conference call. roses bloomed, then withered in the One night, Lloyd was You’ll hear me dial!” autumn, and bloomed again the particularly silent. In bed, Sheila “I’m going too!” said next spring. By then, though, they could hear that his breathing was Susan. She noticed, trying to were about to move. Lloyd had irregular and labored. “Are you dress, crawling out of bed toward found a home on a hill overlooking sure you’re all right, Lloyd?” she the closet hanging onto the phone, the ocean, and royalties from the asked softly. that Larry was stupefied, dumb- patents made it no trouble at all. “Lloyd? Lloyd?” A chok- founded. After the move, Sheila planted ing sound came from Lloyd as he roses and relished the roar of waves tried to speak, but couldn’t. He ***** below, the delicious smell of sea gasped; Sheila pictured he was air, and the cries of birds whirling trying to sit up but was unable to Larry went along, saying he and diving above the water. do so. didn’t want Susan running off alone Two things troubled Sheila. Sheila reached out. Lloyd in the middle of the night. When The meetings were difficult to was chilled, trembling, soaked they drove up to Lloyd’s and attend, and Lloyd seemed to be with sweat. “Lloyd!” she cried. Sheila’s place on the bluff over- tiring more easily. He had head- “I’ve got to get help!” looking the sea, there were so many aches frequently; his appetite was Sheila reached for the cars Larry supposed a party was waning. One evening in bed, in phone, but suddenly wasn’t sure going on. They parked, hundreds the darkness, Sheila ran her hands how to call for help. She dialed of feet back down the driveway, over Lloyd’s forehead and was Susan’s number without thinking, and walked to the house. shocked to feel a cool moistness. and was startled to hear her voice Barry had called in a “Are you all right, Lloyd?” she at the other end. second rescue unit, and Jay had whispered. Lloyd replied he was “Susan! I dialed your arrived just after the first unit OK, but Sheila began to worry. number by mistake,” Sheila said. pulled up. A number of other Lloyd was not a complainer, and “I should have tried to call the fire members had found out what was she felt he might be getting ill department, I guess. Something’s happening from Jay’s wife and without realizing it. wrong with Lloyd! He can’t even weren’t going to let Sheila see this
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 33 through by herself. The house was care of one another, who will?” lazily against a background of practically crawling with paramed- Larry was silent the rest of deep blue sky with puffy clouds so ics and cryonicists when Larry and the way home. The next day was bright she could barely stand it. Susan walked in. There, in the Saturday, and Susan noticed he She glanced downward and was living room, in the middle of it all, was still very distant. Suddenly, giddy with the sensation of endless looking much better, was a very Larry got to his feet. “I’m going greenish-blue waves stretching to astonished Lloyd. to see Lloyd,” he said. “No, you the horizon. She almost screamed, “We’d better take you to just stay here, Susan... please! I then clasped her hands to her the hospital for an exam,” said want to go see him by myself!” mouth. It would startle Lloyd, she Barry, after things settled down a No one knew just what thought... I’ve got to just take each bit. “It’s pretty clear you’ve had a Larry and Lloyd said to each other second as it comes! heart attack, and we want to be that afternoon, but they both Turning, Sheila saw the sure you’re fully over it!” started coming to meetings after door to the patio open. A stylish “Okay,” said Lloyd, still that. Lloyd became a fanatic about brunette stepped out of it. Then pale and weak. “Is somebody health food, and Larry signed up she realized, it was Susan! Fasci- going to stay with Sheila?” He for a paramedic course. It seemed, nated, Sheila watched as Susan looked around the room. “I never a year later, as if they’d been walked daintily down the brick knew you had so many friends, members as long as anyone could steps, her broad-brimmed hat Sheila!” remember. shading her delicate features. “They’re more like family,” She’s here to spend another after- Sheila said, tears running down ***** noon with me, thought Sheila. her face, “but I’m not staying here! Susan had a strange feeling I can go along, can’t I, Barry?” Sheila and Susan began to as she approached Sheila. It was “Of course you can!” said spend more and more time to- the perceptiveness of Sheila’s Barry, smiling. “You can ride gether. One afternoon, waiting for eyes! “Oh my God!” she cried, as with Lloyd. I’ll bet you’re not Susan to arrive, Sheila found she realized that Sheila was look- going to be alone at the hospital herself sitting on the patio over- ing at her. Tears began to run while you’re waiting either!” looking the sea, listening to the down her face. The two of them Lloyd wasn’t the only one waves rolling on the beach below, held each other for minutes, before who was astonished. Sitting in the holding a rose in her hand and stepping back to look once more. waiting room at the hospital, Larry stroking its soft petals. The “Let’s get Lloyd and go was bewildered by all these people happiness in her seemed so intense down the stairs to the beach!” who had miraculously appeared in she felt she would burst. Then she Sheila finally laughed. “I’ve never the middle of the night when noticed a peculiar sensation, as she seen it before! I want to go run- trouble arose. “If something had raised her head to the sound of the ning in the sand! See sand swirl- happened to me?” he asked Susan seagulls. It was as if there were ing in the water! Come on, Susan, later, on the way home. more light. I’ve never even seen Lloyd’s shop “It probably wouldn’t have Sheila blinked her eyes since before he started doing been quite the same,” Susan said. furiously, and the intensity of the robotics, years ago. I can’t wait!” “We could imagine what it would sensation increased. There was Lloyd heard excited voices be like for Sheila, and that’s why so movement in the sensation, and outside the workshop door and many of us rushed out there! But she closed her eyes again and suddenly Sheila burst in, closely Sheila’s right; in many ways, it’s rubbed them, then blinked them followed by Susan. “What are you like a big family! There’s only a open once more. As if by magic, so delighted about, Sheila?” he few of us, and the rest of the world the movement before her eyes asked. “And why do you have hasn’t the slightest idea of what resolved into blurry seagulls, then your eyes all squinched shut like we’re all about! If we don’t take into sharp, white birds sailing that?”
34 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Sheila shook her head, eyes felt his knees give way underneath asking ‘what now’? She sighed, tightly closed, smiling so happily him and the two of them collapsed and after a long moment said Lloyd found himself smiling also, on the floor, hysterically laughing decidedly, “I’ve often wondered without even understanding why. and hugging each other. After a what I’d do when I could see Susan was having trouble control- moment they sat up, gasping for again. Now I know. There’s ling her laughter, but managed to breath. Susan sat down on the blindness about death out there say, “Lloyd, just for a moment, floor with them, and for what that afflicts the whole world. I’m close your eyes. Sheila wants to seemed like hours, both Lloyd and going to end it, once and for all. show you something!” Susan looked at Sheila, as she Don’t ask me how, right this Lloyd closed his eyes glanced back and forth wordlessly minute. I just know this job is obediently, still smiling. Then from one to the other, beaming mine. Watch out, World! Here I Sheila tiptoed over to him, opened impishly and wiping her eyes. come!” her eyes as widely as she could, Gradually, Lloyd’s expres- and flung her arms around his sion became more serious. He neck. “Okay, Lloyd, you can look stood, took Sheila’s hand, and now,” she giggled. helped her up. Susan rose too, and Lloyd opened his eyes. the three of them walked out onto There was Sheila, grinning and a deck overlooking the ocean. staring into his eyes nose to nose, Sheila leaned back in in a focused way. As he finally Lloyd’s arms, the brisk sea wind realized what had happened, Lloyd on her face, and felt her mind
BACK ISSUES OF LifeQuest
If you’re enjoying these stories, you’ll be happy to know that issues #1 and #2 of LifeQuest are already available on Alcor’s website, under “links.” For ease of finding them, the URLs are:
http://www.alcor.org/ lifeqst1.htm and http://www.alcor.org/ lifeqst2.htm
Issues #3 through #7 will, with time, be reprinted in Cryonics Magazine, but an influx of new fiction could make this a drawn- out process. If you would like to see the back issues posted to Alcor’s website more quickly, let us know. We try to give first priority to projects we know will make the most Alcor Members safest and happiest.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 35 The Donaldson Perspective
Just How Good Has Been Our PUBLICITY?
by Thomas Donaldson, Ph.D. This column centers not on a (within their own knowledge). with only a few questions. As a set statement but on a question. I, just When they learn how (relatively) of possible questions, we have: like many cryonicists who have expensive suspension may be, if • Do you see the future as been involved in cryonics for a anything their skepticism will better, worse, or the same as today? long time, have had the repeated increase. • Have you heard of cryonics? experience of talking to reporters Moreover, those who have • Can you define cryonics? or even ordinary people and some quite false beliefs about • Who has been suspended? finding them all asking questions cryonics will hardly be favorable. • How many have been that you yourself and others too The belief that Walt Disney was suspended? have answered repeatedly... and frozen, for instance, implies that • What is a cryonics society? with almost the very same word- cryonics is only for the famous • Who joins cryonics societ- ing. When I last lived in Australia, and important, not a belief likely ies? I found myself in just such a to gain many recruits; the belief • Can you name a cryonics situation, as if the standard re- that cryonics societies are busi- society? porter or newsperson was fine at nesses will make many people • Do you personally know asking questions but forgot only 5 come to us with lots of suspicion. any cryonicists? minutes later just what your Yet these are only the relatively • What do cryonicists think answers had been. minor misconceptions. I will not about aging? Alzheimer's or other We'd all like to know how discuss any much more negative brain destruction? many people have an interest in beliefs. Even if you're honest, • What does cryonics cost? cryonics. After all, those people someone who believes you're a • How do cryonicists pay may actually join a cryonics practiced con man will hardly their cost? society... and so help us in our listen favorably to anything you • Should we allow cryonics? own efforts. say. Anyone who believes you to If not, why not? If so, why? But it's not enough just to ask be deluded will hardly listen either Certainly anyone already how many people have an interest ... though a few may decide to try interested in cryonics can answer in cryonics. to get you out of your delusion and these questions. If someone has never even convince you of the Truth. Yet some unknown number of heard of cryonics, we come to To really gain an idea of just people might BECOME interested them as if from some quite differ- how far along we are, we need not if they came to understand just ent world. They will naturally start just the number of interested what we're doing. That under- as quite skeptical about anything people but also some idea of what standing takes a big step towards we say; since standard scientific common beliefs are about cryon- actually considering whether or periodicals such as Science or ics. How have public attitudes not to actually join. To simply ask Nature, and even those journals, changed in the nearly 40 years in how many are already interested such as Thanatology, looking at which the basic idea of cryonics ignores such people entirely. common ideas about death, barely was first put into action? Yes, in the short term we can mention cryonics, their skepticism We could hardly find that out hardly expect to convert the world would actually be well-founded to cryonics; yet it remains impor-
36 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 tant to find out just what people which made the Society for Cryo- SOON) allow us to successfully believe about cryonics in the first biology try to prevent cryonicists suspend brains will not be enough. place. Just what has all the public- from joining, something which has The ability to reversibly suspend ity about cryonics done to com- hardly helped us attain our goals. brains (or even whole bodies) will mon beliefs? Some of these In this context any such not bring us to cryonics. In cryon- people, once freed of their igno- general poll should not only give ics, we advocate suspending brains rance, may well come to join. us people's opinions but also tell whenever there is a brain to sus- Not only that, but answers to us something about their position pend, so that if someday a cure for such questions will also tell us just in society. We know that such a patient can be found, he or how many people see us with cryonicists tend to concentrate she can use it. We'll never know just suspicion, and the smaller number around a few major centers in the how far future research might go. who not only see us with suspicion US. Do those centers also contain And hence no amount of but may actually try to get politi- those who know more about science, alone, can support cryon- cians to implement laws cryonics generally? How many ics itself. AGAINST us. The proportion of people hostile to cryonics do they And since we inevitably live people who feel HOSTILE to contain? in a society, it will help us to know cryonics has been important even Simply supporting the science just what others know or think early on. It was just that hostility that will (I believe, with support, they know about cryonics.
Review: book THE COMPUTER AND THE MIND: AN INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2nd ed., 1991, by P. Johnson-Laird Reviewed by Thomas Donaldson, Ph.D. Most cognitive scientists now tiger. The brain processes which use the model of a COMPUTER as make such connections by their I n the 2nd Quarter 1999 issue a means to understand how our nature CANNOT be symbolic. In of CRYONICS I reviewed two brains work. Some limit use of this Chapter 10 of his book, JL de- books by Steven Pinker, both of model to particular issues, while scribes how he and other cognitive which attempt to describe cogni- others use it universally. With such scientists use neural nets to carry tive science and both of which a model, the questions of just how out that part of our thinking which suffer from several major faults. our brains work turns into one of is NOT symbolic (he gives two The book I review here, by Phillip finding the algorithms (and from names for this general idea: Johnson-Laird, also describes them the programs) describing a connectionism and parallel distrib- cognitive science for readers brain working. A fundamental uted processing, using the term unfamiliar with it, and does far issue in such a method comes from "neural nets" almost never.) better at that task, too. one simple truth: programs running But he also tells of the evi- Though it remains true that in computers will inevitably in- dence that neural nets may not be some researchers believe that such volve activity with SYMBOLS, sufficient, and that on top of them studies will remain premature until while it's far from obvious that our there must also be systems which we understand much more about brain ALWAYS works only with work on symbols. He's also quite how our brains actually work, symbols. Even the simplest action honest about these ideas: right now, Johnson-Laird (JL for short) shows in the world cannot be done purely the main kind of neural net used by much more modesty than Pinker in symbolically: to get up after sitting cognitive scientists uses a method his exposition of what such studies down isn't just a matter of thought, of backward error propagation might achieve. Most important, he but of action too. (BEP). BEP has no obvious con- deals far better than Pinker with A bit of thought tells us that nection to how our brain works. one central issue in such studies: at even with language and thinking We may still need neural what point do computers become we cannot rely solely on symbols. methods to deal with symbols, but valid models of how our brains To understand "tiger" it helps at just what points use of symbol- work in the first place? tremendously to meet a real, living ism replaces some kind of neural
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 37 net remains unknown. unknown [1]). And finally, he ANY behavior in the world; Although he does not mention discusses issues such as free will without them, we cease to care it, neural nets using other methods and intentions, our needs and our about either our own or others' may be also capable of wider emotions. In each case he not only behavior. It is that caring that processing inaccessible by BEP. discusses what cognitive science gives us our awareness. (McClelland and Seidenberg, both has found out, but also the ques- I personally think that levels advocates of neural nets, review- tions which no one has yet an- of consciousness become impor- ing a later book by Pinker, point swered. I cannot summarize his tant here. It's not enough just to out the existence of neural nets book in this review. work out consciousness in human capable of learning at higher levels However I WILL discuss beings alone. If we truly wish to than BEP, including the applica- Johnson-Laird's ideas about that understand it, experiments on tion of “rules.”) one sequential process that guides animals may prove critical. To understand how our brain all the parallel activity in our Even in humans, some level works IN OUR BODY involves brains, the one sequential process of consciousness can occur with much more than just thinking. We which gives us our awareness, no symbolic thoughts at all; even need to know how it controls our including awareness of our emo- in animals (such as chimps), the bodily motions, how we interpret tions. (He refers to our conscious possibility of some symbolic what we see (or smell, or taste, or mind in computer terms, as the consciousness may also exist. touch), how we understand lan- "operating system" of our brain). Unfortunately JL describes only guage, and how our emotions In human beings it allows an his ideas of HUMAN conscious- work. Each of these issues funda- arbitrary number of levels: con- ness. And as with any book deal- mentally involves an understand- scious of the world and yourself, ing mainly with cognitive science, ing of just how much of our brain conscious of your consciousnes of whether or not it truly tells how consists of modules working in the world and yourself, conscious our minds work may depend on parallel. We're not aware of their of your consciousness of your just what neuroscientists finally working because our awareness consciousness... (This can con- discover. In fact, one major point remains sequential, and for that tinue until the thinker chooses to JL makes about different KINDS reason can only know some very stop). of awareness comes directly from abstract results of all that parallel He also points out that some recent neuroscience. Yet JL's processing. Two kinds of action cognitive scientists believe that modesty saves him from any have received a lot of study by with the right methods a Turing accusations of shortsightedness. cognitive science: just how we machine might be conscious of its "The idea that we work like move our limbs, and how we see. own methods, but disagrees on the computers is right now our best Parallelism is common to both, ground that indefinite regress does way towards understanding," I even though we almost totally fail not work with such methods. The hear him saying. "Someday that to experience it. As a general process is INDEFINITE rather may no longer hold true, but for model of how we work, Johnson- than infinite because we ourselves now I use it". Laird suggests the existence of one are finite. Finally, Johnson-Laird not sequential process controlling very However this ability to think only provides references but also many parallel ones, at the highest about our own thoughts means that discusses briefly, at the end of level (a common idea among many we can consider consequences of each Chapter, just how his refer- cognitive scientists). our actions, choosing those which ences relate to its subject. These The chapters in JL's book go seem best to us, and in this sense discussions help us to indepen- successively through all the differ- have free will (contrary to the dently explore the subjects he ent questions about how we think suggestions of some). Emotions, discusses and form our own and act, beginning with vision, in Johnson-Laird's terms, play a opinions about his suggestions. moving on to learning and major role in both our awareness memory, then to action, cogitation, and our behavior even though they [1] JL's opinion here differs communication (by now no one aren't beliefs. Nor are they sym- strongly from Chomsky's. believes that we learn language bolic. However they DO link totally without presuppositions closely with our memories, color- about its structure, though he ing not only our beliefs but also states frankly that the exact struc- our choice of beliefs. He sees this tures controlling language remain effect of emotions as basic to
38 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Review: FILM
Bicentennial Man starring Robin Williams
From: http://web4.movielink.com
Reviewed by Fred Chamberlain
In this film, themes of aging, view is safe (they are not in danger destroy us. There is a beautiful romantic love, death, identity, and of being outclassed by immortal portrayal of the best we might sentient non-humans are united in robots) may be more open to the hope for, of the advances in a startling and touching way. As a idea that aging is a terrible thing robotics. The film also shows in robot, Robin Williams, gradually and should be vanquished. many ways how people can lose acquires more and more human The terrible and rapid impact the chance to love and be loved; characteristics, taking us through of time on humans is a key aspect this alone would make it a master- two hundred years of life experi- of the film. The robot encounters piece of drama. ence as part of that. a tiny girl, in its first contact with a This is an “all digital” film For many decades, Robin (as human family. One wonders if from Disney, the first at this level, the robot) bears the frustrations of this might be a human female with with great special effects. You seeking a “significant other,” first whom a close bond will form. could enjoy it solely for the techni- among his own kind. Then, failing As things work out, before cal aspects. Many viewers may success in this quest, he crosses that point is approached, the tiny miss the full depth of the message the line in bionic transition, reach- girl progresses through the various that life is fragile and very precious. ing out to a human. Later, he has stages of her life, into her 50s and If you really care about some dilemmas like those created by 60s, while the robot (taking his person you want to be with in the Robert Heinlein in “Time Enough first steps toward “us”) sees aging future, I suggest you take them to for Love,” where Lazarus Long begin to ravage a human for whom this film. (You might wish to says goodbye to his beloved but he is just beginning to deeply care. reassure them that interventions aged wife Dora, and then names The final parts of the film go for aging are likely soon, and that his intelligent starship computer further, portraying that at least in death as the “natural order” is not “Dora” (always to have the per- this special case, being condemned necessarily your viewpoint!) sonality of a little girl). to always watch those he loved With this one caveat, the film Linda Chamberlain and I had grow old and die would be so Bicentennial Man will take you been told that this film ended in a painful that life for the robot as a into the future, far eclipsing the negative way, and that we would “survivor” would be of no value. usual “Space Opera” of ships not like it. The ending was sad, In the context of the story, and traveling faster than light, with but that does not alter the value I from the viewpoints of many who crews who age and die at the same think the film offers those of us see the film, the ending of the old, reliable rates. This is, in my who want to live on indefinitely. story and the choices made seem opinion, an excellent appetizer for Tragic endings often drive home a quite plausible to me. the anti-aging interventions we are point better than happy endings, “Bicentennial Man” gives us a all anticipating. I hope you will and people who feel their world dramatic picture of how aging can like and enjoy it as much as I did.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 39 For The Record
NEW SYSTEM FOR PATIENT MAINTENANCE AT ALCOR AND PREPARATIONS FOR Y2K
by R. Michael Perry, Ph.D.
A critical problem that a cryon- of patient maintenance that has delivery truck. Meanwhile, nitro- ics organization must face is that been put into operation at Alcor. gen will continue to be delivered of maintaining its patients for the Under the new system, liquid in 180-liter supply cylinders, indefinite future. Today this is nitrogen is received and stored in which will now be emptied into handled by storing them in insu- bulk in a reservoir on the premises, the pressure vessel. When needed lated containers filled with liquid and patient dewars are replenished to refill the patient dewars, the nitrogen. The cold liquid must be from it on demand. The reservoir liquid nitrogen is released from the replenished regularly, and this itself, a pressure vessel of about pressure vessel and travels through becomes the major part of the 1,600 liters capacity, is refilled by a system of pipes rather than being maintenance cost. The cost is deliveries from a supplier. These emptied from the much smaller usually met by interest income deliveries, however, will be much 180-liter cylinders. Multiple fills derived from assets of the main- less frequent than before—perhaps can be done at once, and this taining organization, based on every two or three weeks rather should save both work time and funding provided by the patients at than weekly. When the system is possibly liquid itself—though that or before their suspension. The fully operational the liquid nitro- remains to be determined. The lower the maintenance cost, the gen will be loaded directly into the changeover to full bulk delivery is better the chances of long-term pressure vessel from the supplier’s expected to take place about the survival—both for the organiza- middle of February. tion as a whole and for the patient The preparations for the new individually. A lower cost will system have had a second objec- have other benefits too, such as tive—to “dig in” in case there was helping to keep the cost of cryonic any serious problem over the suspension lower over the long arrival of the year 2000 (the fabled haul, which could result in more and oft-dreaded Y2K). Suppos- people signing up and benefiting. edly, many computer-based sys- At the same time, there is the tems, particularly those using older usual potential trade-off we want chips, were unable to cope with a to avoid, of a compromise in year ending in “00” and might quality, something that might be experience catastrophic failure. On expected to occur with any cost- top of this there could be substan- cutting measure. But cost-cutting tial social unrest or terrorism over need not involve such a compro- the arrival of a new millennium and mise, and indeed, there are special all that that seemed to imply in circumstances where the reverse certain people’s minds. Unfortu- occurs and an increase in quality is nately, the extent or gravity of this obtained, as can happen with whole issue could not be predicted automation. Happily, that appears Mathew Sullivan, originator of Alcor’s in advance, even though to many of to be true also with the new system new patient maintenance system. us it didn’t seem likely that dooms-
40 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 of promotion and persuasion than times, documenting and taking raw engineering skills. It also pictures.) involved some “segmenting” or breaking down the project into PRINCIPAL FEATURES smaller subunits that could be The main purpose of the new completed piecemeal, such as system is, as usual, the indefinite eliminating the small and ineffi- preservation of human and pet cient LR40 dewars as storage patients and tissue specimens at containers and installing liquid liquid nitrogen temperature. Sup- level sensors on the remaining porting this aresecurity features containers. At the engineering that increase the level of prepared- level, however, we’ve been very ness for emergencies and improve fortunate to have the assistance of the chances of the long-term Hugh Hixon. Hugh had misgivings success of the whole operation. In at first, like almost everybody else, addition there are safety features but then became convinced of the that decrease the risk to personnel workability of the system, and his involved. New features in some expertise has been indispensable in Hugh Hixon adjusts fittings on top of the cases created the need for further pressure vessel of the new system. constructing, assembling, and features to maintain the same level trouble-shooting the various com- of security and safety, but I think ponents. Mark Connaughton overall that improvements in both day was approaching, and so soon. assisted Hugh from time to time have occurred. So like everybody else, we just with advice and knowledge, drew tried to be as well prepared as we up blueprints for the pressure PATIENT MAINTENANCE, could. Fortunately, no bad prob- vessel, and did engineering model- THEN AND NOW lems developed, and we can now ing. Fred Chamberlain’s input was get back to tasks, both old and new, also useful, particularly because he Figure 1 shows the patient care that do not involve the changeover made a good critic and devil’s bay before and after the changeover of digits in the calendar year! advocate for evaluating new design to the new system. The large This report will briefly survey concepts. concrete vaults that used to house the decision-making and construc- Jim Amato, whose California- the neuro vault dewars are now tion that went into the new system, based company built the pressure gone, which frees up space for and basic details of the system vessel as well as many of the more dewars. Two more bigfoot itself. More information should bigfoot dewars, must be credited. dewars have been added, numbers become available as the remaining Also deserving of mention is Nils 7 and 8. More significant as details are completed and bugs are Tellier, consultant and CEO of Figure 1b shows, Bigfoot 1, which ironed out. NTCI, a local firm with expertise was formerly unused, is now in in cryogenic systems. Tellier service in a special way, as a CREDITS confirmed the basic workability of housing for the pressure vessel that will henceforth be used to deliver It is important in any undertak- the design that was adopted and drew up a detailed diagram that liquid nitrogen to the other con- ing to give credit where it is due. tainers. A system of pipes and In the case of Alcor’s new patient aided planning and construction. Bruce Cohen and Rusty Holder valves connects these other con- maintenance system, the principal tainers with the pressure vessel, as credit goes to Mathew Sullivan, were instrumental in getting the armor plate in place. Alcor volun- indicated schematically in Figure who thought of the idea in 1997, 1b, with additional details in planned the basic design, and teer Jerry Searcy deserves sincere thanks for his useful assistance to Figure 2. It is now possible to fill worked steadily and persistently to all the patient containers at once. get it implemented. Mathew Mathew and Hugh in their long labors to get the system up and reports that initially there was little PATIENT SECURITY enthusiasm for his proposed sys- running, particularly on Dec. 10 tem, so that bringing it into being when so many tasks needed doing. Protection against earthquakes involved perhaps more in the way (I too was busy that day and other was a principal motive for housing
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 41 LN2 delivery line
supply pressure vessel cabinet supply cabinet LN2 fill line a b
Fig. 1. Patient Care Bay, top-down view, (a) before and (b) after the recent transition to the new patient maintenance system. Dewars containing neuros or head-only cases were stored in concrete “neuro vaults” (NV #1, 2, with #1 currently unused). “Bigfoots” (BF #2- 5, with #1 and 6 unused) additionally stored whole-body patients. In (b), which shows the present setup, the concrete enclosing vaults are gone with only the neuro vault dewars remaining. (NV #1 is still unused.) Two more bigfoots have been added, with #1-6 now in regular use. (Bigfoot 1 is used to contain the pressure vessel while Bigfoots 2-5 store patients and specimens as before.)
pressure reference line LN fill line 2 to other storage containers pressure vent line
LN2 fill line
foam lid foam lid
LN2 level sensor line
LN2 level sensor line LN 2 LN 2 (bulk (patients, storage) specimens)
LN2 delivery line
pressure vessel BF #1 BF #2
Fig. 2. Side view of bigfoots 1 and 2 in Fig. 1b, showing additional details of pressure vessel and connecting lines. (These are somewhat schematic; actual, scaled dimensions will differ and include other details not shown.) Details of BF #2 are repeated in other storage containers, which are serially connected.
42 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 neuro dewars in vaults, back when SAFETY FEATURES crashing down. The cart, costing Alcor was in California. Earth- about $400, was a generous gift quakes are not considered a prob- The new system is an upgrade from Jerry Searcy, and has been lem in Arizona, but the vaults also of the previous system, but that noted in Alcor’s literature, but provided protection against fire, carries some downsides too. mention here is appropriate too. vandalism, and other physical Among these is the problem that The cart will probably be used destruction. The fire danger should liquid nitrogen is handled in greater less in the future with the new be small in view of the large, quantity than before, especially bulk delivery system but will still mainly concrete structure the when multiple dewar fills are being be handy during a suspension, patient dewars are now housed in, done. Liquid nitrogen is constantly when nitrogen cylinders are which also has a heat-activated boiling to the atmosphere and needed for the cooldown. sprinkler system. The other dangers converting to nitrogen gas. remain, however, and armor plating Nitrogen is non-toxic and PREPARATIONS has been installed along one wall to indeed, it already makes up four- FOR Y2K replace and enhance the shielding fifths of the atmosphere. It is not In some ways the prepara- formerly provided by the concrete dangerous, unless it interferes with tions for Y2K distracted from vaults. the supply of oxygen, and thus it is other tasks, but clearly this was But probably the greatest classed as a simple asphyxiant. beneficial to the system being challenge to patient security is not (Any gas other than oxygen, which constructed, inasmuch as a state physical disasters but simply the is vital to life, will also at best be a of readiness had to be achieved by difficulty of keeping the caretaking simple asphyxiant.) Resting quietly an early deadline—and it was. In organization (or its successors, inside a well-insulated patient addition to this, a large supply of should it fail) going long enough. It dewar, the boil-off of liquid nitro- liquid nitrogen, several thousand must deliver its patients to the gen is low, but more boiling and liters’ worth, was stockpiled, in future that will be able to repair release of asphyxiant gas occur case there was an extended inter- them—assuming such repair during fills. To provide protection, ruption in supply. The two new proves possible. Cost reduction a blower fan and an oxygen meter bigfoot dewars, each about 1,800- thus is important, and here the new have been installed. The fan should liter capacity, were filled with system offers a clear advantage. vent the extra nitrogen to the air liquid nitrogen as a backup, and Mathew estimates that bulk deliv- outside, but if this is inadequate and about 1,500 additional liters was ery will cut the cost of liquid oxygen concentration falls below stored in the pressure vessel. It nitrogen nearly in half, which will 19.5% (atmospheric level is should be noted that refilling the have the long-term effect of helping 20.9%), an alarm will sound. patient dewars from a reservoir ensure that Alcor (or actually its There is another, more has now become easier: the liquid Patient Care Trust) remains finan- mundane safety feature that has is first transferred into the pres- cially viable. actually been in use for some time sure vessel using a suction pump In an effort to further reduce now, a transport cart for 180-liter specially designed by Hugh cost, an extra-tall bigfoot dewar (#8) liquid nitrogen supply cylinders. Hixon. So, even though the was obtained. (This idea was These cylinders stand about 5 feet emergency that the stockpiling pioneered a few years ago by tall and weigh more than 500 lbs. was to guard against didn’t CryoSpan in California.) It is 12 full, and around 200 lbs. empty. develop, there will be no diffi- inches taller than the other bigfoots Normally they are handled in culty disposing of the surplus, and and has a lid with 24 inches of strong-arm fashion, by tipping it will diminish additional needs plastic foam instead of the usual 14 them slightly and rolling them over the next few weeks. inches. The thicker lid, it was across the floor. (Needless to say, reasoned, ought to insulate better a smooth, hard, level surface is a and thus reduce the boil-off of liquid must for this!) Accidents do nitrogen. Preliminary tests indicate a happen however, and the trans- reduction in boil-off of about a liter port cart has helped to reduce the a day, which would be sufficient to chance of serious injury or dam- pay for the cost of adding the extra age should one of the heavy height ($500) in about 3 years. cylinders tip too far and come
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 43 ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS (To conclude this report I’ve assembled some pictures showing Nov. 24. Welding work in highlights of the construction and Alcor’s machine shop to other work that has been completed create components for the on Alcor’s new system.) delivery system.
Dec. 2. Mathew does assembly work on the new system in the Patient Care Bay. Overhead, the intake of the blower fan for venting nitrogen gas to the outside can be seen.
Dec. 10. Three important components arrive from a manufacturer in California: (1) extra-tall bigfoot dewar, given the number 8; (2) “normal” sized bigfoot, Y2K Preparations. 20 180-liter cylinders numbered 7; (3) the pressure of liquid nitrogen arrive on Dec. 10, 1999 vessel that will hold and (our normal amount was about 3 cylinders, deliver liquid nitrogen for delivered weekly) and are wheeled into the the new system. Patient Care Bay. Upper view shows the “sea of 180s” from atop one of the bigfoot dewars, lower view, from the front entrance.
44 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Still Dec. 10, and now there’s lots to be done! Among the first things, Dec. 10 is also the day of the big liquid nitrogen delivery for bigfoot #7 is fork-lifted over to the open sliding door in Alcor’s Y2K. Here a delivery man threads his way around the cooldown area and scooted on inside. rented caterpillar tractor that is being used in hoisting the bigfoots and other heavy work.
The pressure vessel, in its lifting That will be awhile however. Here is At first there is a plan to tip it up and harness here, awaits placement in bigfoot 8 which, unlike 7, is too tall to put it on rollers—but that does not bigfoot 1, behind it. go through the doorway upright. look promising and is abandoned.
Instead, the 10-foot tall cylinder is just tipped way forward ... and it goes through just fine! Only problem now is getting it upright again.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 45 “Experts” Jerry Searcy, Hugh But Alcor Accounts Manager Joe Okay, time to get real, adjust some cables, lift and lower (what Hixon, and Mathew Sullivan show Hovey says it’s easy—if you know we’ve been doing all along, actually.) how it can’t be done. what you’re doing.
Swing it on down, and ...(note Finally, there it is: inside, upright, Meanwhile, we still have to we’ve put the wheels back on, too!) standing tall, a silvery beauty deal with that pressure vessel. shedding the last of its wrappings!
Wooden slats are fastened around Then it’s lowered very gingerly into its container (bigfoot 1), Jerry It’s in (and it’s dark) but now we it to protect against contact with Searcy giving needed directions, Hugh Hixon handling the “Cat” have to get the whole thing inside, the container it’s going into. as he has all through this long working day (good job, Hugh!). with the pipes sticking up at the top.
46 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Turns out it’s just a hair too tall to slide on through the doorway Only 3/10 of an inch clearance—but it’s enough! Soon we’ve without that awkward tipping. Removing the caps on the pipes got everything inside. might shorten the height just enough ...
After that things get more routine—but there’s still a lot of work to do. These pictures were made Dec. 15. The suction pump is being used to transfer liquid nitrogen from the bigfoot 8 dewar into the pressure vessel , watched by Alcor CEO Fred Chamberlain. Afterward, bigfoot 8 is refilled with liquid nitrogen, its thick foam lid resting on top.
[Added Comment by Fred Chamberlain:] and Hugh rose to a fever-pitch in be drafted and refined as operation mid-December of 1999, with Y2K of the system is optimized over the Hugh Hixon and Mathew drawing near. At the same time, it next six months or so. Sullivan evaluated a number of was apparent that a working system Many others on the Alcor Staff “breadboard” configurations last had been developed. and volunteers, as noted in Mike’s summer, until time limitations of The cost was far less than if article, played important roles. Y2K forced the choice of one of the project had been contracted out. the designs. Mike Perry contributed in many (Fantastic job, guys! The Patient Care Trust was in ways. The documentation in his Alcor’s 37 patients are touch with this project from start report (published here) represents to finish, authorizing increases in the beginnings of a “Detailed lucky to have you to costs as needed. Work by Mathew Design and Operations Manual”, to take care of them!)
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 47 Cryotransport Case Report, A-1755, Part I
In August 1999, the Patient Rapid response to a request for Third Party Anatomical Donor rescue of a non-member could be Year of Birth: 1920 was hospitalized with apparent in conflict with these priorities. Date initiated cryotransport: pneumonia. (To obtain hospital In a future case of this kind, it August 28, 1999 cooperation, Alcor agreed to confidentiality, not to name the is likely that at least an additional hospital or the town in which it twelve hours delay would be Report by: Fred Chamberlain required prior to Alcor’s initiating was located.) a standby. From our knowledge of CryoTransport Manager By 8/26/99 the Patient’s this case, such a delay might have Alcor Life Extension Foundation oxygen saturation level had fallen prevented a team from being on- Scottsdale, AZ as low as 46. At the time Alcor site, ready to initiate cryotransport, November 30, 1999 before the Patient’s cardiac arrest. was contacted, O2 saturation level had been restored to nearly 80, by Those who have not competed Part I - Standby and Transport oxygen administration. This was their arrangements in advance are at still a very low value. Lymphoma far higher risk that Alcor will to Scottsdale, Arizona decline to become involved or that (Condensed for publication in Cryonics) was suspected, but not confirmed. its response will be delayed, in a The attending physician predicted non-member, third party anatomi- Background History mortality within 24 hours. cal donation case. and Synopsis Even with “direct public service” Administrative and through BioTransport, Inc., there Cryotransport can be broken Logistics Factors will be no way to respond as quickly as if the Patient were a fully signed down into four areas: (1) patient up Alcor Member.] acquisition and initial biological Less than two hours after the stabilization, with transport to initial contact, Alcor Directors had been contacted and consented to a Due to the failure of pagers Alcor Central, (2) cryoperfusion, and cell phones to work in all (3) cooldown and (4) long term third party anatomical donation. Funding and paperwork were to be areas, Dr. Robert Newport could care. This report, Part I of II, not be contacted to deploy with the covers the first of these. Part II, in accomplished incrementally. Most of the administrative and remote rescue team. Linda Cham- the next issue of Cryonics, will berlain called many funeral homes cover (2) and (3). Long term care logistics arrangements had to be completed in a period of about five in the Patient’s area without (4) is just beginning. success, trying to secure local The Patient was not a member hours, prior to departure of the last flight to Chicago for the day. support. Only minutes before of Alcor. The Next of Kin (of the leaving for the airport did she find Patient) was in the sign-up process one which turned out to be ex- for Alcor Membership and made [Although there were special factors which gave the Alcor tremely cooperative and helpful. arrangements to have the Patient Board’confidence that in this case, placed into cryostasis as a “third rapidity of response was appropri- [The mortuary provided use of party anatomical donation”. ate, the Board has now formally their surgical facility far in This is acceptable to Alcor if resolved that this cannot be a advance, not knowing how routine response of Alcor to there are no indications that the long the standby might take; requests for acceptance of third they provided a mortician and Patient has rejected cryostasis. party anatomical donations. vehicle standby at the hospital, Alcor also was confident that there assisted with surgery for blood were no other problems (such as As provided in Alcor’s mission washout, helped with packag- statement, its priorities are (1) serious conflicts among family ing and shipment support, and safety of patients already in solved problems from hundred members) which might prevent the cryostasis, followed by (2) the miles away, when an air-cargo third party anatomical donation capability to respond to members office initially refused to load from taking place. who already have arrangements. the Patient.]
48 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 ACTs Louise Murray and Communications the Thumper (chest compression Russ Cheney were asked to deploy and Coordination device), based on the fact that this as part of the standby team. could disturb other patients. They reached the airport (Los The Patient’s Next of Kin Angeles International) in time, (PNK) was contacted by cell Preparations for Transport Russ missed the flight due to an phone and found to still be en airline foulup, but found an alter- route. Instead of arriving in By mid-afternoon (Friday, nate flight and arrived in Chicago Chicago, the PNK’s plane was August 27, 1999, at about 4:00 an hour ahead of the rest of us. diverted and landed even farther p.m.) the PNK told us that the from the Patient than the Alcor Patient was slipping rapidly and Alcor Central Activities; team. The PNK was expected to that we should prepare for a Standby Team Travel/Logistics reach the Patient’s location about cryotransport as quickly as pos- noon. Team Members slept if they sible. Logistics work accelerated. At Alcor Central, Hugh Hixon could, 1-4 hours. Since we were Drawing medications began at and Bruce Cohen set up the operat- not yet in contact with the Patient’s about 4:15 p.m. At the mortuary, ing room and prepared for filtering physician or relatives (except the setup and checkout of the ATP took of perfusate. Two local surgeons, PNK), we were at a standstill place. Readiness for a suspension Jose Kanshepolski M.D. and pending the PNK’s arrival. was complete by 7:00 p.m. By this Nancy McEachern D.V., were on- The PNK informed the team time, about 35 hours had passed call. Other ACT team members (by cellular phone) of an arrange- since the first call came in to Alcor. were contacted to participate in the ment for a staff physician in the By 10:30 p.m., following brief cryoprotective perfusion. PNK’s company to be present and meals in shifts, the team regrouped The standby team (total of (possibly) participate. In view of outside the hospital. The principal four) regrouped at O’Hare Interna- the difficulty we had experienced concern was the timeline. Based tional Airport, at about 2:00 a.m. in contacting Alcor’s primary team on the afternoon’s outlook that Central Daylight Time and de- M.D., this was welcome backup. cardiac arrest was hours away, all parted. Equipment taken with us During this phone call, the medications were drawn (except included the PIB/SCD (Portable possibility was discussed that the Streptokinase, because of its Ice Bath & Spray Cooling Device) washout procedure take place on expense). Within 24 hours, our Kit, Medications Kit, ATP (Air the hospital’s premises. With this protocol would require discarding Transportable Perfusion) System, idea in mind, the PNK called the the old medications and redrawing MHP (organ preservation fluid; 20 hospital (again, from a cell phone them when a suspension appeared liters), and a Thumper (automatic en route) to propose this approach. to be near at hand. At that point, chest compression device depen- The hospital was resistant to we would already be arranging for dent on hospital wall oxygen or the proposal. They made an urgent more medications to be flown in, local acquisition of high pressure request for detailed information as a backup. oxygen cylinders). concerning our protocol, credentials Nearing 40 hours with very Travel time by highway was of team members, and the extent to little sleep, we began planning how about five hours (the distance was which hospital facilities and their to obtain as much sleep as we slightly over 200 miles; light fog personnel would be needed. could, while maintaining enough slowed us down; team members In the end, communications on-site presence to start a transport were sleepy). Our two cell phones with the hospital by the PNK’s if a sudden turn for the worse proved valuable in coordinating the staff physician led to partial coop- occurred. drive and later were indispensable eration. Without this, we could Outside the ICU, the team in organizing the standby. have been far more restricted in our reviewed the “”First Ten Minute” Near the Patient’s hospital, a procedures. Although the hospital protocol, assigning actions to team motel was located as a base of finally allowed medications to be members and rehearsing procedures operations; 24 hours had passed given without delay after cardiac to make them go as smoothly and since Alcor was first contacted. arrest, they refused to allow use of quickly as possible.
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 49 Changes in Support; The Alcor Team was finally Times logged during the Criteria for Decision-making allowed to move to a location washout are as shown in Figure 2. close to the Patient at 2:10 a.m., The mortician assisting with The PNK requested that any when pronouncement was immi- cannulation was unfamiliar with optional life-support measures for nent. At 2:35 a.m. the PNK told medical cannula and the surgical the Patient be stopped, so long as the Team that the Patient had been instruments in Alcor’s kit. For they did not cause discomfort, yet pronounced, and we were permit- fear of friability of vessels, the the hospital staff would not cooper- ted to begin our procedures. The cannula used were smaller than ate with this request until certain PNK provided the times of arrest optimal. Thankfully, the washout criteria were met. The criteria kept and pronouncement. Major events went smoothly; brain cooling was changing, ranging from “pupils logged are as shown in Figure 1. effective. fixed and dilated” to “pain unre- The flow rates noted reflect sponsiveness.” Remote Whole Body Washout less actual arterial pressure than At about midnight, a nurse measured, since pressures were from ICU informed the team that The Patient was transported measured upstream of the small the Patient was unresponsive and from the hospital to the mortuary’s cannula. While the flow rates they were about to remove physi- field washout facility. There was were thus less than usually em- ological support, but they could no delay in removing the patient ployed, they nonetheless produced not find the PNK. While a search from the hospital inasmuch as the a rapid bilateral reduction in brain began for the PNK, the last of the mortician was on standby through- temperature. medications were made ready. out the critical waiting period from Alcor had been advised by a about 10:00 p.m. the previous scientist at 21st Century Medicine, CPR, Medication, evening until transport began at Inc., that lower perfusion pressures and Initial, External Cooling 2:35 a.m. than in the past be used, at least in the cryoprotection phase, even at the expense of lower flow rates. In Transport Timeline; Major Items - at Hospital that light, the lower pressures may have not detracted, and could have been beneficial. As medications 0235 Team notified in waiting room (down hall from ICU). 0239 Tympanic temperature probes placed in patient’s ears. were able to be given immediately 0241 Data logger turned on (to record temperatures). after pronouncement, coagulation 0242 Ice bags placed around patient’s head. was minimal and posed no signifi- 0245 Manual CPS begun. 0249 THAM I.V. (500 ml) started into Schwan catheter. cant obstacle. Except for initial 0250 Mannitol IV started (500 ml). problems with cannulation, the 0254 Dextran 40 IV started (500 ml). washout was uneventful. 0255 Diprivan (10.9 cc). One important observation: 0259 Potassium chloride (27.2 cc). 0300 Sodium Heparin (2.3 cc). During recirculation, which was 0301 Streptokinase (250,000 IU). maintained for more than one half 0301 Metubine Iodide (1.9 cc). hour with rapid drop of tempera- 0303 Epinephrine (10.9 cc). 0303 Nimodipine (0.5 cc). tures in the brain, there was no 0304 Deferoxamine (2000 ml). evidence of tissue accumulation of 0304 Chlorpromazine (6.5 cc). fluids or loss of them, based on a 0304 Methylprednisolone (8 cc). 0305 Gentamicin sulfate (2.7 cc). static level in the venous return 0306 Bactrim 10 cc) given (End of IV). reservoir. Thus, although the 0309 Maalox 60 cc given by gastric tube. cannula were maintained in posi- 0310 Prepared to leave hospital room. tion manually, leakage as might 0318 Permission from hospital to remove patient. 0325 Removal of patient from ICU. have occurred was undetectable. When brain temperature on Figure 1. both probes dipped below 10°C and the remaining reserve organ preser-
50 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Transport Timeline - Major Items hours and minutes after start of Field Washout and Shipping Preparations data loging. “0:00” on the data logger corresponds to 02:41 a.m. 0335 Arrival at mortuary with patient. 2:24 on the logger would be 5:05 0349 Prep patient with Betadine scrub. a.m. Comparing this with the 0353 Patient’s left Femoral artery raised. 0357 Patient’s left Femoral vein raised. timeline log, 05:12 a.m. is com- 0437 Vein cannulated with 18 french Sairns venous cannula. mencement of recirculation, and 0439 Artery cannulated with 16 french Baird arterial cannula. the first phase (open circuit wash- 0410 Primed cannulas; problems with insertion. out) would have been started at 0410 Observations of sclerotic vessels. 0437 Cannulation complete. almost exactly 5:00 a.m. This 0445 Perfusion commenced. matches the change in trend of the (Paused to resolve cannulation difficulties. graph exactly. T1 and T2 repre- Washout .commenced.) 0510 Ten liters of perfusate expended. sent the two channels of the data 0512 Clamps switched on supply/venous return lines logger (unfortunately, the relation- (Recirculation commenced) ships of left and right tympanic 0513 Second blood sample taken probes to channel numbers were Flow vs. Pressure Determination; 85 mm Hg ~ 0.70 l/min. (See * at Flow vs. Pressure Determination; 95 mm Hg ~ 0.80 l/min. not recorded). right.) Flow vs. Pressure Determination; 105 mm Hg ~ 0.90 l/min. Figure 4 on the next page Flow vs. Pressure Determination; 115 mm Hg ~ 1.00 l/min. shows, at higher resolution, shifts 0523 Brain temperature 15.1°C, 15.1°C * (Times not noted. of tympanic temperature during 0544 Final blood sample taken These were rapidly 0546 Recirculatory perfusion terminated. sequenced measure- recirculatory washout of the brain. (Venous outflow 8.6°C, 10.2°C) ments of flow vs. Clock times vs. relative times to 0605 Cannula secured for airshipment of Patient. perfusion pressure to characterize vascular the start of data logging are shown, resistance.) (Preparations for Shipment) to help relate data to the chronol- ogy of events. 0515 Placed dropcloth in shipping tray As mentioned above, open 0708 Surround Patient with ice bags 0709 Close body pouch circuit perfusion started at about 0710 Place lid on Ziegler case. 5:00 a.m., and continued for about 0712 Wrap fiberglass insulation around Ziegler case thirty minutes after recirculation 0730 Place insulation on top of Ziegler case. 0731 Place cardboard outer cover in place began (at 5:12 a.m.). In that time, typanic temperatures as recorded Figure 2. by the data logger (DuaLogR) vation fluid was permitted to flow open circuit, it was apparent that none of it had been used to replace fluids lost by surgical leakage or Figure 3. edematous buildup of body fluids. T1 This was a very positive aspect of Temperature Descent the washout. T from initiation of data At your right in Figure 3 is the 2 logger operation. primary temperature profile of the washout. Other supporting plots 0:00 = 02:41 a.m. are included and discussed. 2:24 = 05:05 a.m. Temperature Descent Data; (See text.) Tympanic Membrane Probes
In Figure 3, temperature Time From Start Of Cooldown - Hours:Minutes descent data is timed in terms of
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 51 showed a drop of 17°C for T2, and 13°C for T1. Figure 4. Figure 3 shows T2 rising sharply immediately after inser- T Temperature Data from tympanic membranes tion, and then staying at a higher 1 at higher time resolution during TBW (Total temperature until the crossover Body Washout). shown in Figure 4. Channel T1 T2 was the “cooler” channel initially, and then became warmer during initial blood washout and blood washout. Both channels recirculatory perfusion for converged during air shipment, cooling. This not only and other comparisons lead us to showed that perfusate was believe that instrumentation error reaching the brain, but (as the or lack of calibration do not diagram shows) it was bilater- explain the differences. What ally effective (both sides of the might have happened? Time of Day brain were equally protected). The most logical explanation is The two plots tracked closely that the probe placement, in which during perfusion, as compared wax was used to secure the probes, crossover of temperatures, rather with the earlier stage of resulted in a shallower placement than a convergence, and helped to transport. We are still sorting for T1 than T2, and that T1 cooled better explain what might have out reasons for this difference more rapidly than T2 in the begin- happened. in the data.”] ning due to closer proximity to surface cooling. Based on this [In an earlier article in Cryon- Temperature Descent Data; scenario, T2 (cooling more slowly) ics (see Appendix A), refer- Field Washout Perfusion Circuit would more accurately reflect ring only to Figure 3, the blood temperature at the tympanic observation was stated as In addition to temperatures at membrane and would be the best follows: “In particular, data tympanic membranes (Figures 3 measure of initial brain cooling. showed smooth, balanced and 4), temperatures in the arterial Once blood washout com- cooldown of the brain during and venous lines were measured menced, the conditions would reverse. T1, coupled to the inertia of surface temperatures, would Figure 5. Extracorporeal circulation system have been overtaken by T2, which line temperatures during recirculatory cooling. would more closely be coupled to the cold perfusate circulating in the vascular system. While this explanation is hypothetical, it is consistent with all of the data. Venus (Return) Temperatures Until Figure 4 was generated, with the foregoing analysis, Figure 3 had been used as the primary interpretation tool. Comments had been obtained from team members as to the possibilities for the data’s divergence prior to washout, and the apparent excellent convergence Arterial (Infusion) Temperatures once perfusion began. Figure 4, however, clearly indicates that the washout produced a systematic Local Time - A/V Loop Cooldown
52 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 during recirculatory cooling. The change of the perfusate alone. ing to use the rental cars to super- temperature differential between Each patient’s physiology will vise loading at air cargo. A prob- arterial and venous lines is a clear be different, as to degree of obe- lem was encountered when the measure of the degree to which sity, patency of circulatory system, mortuary driver failed to communi- each liter perfused removed heat, etc. In the case of this Patient, we cate well with the personnel at air so this data could be correlated may recall that there was no cargo, and there was a brief period with reduction of brain tempera- evidence of loss of fluids to tissues during which it appeared the ture, if desired. or dehydration during the period of Patient would not be loaded. As In Figure 5, it is apparent that recirculation. This is consistent mentioned earlier, the mortuary, the chilled perfusate (once recircu- with the idea that the circulatory several hundred miles away, was lation began at 5:12 a.m.) stayed at system was in very good condition contacted by cell phone, and approximately 3°C throughout the in general and contributed to the resolved the problem in short order. recirculation, while the relatively overall cooling effect of TBW In Phoenix, Joe Hovey picked warm venous return dropped (total body washout) with thirty up the team at the airport, and systematically with the exception minutes of recirculation. Bruce Cohen took Alcor’s ambu- of a few fluctuations between 5:02 lance to air cargo to transport the and 5:09 (a period during which Packaging and Air Transport Patient. By late afternoon, all we were struggling to obtain to Scottsdale, Arizona team members and the Patient secure cannula placement - finally were en route to Alcor. At that one of the surgical team members By the time field washout point, about 5:00 p.m Scottsdale was instructed to “hold the cannula procedures were complete, it was time, it had been approximately 57 in place manually,” as discussed nearly 6:00 a.m. The first avail- hours since the first call had come earlier.) able flight to Scottsdale from in to Alcor. The temperature difference of O’Hare International Airport in the two lines varied from nearly Chicago was at about 2:00 p.m. End of Part I (Part II will be 15°C at the outset to about 5°C With a driving time of (conserva- published in the next Cryonics). near the end, and flow was slightly tively) at least three hours, a less than one liter per minute. A necessity to deliver the Patient to “straight line” analysis of this the air cargo office two hours Note: This report conveys a realistic picture of some would thus project that (assuming before takeoff and the patient yet of the the many challenges one liter per minute, for conve- to be packed, there was little and uncertainties involved nience) that thirty minutes of such margin for unforeseen delays. In with cryotransport. perfusion at an average tempera- Scottsdale, preparations for sur- ture difference of 10°C would gery and cryoperfusion were in Alcor’s rescue teams are have cooled a mass of 120 pounds progress, based on our making that presently its only means of (approximately 55 Kg or 55 liters) particular flight. The cardboard responding, if your life is by 30x10/55 = (only) 5.45°C. But outer box (per the time line above) endangered. Someday, such rescue efforts might be the brain was cooled between was placed at 7:31 a.m., and the launched by calling “911”. 13°C and 15°C, according to the team’s two vehicles left for Chi- tympanic data! cago between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. Until then, we ask that you The explanation is almost During transit to Chicago, it encourage and support all certainly a combination of (1) was possible to contact the driver of the Alcor CryoTransport better perfusion of the brain than of the mortuary vehicle that was Team (ACT) Members you of the body core in general, and (2) transporting the Patient by cell know. Your life might circulation that did reach the phone and to monitor his progress. depend on them, and they have pledged to be there for body’s surface area being further It was nearly noon at the time the you, if you need them. cooled by externally cooled tis- teams reached the airport, and a sues, augmenting the cooling that decision was made to check the would have been expected by equipment in and proceed to the reference to the temperature boarding area rather than attempt-
1st Qtr. 2000 • Cryonics 53 Afterword, from dying today must choose whether to join rapidly we do it. Research is not done by the experimental group or the control a faceless "them," nor is it something that Nanomedicine, by Robert A. Freitas, Jr. group. The luxury of waiting for a happens spontaneously and without any ( continued from page 15) definitive answer before choosing is human intervention. It is done by and simply not available. So the decision must supported by people. Unless we decide to The extraordinary medical prospects be made today, on the basis of incomplete support and pursue this research, it won't ahead of us have renewed interest in a information. We already know what happen. How long it takes to develop proposal made long ago: that the dying happens to the control group. The outcome depends on us. We are not idle bystanders patient could be frozen, then stored at the for the experimental group has not yet watching the world go by. We are a part temperature of liquid nitrogen for decades been confirmed. But given the wonderful of it. If we sit and wait for someone else or even centuries until the necessary advances that we see coming, it seems to develop this technology, it will happen medical technology to restore health is likely that we should be able to reverse much more slowly. If we jump in and developed. Called cryonics, this service is freezing injury--especially when that work to make it happen, it will happen now available from several companies. injury is minimized by the rapid introduc- sooner. And developing a life saving Because final proof that this will work tion through the vascular system of medical technology within our lifetimes must wait until after we have developed a cryoprotectants and other chemicals to seems like a very good idea--certainly medical technology based on the founda- cushion the tissues against further injury. better than the alternative." tion of a mature nanotechnology, the procedure is experimental. We cannot Conclusion prove today that medical technology will (or will not) be able to reverse freezing The development of nanomedicine Immortality on Ice injury 100 years from now. But the patient depends on us: what we do and how (the video). By the Discovery Channel. Wear Alcor’s Symbols! About 60 minutes run time. (ash and white) Popular introductory tape. Sweatshirts $15.00 each Sizes: small, medium, large, xlarge, xxlarge $25.00 plus S&H. T-Shirts $10.00 each Sizes (ash, white): small, medium, large, xlarge, xxlarge
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To order, call 1-480-905-1906 with your Visa/MC number, or send check / money-order to Alcor Foundation 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Ste. 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Cover Art by Tim Hubley ! MOVING? Over the last several years, Tim Hubley has provided Cryonics with some of the most beautiful and Let us know creative CGI art we’ve ever seen. about it! Now Tim is selling a limited run Call 4th Qtr. 97 1st Qtr. 98 2nd Qtr. 98 (only 20 copies each!) of matted 1-480-905-1906 8.5” x 11” color ink-jet prints of these images (without all the messy and ask for text added in layout) for only Joe Hovey. $15.00, plus shipping and handling. Don’t miss even To order your prints, contact Tim one issue of Hubley through email at: Cryonics! 3rd Qtr. 98 4th Qtr. 98 1st Qtr. 99 [email protected].
54 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000 Do You Have Your Copy of The First Immortal Yet?
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Send check or money order to the Alcor Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. With Visa or Mastercard, call 1-480-905-1906. BioTransport, Inc. Is seeking emergency medical community professionals (EMT’s, Paramedics, ER Techni- cians, Nurses and Physicians) for on-call contract response, to deliver cryotransport rescue services to member organizations and to the general public. For application forms and other information, contact Fred Chamberlain at 480-905-1906, or email to [email protected], or [email protected]
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56 Cryonics • 1st Qtr. 2000