PUBLISHED BY THE CRYONICS INSTITUTE ISSUE 02 | 2018

Cryonics insights and information for members and friends of the Cryonics Institute NEWSLETTER

cryonics.org • [email protected] • 1 (866) 288-2796 CI BULLETIN

Secretary and Paul Hagen, CI Director. All of these direc- tors have announced their intentions to run and I wish them all the best of luck.

I hope that you are happy with the progress at CI so far and endorse the direction that we are heading. If you like what you see, please give your support by voting and showing your approval for all the positive work that is being done.

Whether you yourself run for election or not, please remember that CI is a member run organization and that there are many other ways to volunteer and help out. Donations of time and money are always welcome and they make us stronger. If you would like to volunteer Dennis Kowalski - CI President or donate money please see http://www.cryonics.org/ Hello All donate/ or send me an email at [email protected].

We are coming up on election time again and it’s time we Things are moving along at CI very swiftly as we have think about who we want on the CI Board of Directors. recently expanded in Clinton Township to accommodate CI’s leadership is comprised of fully-funded members additional operations here in the Michigan area and west- who themselves hope to be cryopreserved in the future. ward. The Cryonics Institute currently has more members If you meet those crieria and would like to run for a Board signed up and more whole body suspensions than any position and potentially have a hand in CI’s leadership other organization and we are growing at a faster pace and decision making, this would be the time to seek as well. If positive growth is what you want, and you out information and to submit your nomination. If you agree that there is strength in numbers, then we can all are interested in running for office, please submit your be proud of this expansion for both CI and cryonics itself. request before the due date of July 30th to cihq@aol. I would also like to announce the addition of a new com. If you are not sure about the requirements to run for fulltime staff member at CI to assist with the increasing office, please see page 15 of this magazine, give us a call workload and growth we are experiencing. I am very at 586-791-5961 or email [email protected] in advance of happy to introduce our newest employee and handy the due date. CI is uniquely democratically run and thus man, Mike McCauley. Please see the full story on page our members have a vested interest in how CI is man- 7, and if you happen to see him at our AGM please wel- aged. It is important to choose wisely. come him aboard. Mike has proven to be a hardworking We currently have four excellent incumbent directors and dedicated person and that is just what we need at that I wholeheartedly endorse and recommend for your CI. He provides additional depth and redundancy to our consideration. The four directors up for election this organization and I wish him a long and prosperous future term include Constance Ettinger, CI’s Contract Officer, with the Cryonics Institute. Welcome to CI Mike - we’re Pat Heller, CI’s Treasurer, Joe Kowalsky, CI’s Assistant certainly glad to have you on our team!

2 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG There is still a lot of work to be done. And that work starts was impulsive right till the end and was a bit of a leap- with each and every one of us. I say it nearly every time before-you-look person - which, unfortunately, we still see I speak, that what we do as individuals to prepare in sometimes in cryonics today. advance makes all the difference. I would like to again However, we really did learn a lot from Nelson both remind everyone to take a moment to review your own positive and negative. Nelson was correct that waiting suspension plans and see what you can do to improve for perfect circumstances to get started would probably them a little more. We have included “to do” lists in the have cost the cryonics movement many years and many magazine and helpful information in the Resources sec- lives. Even Ettinger was surprised at the delay in action tion of the CI website. Please take advantage of those after his famous book was published. There are even materials and also share your experiences, both good some who argue that we shouldn’t be freezing people and bad, so that we can all learn and have the best right now. They argue that the idea is still premature and chance to see the future. the technology isn’t perfected. I say “tell that to the people Recently a very public figure in the cryonics movement, who can’t wait that long.” How many people die of termi- Robert Nelson, passed away and is now CI patient num- nal illness waiting to get an experimental drug because ber 170. Nelson helped to found the Cryonics society of pencil pushers who don’t want to take chances or of California which was the first organization to actually assume any risk? suspend a person (James Bedford) using the concepts of cryonics created by CI’s Robert Ettinger. Bedford was We also discovered that expecting ongoing cryonics frozen by Nelson on Jan 12, 1967, breaking new ground maintenance payments from a preserved person’s family and taking the concept of cryonics from an intellectual on a handshake deal was a very bad business decision. dream to a physical reality. In this regard Nelson was a One of Nelson’s chief problems was caused by skeptical pioneer who paved the way for the rest of us to follow. surviving family members simply stopping their pay- ments. Today, responsible Cryonics organizations require Nelson’s life was a wild roller coaster of raw enthusiasm full payment or proof of funding up front. and initiative as well as controversy and, yes, failure. Despite his early successes and efforts, the Cryonics Ultimately, I think Nelson was a good person with real Society of California was eventually dissolved which led flaws and rather than focus on the negatives I want to to the infamous Chatsworth disaster in which nine sus- celebrate what we learned from him. Say what you will pended people ended up buried or cremated. Sadly, the about Nelson, but he was a pioneer and those who came fallout from this led to lawsuits and a whole lot of bad PR after him learned and benefited from everything he did in for the nascent cryonics community as well as the tragic one way or another. loss of potential life. Ironically, before he died Nelson made one more mistake Many people in the media and even some within the cry- that we can learn from. Upon review of his case report you onics community vilified nelson as a scam artist for letting might notice that he was not perfused, and frankly, was the disaster occur. Others like CI’s Robert Ettinger were almost not suspended at all. He put off funding verifica- kinder in their assessment of Nelson. They saw him as a tion with CI, even after repeated warnings. I am not sure simple do-it-yourself guy who got in way over his head. I why he did this but it reveals to me that Nelson himself myself spoke with Robert Nelson and believe the latter as was not immune from his own flaws. I don’t think he was Robert Ettinger did. I believe Nelson had good intensions a bad person. He simple had very human faults and weak- but perhaps wasn’t the best planner or businessman. He nesses. For good or bad it was who he was.

3 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG In the end, I am very happy that this was straightened out around the world. It also gives people the chance to meet by his family and CI who worked hard to honor this man’s and talk with Officers, Directors & Staff, including myself. wishes. The final lesson of Robert Nelson was not to take I would also like to note that our meeting is open to the planning for granted and to make sure you have done all general public, so if you aren’t a member but have been you can to eliminate problems before they happen. Can thinking about signing up for cryonics this is a great oppor- you look in the mirror and say you have done all that you tunity to have your questions answered in person to help can? If there is any doubt in your mind, please take some you decide. I also encourage you to bring a friend or family time to look at our resources and to check and double check your own situation. Your fate will most definitely member along if you are a current member and would like depend on it. to introduce them to cryonics. I am proud to say we have had more than a few non-member guests who joined us Let’s try to learn from past mistakes rather than repeating for the meeting and left as CI Members. them. Tours of the CI facility will be available prior to the meeting In closing please don’t forget about our 2018 AGM. Details from approximately 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. are below as well as on page 14 of this issue. Please note, CI staff is very busy preparing for the meeting

2018 Annual General Meeting on this day, which is why the facility is closed to both mem- bers and the general public outside of these scheduled The Cryonics Institute’s 2018 Annual General Meeting will times. So if you would like to visit, please plan accordingly be held Sunday, September 9th at the ConCorde Inn to come between 12:00 and 2:00. Hotel & Conference Center in Clinton Township, MI. We will also be hosting the popular “Night Before” Social Rooms at the ConCorde Inn are on a first-come, first-served and Dinner event at 6pm on Saturday, September 8th at basis, so please make your reservations now. Regular Sajo’s Restaurant. This informal dinner is always a great rates are $139.99 but reduced to $89.99 if you men- time to socialize and meet new people, so I encourage you tion you’re with CI or use promo code 0908CI to attend. However, please remember, guests are respon- http://www.concordeinns.com. sible for their own checks.

I always enjoy the chance to meet members in person to Finally, we do ask the courtesy of an RSVP if you plan on share ideas and perspectives on cryonics and the Cryonics attending. For driving directions, more meeting informa- Institute and the Annual General Meeting offers members tion and to confirm attendance, please send email to the opportunity to meet other members and guests from [email protected] or phone (586) 791-5961.

CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS The digital newsletter of the Cryonics Institute Cryonics Institute or cryonics-related articles are 24355 Sorrentino Ct. welcome. Submissions: [email protected] Clinton Township, MI 48035-3239

Phone: 1 (586) 791-5961 Toll-free: 1 (866) 288-2796 (North America) E-SUBSCRIPTIONS FAX: 1 (586) 792-7062 * As a CI member, you are automatically added Email: [email protected] to our email reminder list. To unsubscribe, please use the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom © 2018 Cryonics Institute of your email.

4 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Membership Benefits Why join the Cryonics Institute? 1) A Second Chance at Life Training Materials and Kits for members who choose Membership qualifies you to arrange and fund a to perform Local Standby. vitrification (anti-crystallization) perfusion and cooling upon legal death, followed by long-term storage in 7) Affordable Funding Options liquid nitrogen. Instead of certain death, you and Cryopreservation with CI can be funded through your loved ones could have a chance at rejuvenated, life insurance policies issued in the USA or other healthy physical revival through cryopreservation. countries. Prepayment and other options for funding are also available to CI members. 2) Affordable Cryopreservation The Cryonics Institute (CI) offers full-body 8) Cutting-Edge Cryonics Information cryopreservation for as little as $28,000. Members receive a free e-subscription to the Cryonics Institute Newsletter, as well as access to our Facebook 3) Affordable Membership page, Twitter feed, YouTube channel and an official Become a Lifetime Member for a one-time payment members-only forum. of only $1,250, with no dues to pay. Or join as a Yearly Member with a $75 inititation fee and dues of 9) Helpful, Professional Support just $120 per year, payable by check, credit card or CI’s professional staff is available to answer any PayPal. questions and address any concerns you may have about CI, your membership or Cryopreservation. 4) Lower Prices for Spouses and Children The cost of a Lifetime Membership for a spouse of a 10) Additional Preservation Services Lifetime Member is half-price and minor children of a CI offers a sampling kit, shipping and long-term liquid Lifetime Member receive membership free of charge. nitrogen storage of tissues and DNA from members, their families or pets for just $98. 5) Quality of Treatment CI employed a Ph.D level cryobiologist to develop 11) Support Education and Research CI-VM-1, CI’s vitrification mixture which can Membership fees help CI to fund important cryonics help prevent crystalline formation at cryogenic research and public outreach, education and temperatures. information programs to advance the science of cryonics. 6) Standby Options and Assistance CI’s use of Locally-Trained Funeral Directors means 12) Member Ownership and Control that our members can get knowledgeable, licensed CI Members are the ultimate authority in the care. Or members can arrange for professional organization and own all CI assets. They elect the cryonics standby and transport by subcontracting Board of Directors, from whom are chosen our with Suspended Animation, Inc or International officers. CI members also can change the Bylaws of Cryomedicine Experts (I.C.E.) Ci also offers Standby the organization (except for corporate purposes).

The choice is clear: Irreversible physical death, dissolution and decay, or the possibility of a vibrant and joyful renewed life. Don’t you want that chance for yourself, your spouse, parents and children?

To get started, contact us at: (586) 791-5961 • email: [email protected] Visit us online at www.cryonics.org CI NEWS What’s happening at the Cryonics Institute

CI Media Coverage with a Positive Spin

CI President Dennis Kowalski was in the news recently, con- ducting two interviews discussing cryonics and his plans to have himself and his family cryonically preserved. Dennis remarked “I am extremely happy to see the more positive tone of coverage. If we always had this kind of public cover- age I think we would have much more interest in what we are doing.”

On May 1, Kowalski was interviewed by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain. It’s noteworthy that Good Morning Britain Interview host Piers Morgan initially reacts with skepticism but ends up “warming to the idea” by the end of the segment.

On May 22, Kowalski was featured on local Milwaukee sta- tion CBS 58. Kowalski remarked “It was amazing to see all positive remarks from the doctor on the science side, the archdiocese on the religious side and the professor on the philosophical side. Then to my surprise the reporter even said he would consider cryonics for himself!”

The Good Morning Britain interview can be seen HERE.

The CBS 58 segement can be seen HERE. CBS 58 Milwaukee Interview

Facility Update

A new catwalk was installed by the third row of cryostats. Safety rails were added to both catwalks for additional CI staff safety. The production of another catwalk will be started for the new patient storage area, which is now holding our 170th patient. All cryostats in the main patient storage area have been filled, so the new area is now being used. There are currently two cryostats in that area and we are expecting another three to be delivered soon.

The new patient storage area is in our current building and was made ready by new CI employee Facilities Technician Mike McCauley and Facilities Manager Andy Zawacki. There were many cosmetic and technical changes that were done to pre- pare the area for patient storage. The same types of updating will soon begin at the new building. Stay tuned for updates!

6 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CI NEWS What’s happening at the Cryonics Institute

Mike McCauley Joins the CI Facility Team manager. I then attended vocational school for 2 years to become a machinist. I was a CNC machinist for 34 years. I programmed and set up CNC machines for Aerospace work. I was also a project leader.

How does working for CI coincide with your previous work experience?

At my previous jobs I had leadership roles, so I am good with managing my time and tasks. In my spare time, I have taken builder’s classes and have been a handyman for all of my life, so I am confident I will be able to maintain and update the current and new facilities. I am innovative and have a fresh perspective and new ideas that I think CI will benefit from.

We are happy to welcome the Cryonics Institute’s newest employee, Mike McCauley, to the CI team! Mike is working as a Facilities Technician between the current facility and the new facility. We had a chance to talk to Mike about him- self and his new role at CI.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Mike, I’m 53 years old. I live in Clinton Township with my wife, Sue, and we have lived here for about 17 years now. I have two daughters, Rachel and Hillary, and two grandkids, Jensen and Ryland. Before starting at CI, I was a CNC machinist and did that for 34 years. I enjoy doing home improvement projects, landscaping, gardening, and spend- ing time with my friends and family.

Please explain your educational and professional back- ground. What are your responsibilities at CI? I grew up in Southfield and went to Southfield Lathrup High School. Before becoming a machinist, I worked for The focus of my job is maintaining the facilities. I am doing Taco Bell and completed training in Chicago to become a updating in our current building and will soon begin prepar-

7 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CI NEWS What’s happening at the Cryonics Institute

ing the new facility for patient storage. I am learning the day How do you like working at CI so far? to day operations from Andy and Hillary, so I will be able to I have very much enjoyed my first two months and I am do things like fill the storage units, help with patients, work excited to keep learning. I think Andy, Hillary, and I make on the cryostats, et cetera. I will also share an on-call sched- a really good team and work well together. I am happy to ule for emergencies with Andy and Hillary. be a part of CI’s growth and look forward to gaining more How did you first become involved with the Cryonics experience. Institute? What are your thoughts about cryonics? I first heard of cryonics when my daughter, Hillary, started doing contract work at CI with perfusions. Once she started I find it very interesting. I can understand why people sign up full time, I came to tour the facility to learn more. I always told for it because I definitely see the potential. Considering the Hillary that if she and Andy ever needed an extra hand, I was research and progress with cryopreserving embryos and interested in helping. When it was decided that CI needed organs, reviving a whole human body does not seem out another employee, I applied for the job and got to meet with of the question, in my opinion. Technology has advanced Dennis Kowalski, the President, and David Ettinger. I was so much already over the years that it just makes sense for very excited when they offered me the job and was ready to people to take the chance. I’m proud to be involved in the start a new chapter in my life. cryonics movement.

8 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CI NEWS What’s happening at the Cryonics Institute Hawaii Volcano: CI Member’s Eyewitness Account

Story and Photos by Ronald Wayne Trumble

I have lived in Hawaii now for 20 years, born and raised in I immediately got on my telephone while still flying back to Texarkana Texas. I have never witnessed anything quite like the airport to report what I just witnessed. The next day we this in my entire life. The most devastating volcanic erup- had 2 earthquakes the largest a 6.9 when a shelf shifted tion occurred on May 3rd around 10:30 a.m. I was at Hilo under Kilauea. I was at the airport, of course, underneath my airplane. First I saw the wings swaying back and forth, next International Airport working on my airplane when I noticed thing I knew I was on the ground scooting along the pave- a plume of smoke in the distance, about 35 miles away. I ment, watching the fence go by, swaying back and forth like knew immediately something was terribly wrong. I got in a leaf on a tree. Very frightening. When I got home that after- the airplane and arrived at the Pu’u O’o vent. (this crater was noon pictures were sideways, china on the floor, windows formed in 1983). I was the very first pilot there after the crater out of their casing. Since then, we’ve had literally thousands wall imploded. I could not see the bottom, just a little smoke of small earthquakes, some you can feel, some you cannot. was left. Incidentally, a group of us walked up to the edge Now, over 21 fissures have opened. Two of these fissures of this crater only a month ago to watch the bubbling pools spurt molten lava, magma, three to four hundred feet into less than 200 feet from the rim. Now, it’s empty. Where did it the air with lava bombs, temperatures as high as 2200 go? Leilani Estates.... degrees Fahrenheit which disintegrates anything in its path.

9 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CI NEWS What’s happening at the Cryonics Institute

shelters. The lava is not the only problem to deal with. Volcanic vog ( smog containing Volcanic dust and gases) is also an issue. Recent eruptions at the main crater, Halemaumau, contain sulphur dioxide and hydrochloric acid from which nothing except a full gas mask will protect you.

While the local physical risks to the people in the area are mounting, the collateral damage and trickle down effects of decreased tourism (60%) is devastating to the restaurants, hotels, and other vendors who rely on tourism for their liveli- hood. We, in Hilo, who live 25 miles away, do not feel any- thing except for the occasional tremor and poor air quality if the trade winds don’t blow. We went to Kona last weekend and had to eat at an Outback to find air-conditioning relief. It moves like a river 10 feet an hour, a swath 300 yards wide, Kona is on the other side of the island but the winds carry a black fiery wall. So far we’ve lost a hundred homes. This is the vog over there away from HILO, usually. I still continue a beautiful area of the big island where people have lived for generations with people who have put all of their life savings into their dream home and we’re literally living the dream. These people, however, did know that they were living on top of a volcano and still took the chance that it would not erupt. My wife and I would drive down to this area weekly just to enjoy the scenery, beaches, and coral reef that had more natural habitat than the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. We have lost two recreational areas where people launched boats, surfed, and enjoyed Sundays with their families.

Tension has increased due to the mandatory evacuation to fly reporters over the devastated area. I’m only one of a and tempers have risen to the point that a man shot at handful of pilots qualified to fly in this area. We have local another person to keep him away from his property. The police, of course, the National Guard and the United States person was trying to assess the extent of the damage to his Marine Corps helping out keeping the peace during these own property while the other man mistook him for someone uncertain times. I’d like to ask my fellow CI Members and- trying to loot his property. Texarkanas to just pray for these people that have been so Hundreds and hundreds of people have been displaced devastated by these catastrophic events with no end in and have no place to go but to live in their cars, tents, and sight.

10 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Get the world’s premier publication on prolonging youth & longevity for one year absolutely FREE! MKMCCL180401

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MKMCCL180401_LongLife/Cryonics Institute Ads.indd 1 4/20/18 2:38 PM Hong Kong-2 Hong Kong-2 Hong Kong-2 Japan-4 Japan-4 Japan-4 TOTAL Singapore-3 Singapore-3 Singapore-3 1,898 New Zealand-1 New Zealand-1 New Zealand-1 Australia-61 Australia-61 Australia-61 China-3 China-3 China-3 Russia-2 Russia-2 Russia-2 India - 1 India - 1 India - 1 Liechtenstein-1 Liechtenstein-1 Ukraine-1 Ukraine-1 Liechtenstein-1 Ukraine-1 Pets ...... 154 DNA/Tissue...... 269 SA ...... 235 Romania-3 Romania-3 Romania-3 Turkey-1 Turkey-1 Turkey-1 Israel-1 Israel-1 170 Israel-1 Hungary-1 Hungary-1 Austria-3 Austria-3 Austria-3 Czech Republic-2 Czech Republic-2 Czech Republic-2 Greece-12 Greece-12 Greece-12 Poland-8 Poland-8 Poland-8 Switzerland-2 Switzerland-2 Switzerland-2 Lithuania-1 Lithuania-1 Lithuania-1 Egypt-1 Egypt-1 Egypt-1 Sweden-10 Sweden-10 Sweden-10 Croatia-2 Croatia-2 Croatia-2 ...... Norway-8 Norway-8 Norway-8 Malta-1 Malta-1 Malta-1 Italy-10 Italy-10 Italy-10 Denmark-3 Denmark-3 Denmark-3 Members ...... 1,536 Assoc. Members ...... 192 Patients Netherlands-14 Netherlands-14 Netherlands-14 Belgium-10 Belgium-10 Belgium-10 Portugal-5 Portugal-5 UK-107 UK-107 Spain-15 Spain-15 Portugal-5 UK-107 Spain-15 France-17 France-17 France-17 Scotland- 4 Scotland- 4 Ireland-3 Ireland-3 Scotland- 4 Ireland-3 British Isles-2 British Isles-2 British Isles-2 Germany-53 Germany-53 Germany-53 Brazil-3 Brazil-3 Brazil-3 Argentina-1 Argentina-1 Argentina-1 JULY 2018 JULY Aruba-2 Aruba-2 Aruba-2 Chile-1 Chile-1 Chile-1 Canada-92 Canada-92 Costa Rica-2 Costa Rica-2 Canada-92 Costa Rica-2 United States-1,056 United States-1,056 Mexico-2 Mexico-2 Mexico-2 New Members New Country

CI MEMBERSHIP 12 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Greece 12 Greece Hong Kong 2 Hungary 1 India 1 Ireland 3 1 Israel Italy10 Japan 4 1 Liechtenstein Lithuania 1 lost 1 Malta 1 2 Mexico Netherlands 14 1 New Zealand Norway 8 8 Poland 5 Portugal Romania 3 Russia 1 Scotland 4 3 Singapore Spain 15 10 Sweden 2 Switzerland 1 Turkey UK 107 Ukraine 1 USA 1056 gained 4 gained 3 *new country CI Statistics as of June 25, 2018 CI Statistics Members 1536 total funded Of 610 of them have the 1536 members, in force. contracts Of in force, those 610 members with CI contracts with Suspended contracts 235 of them also have Animation. CI has 170 human patients CI has 154 pet patients 269 of various tissue samples for storing are We our members 1 1 Argentina 2 Aruba 61 Australia gained 3 Austria 3 1 Bahrain 10 Belgium Brazil British Isles 2 92 Canada Chile 1 China 3 gained 4 Rica 1 Costa 2 Croatia RepublicCzech 2 Denmark 3 lost 1 1 Egypt 17 France 53 Germany Annual General Meeting The annual meeting offers an excellent opportunity to see the facility, Sunday, Sept. 9 learn more about cryonics, meet members and guests from around the world, get updates on the Cryonics Institute & Immortalist Society 3:00 p.m. and to talk to Officers, Directors & Staff.

The Annual General Meeting usually lasts about 2 hours, featuring reports from CI Board Members, guest speakers and a few other sur- prises. The Immortalist Society Meeting will follow directly after the CI AGM, and typically lasts about 45 minutes.

CI will be providing light snacks and beverages at the meeting, but no formal dinner arrangements. Guests are invited to dine prior to the MEETING: meeting or, preferably, socializing with new friends and associates Sept. 9 3:00pm after the meeting concludes. The ConCorde Inn has a restaurant on- ConCorde Inn Hotel & Conference Center site, and there are several excellent dining locations nearby. 44315 North Gratiot Avenue Clinton Township, (Michigan) 48036 (USA) Location The ConCorde features a unique reception area adjoining the main meeting room, an outdoor seating area, plus a lounge, pool & fitness center and other amenities we’re sure everyone will enjoy. Rooms at the ConCorde Inn are on a first-come, first-served basis, so please make your reservations now.

H CI Discount: Regular rates are $139.99 but reduced to $89.99 if you mention your with CI or use promo code 0908CI http://www.concordeinns.com. • 586-493-7200 Facility Tours Tours of the CI facility will be available prior to the meeting from FACILITY TOURS approximately 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. The facility will Sept. 9 12:00-2:30pm be closed to both members and the general public outside of these Cryonics Institute Facility scheduled times, so if you would like to visit, please plan accordingly. 24355 Sorrentino Court Clinton Township, MI 48035-3239 Night Before Dinner and Social CI will be hosting a “Night Before” Social and Dinner event at 6pm on Saturday, September 8 at Sajo’s Restaurant. Everyone is welcome, but please remember, guests are responsible for their own checks. SAJO’S.net

36470 Moravian Clinton Twp, MI 48035: 586-792-7256 Everyone is RSVP Welcome! CI’s AGM is open to the general Our meeting is open public, but we request that we be to the general public, NIGHT BEFORE SOCIAL informed if you will be attending. so feel free to bring a For driving directions, more meet- guest or join us yourself Sept. 8 6:00-10:00pm ing information and to confirm atten- if you’re not a member! Sajo’s Restaurant dance, send email to [email protected] or 36470 Moravian Clinton Township., MI 48035 phone (586) 791-5961.

13 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG 2018 Elections The Cryonics Institue is a member run organiza- Ballots are to be counted on September 9, prior tion, electing our leadership positions from among to the CI Annual General Meeting. Registered our membership. Board Members serve three-year votes not received at CI Headquarters prior to the terms, with four positions up for election each year official ballot-counting time and date (8:00 a.m on on a rotating basis. Board positions are open to September 9, 2018,) are at risk of not being counted, Voting Members only. To qualify as a Voting Member so please return your election votes as soon as pos- of the Cryonics Institute a CI Member must be age sible after you receive them. Because of the timing, 18 or over and either be a Lifetime Member or we do not encourage members to bring their ballots have been a Yearly Member for at least three years. Additionally, only CI Members with an executed with them to submit in person at the meeting, but Cryonic Suspension Agreement and having full fund- prefer to have them mailed back in advance. Please ing for the Cryonic Suspension Agreement may be return your ballot as soon as possible and avoid the Voting Members. risk of missing your opportunity to vote. Board of Director Candidates July 30 Deadline

Board Members serve three-year terms, with four CI board of Directors. Ballot statements must positions up for election each year on a rotating be postmarked or received by email at the CI basis. Board positions are open to Voting Members Facility no later than Monday, July 30, 2018. only. To qualify as a Voting Member of the Cryonics If the candidates wish to be included on the paper Institute a CI Member must be age 18 or over and ballot before the election they must submit a bio / either be a Lifetime Member or have been a Yearly candidate statement of 150 words or less before Member for at least three years. Additionally, only

CI Members with an executed Cryonic Suspension this date. A photograph is optional, but encouraged.

Agreement and having full funding for the Cryonic Please see previous issues of CI Magazine for exam-

Suspension Agreement may be Voting Members. ples of candidate statements.

Interested parties can submit their Ballot statements All voting members will receive their ballot and voting if they wish to be considered for election to the instructions via mail prior to the 2018 AGM

14 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CRYONICS NEWS Science, Technology and Medical News from the Web

from kurzweilai.net

How deep learning is about to transform biomedical science “In silico labeling” aims to decode the terabytes of data per day generated in bio research labs Researchers at Google, Harvard University, and Gladstone Institutes have developed and tested new deep-learning algorithms that can identify details in terabytes of bioimages, replacing slow, less-accurate manual labeling methods.

Deep learning is a type of machine learning that can analyze data, recognize patterns, and make predictions. A new deep-learning approach to biological images, which the researchers call “in silico labeling” (ISL), can automatically find and predict features in images of “unlabeled” cells (cells that have not been manually identified by using fluorescent chemicals).

The new deep-learning network can identify whether a Human induced pluripotent stem cell neurons imaged in phase contrast (gray pixels, left) — currently processed manu- cell is alive or dead, and get the answer right 98 percent ally with fluorescent labels (color pixels) to make them vis- of the time (humans can typically only identify a dead cell ible. That’s about to radically change. (credit: Google) with 80 percent accuracy) — without requiring invasive fluorescent chemicals, which make it difficult to track tissues over time. The deep-learning network can also predict detailed features such as nuclei and cell type (such as neural or breast cancer tissue).

The deep-learning algorithms are expected to make it possible to handle the enormous 3–5 terabytes of data per day generated by Gladstone Institutes’ fully automated robotic microscope, which can track individual cells for up to several months.

The research was published in the April 12, 2018 issue of the journal Cell.

To explore the new deep-learning approach, Steven Finkbeiner, MD, PhD, the director of the Center for Systems and Therapeutics at Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, teamed up with computer scientists at Google.

“We trained the [deep learning] neural network by showing it two sets of matching images of the same cells: one unlabeled [such as the black and white “phase contrast”microscope image shown in the illustration] and one with fluorescent labels [such as the three colored images shown above],” explained Eric Christiansen, a software engineer at Google Accelerated Science and the study’s first author. “We repeated this process millions of times. Then, when we presented the network with an unlabeled image it had never seen, it could accurately predict where the fluorescent labels belong.” (Fluorescent labels are created by adding chemicals to tissue samples to help visualize details.)

Article Continues at KURZWEILAI.NET

15 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CRYONICS NEWS Science, Technology and Medical News from the Web

from MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

A stealthy Harvard startup wants to reverse aging in dogs, and humans could be next by Antonio Regalado May 9, 2018 he world’s most influential synthetic biologist is behind a new company that plans to rejuvenate dogs using gene therapy. If it works, he plans to try the same approach in people, and he might be one of the first volunteers.

The stealth startup Rejuvenate Bio, cofounded by George Church of Harvard Medical School, thinks dogs aren’t just man’s best friend but also the best way to bring age-defeating treatments to market.

The company, which has carried out preliminary tests on beagles, claims it will make animals “younger” by adding new DNA instructions to their bodies. Harvard biologist George Church is working on Its age-reversal plans build on tantalizing clues seen in simple technology to reverse aging in dogs and humans. EDGE FOUNDATION organisms like worms and flies. Tweaking their genes can increase their life spans by double or better. Other research has shown that giving old mice blood transfusions from young ones can restore some biomarkers to youthful levels.

“We have already done a bunch of trials in mice and we are doing some in dogs, and then we’ll move on to humans,” Church told the podcaster Rob Reid earlier this year. The company’s other founders, CEO Daniel Oliver and science lead Noah Davidsohn, a postdoc in Church’s sprawling Boston lab, declined to be interviewed for this article.

The company’s efforts to keep its activities out of the press make it unclear how many dogs it has treated so far. In a document provided by a West Coast veterinarian, dated last June, Rejuvenate said its gene therapy had been tested on four beagles with Tufts Veterinary School in Boston. It is unclear whether wider tests are under way.

However, from public documents, a patent application filed by Harvard, interviews with investors and dog breeders, and public comments made by the founders, MIT Technology Review assembled a portrait of a life- extension startup pursuing a longevity long shot through the $72-billion-a-year US pet industry.

“Dogs are a market in and of themselves,” Church said during an event in Boston last week. “It’s not just a big organism close to humans. It’s something people will pay for, and the FDA process is much faster. We’ll do dog trials, and that’ll be a product, and that’ll pay for scaling up in human trials...” Article Continues at technology review.com

16 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CRYONICS NEWS Science, Technology and Medical News from the Web

from Google AI Blog

Google Duplex: An AI System for Accomplishing Real-World Tasks Over the Phone A long-standing goal of human-computer interaction world” tasks over the phone. The technology is directed has been to enable people to have a natural towards completing specific tasks, such as scheduling conversation with computers, as they would with each certain types of appointments. For such tasks, the other. In recent years, we have witnessed a revolution in system makes the conversational experience as natural the ability of computers to understand and to generate as possible, allowing people to speak normally, like natural speech, especially with the application of deep they would to another person, without having to adapt neural networks (e.g., Google voice search, WaveNet). to a machine. Still, even with today’s state of the art systems, it is often One of the key research insights was to constrain frustrating having to talk to stilted computerized voices Duplex to closed domains, which are narrow enough to that don’t understand natural language. In particular, explore extensively. Duplex can only carry out natural automated phone systems are still struggling to conversations after being deeply trained in such recognize simple words and commands. They don’t domains. It cannot carry out general conversations. engage in a conversation flow and force the caller to Here are examples of Duplex making phone calls (using adjust to the system instead of the system adjusting to different voices): the caller. Duplex scheduling a hair salon appointment: Today we announce Google Duplex, a new technology for conducting natural conversations to carry out “real Duplex calling a restaurant:

Article Continues at ai.googleblog.com

17 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CRYONICS NEWS Science, Technology and Medical News from the Web

from SCIENCE DAILY

Researchers uncover First 3D-printed human corneas

From Newcastle University

The first human corneas have been 3D printed by scientists at Newcastle University, UK.

It means the technique could be used in the future to ensure an unlimited supply of corneas.

As the outermost layer of the human eye, the cornea has an important role in focusing vision.

Yet there is a significant shortage of corneas available to transplant, with 10 million people worldwide requiring surgery to prevent corneal blindness as a result of diseases such as trachoma, an infectious eye disorder.

In addition, almost 5 million people suffer total blindness due to corneal scarring caused by burns, lacerations, abrasion or disease.

The proof-of-concept research, published today in Experimental Eye Research, reports how stem cells (human corneal stromal cells) from a healthy donor cornea were mixed together with alginate and collagen to create a solution that could be printed, a ‘bio-ink’.

Using a simple low-cost 3D bio-printer, the bio-ink was successfully extruded in concentric circles to form the shape of a human cornea. It took less than 10 minutes to print.

The stem cells were then shown to culture -- or grow.

Che Connon, Professor of Tissue Engineering at Newcastle University, who led the work, said: “Many teams across the world have been chasing the ideal bio-ink to make this process feasible.

“Our unique gel -- a combination of alginate and collagen -- keeps the stem cells alive whilst producing a material which is stiff enough to hold its shape but soft enough to be squeezed out the nozzle of a 3D printer.

“This builds upon our previous work in which we kept cells alive for weeks at room temperature within a similar hydrogel. Now we have a ready to use bio-ink containing stem cells allowing users to start printing tissues without having to worry about growing the cells separately.”

The scientists, including first author and PhD student Ms Abigail Isaacson from the Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, also demonstrated that they could build a cornea to match a patient’s unique ...

Article Continues at sciencedaily.com

18 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG hours. I went to my meeting and explained everything to the Funeral Director and he gave me a very strange look. When I left he said he would be in touch. Again, I waited a month with no word, so I stopped by and talked to the Funeral Director and he also told me “Thanks but No Thanks.”

After these two meetings I talked to CI President Dennis Kowalski, and now I think I know what I did wrong ---- TOO MUCH INFORMATION! Dennis explained he had the same problem when he started looking for someone to handle his arrangements and he suggested a better approach.

First Visit: Only mention you want your body shipped to a Long Time Coming Funeral Director in Clinton Township,Michigan and that this by Mike Gerstner — Lifetime member since 1995 is what your last wishes are. This is a simple request since

I first read about Cryonics and Robert Ettinger in High School Funeral Directors do this all the time. Don’t ever mention in the 1970’s . From the moment I read about it, I knew I Cryonics. Then just let him know you will be back to get wanted to and was going to get Cryonically Frozen. prices. (Dennis also suggested you take some doughnuts and leave a $50 check for his time - this paves the way for a Now here I am in my 60’s and I have finally completed all my better relationship going forward.). funding arrangements and signed and submitted all neces- sary paperwork for my final arrangements with CI. But little Second Visit: Wait awhile to go back to get the price and did I know the easy part was over and the biggest challenge when you do ask him how much more would it cost to put still lies ahead of me. I have recently moved from a large city your body on ice for the trip because you are donating your in Florida to a small town in North Carolina and unfortunately body to science. At this time reinforce that you are only ask- when I made that decision I didn’t realize I needed to factor ing him to deliver your body to a registered Funeral Director. in finding a Funeral Director who will be willing to prep and Remember to bring doughnuts and another $50 check for ship my body. the Director’s time to continue to build a friendly relation- ship. Before leaving tell him you will get back with him on The first company I talked with was a large funeral chain. I the price. went in and explained what I wanted done and asked how much it would cost. They took all the information I gave them Third Visit: Once again, it pays to wait awhile to go back. and said they would get back with me. I never received a This time explain how important time is in getting your body call so I checked back with them after a month. They said ready for shipment and you would be willing to pay a bonus the Home Office didn’t have any price for what I wanted and for fast service and the injection of Heparin needed at death. they didn’t want to take on the risk so they suggested I try Don’t forget the doughnuts and check. somewhere else. During my conversation with Dennis he said there are

Not to be discouraged, I next called a small local Funeral instructions in the Standby Manual on this approach and in Home, made an appointment and went to see them. I pre- the future he plans on making a video on this topic for the pared for the meeting by printing out all the information from web site. the CI website for the Funeral Director, on final body prepa- I am getting ready to talk to my third Funeral Company. One ration and the kit I would purchase for them so they would thing I’ve learned in life is when things don’t work as planned have all the material necessary for prepping the body. I also not to give up but to learn from it and try again. I’ve learned a created a contract for them to sign which included a bonus if lot through my experience so far, and I’ll let everyone know they could have my body prepped and shipped within a few how the new approach works out!

19 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CI Member Publishes Sci-Fi Novel

CI Member James Flynn grew up on the outskirts of South instantly made sense to me,” he said. East London in a town called Sidcup, and from a young age As soon as he saw that there was a real cryonics community had a keen interest in art. As a present for his tenth birthday out there he started researching the industry and eventually he was given an easel and a set of paints, and this served as signed himself up as a member of CI. a catalyst for his creative pursuits. James describes writing a book as an exercise in endurance For many years his passion had been focused on portrai- and perseverance, and claims that it has been one of the ture, drawing detailed sketches and paintings of both the hardest things he has ever done. famous and the non-famous, but The world of cryonics opened after becoming a member of the Cryonics Institute his art has taken him up to the possibilities that a dramatic turn. may face humanity in the distant future, and it set his imagination After making the life chang- into overdrive. ing decision to sign up for cry- onics, his creative projects have One thing that captivates him the been steered in a new direction, most, he says, is the idea that we expanding out into different forms may one day have to migrate from and adopting more of a science earth in search of a new habitable fiction flavor. planet, and the storyline for his book is centred around this very “Once I was introduced to the concept. “Conservation” is set in world of cryonics,” says Flynn, “I a world that has been wrecked began to have ideas that were too by global warming and famine, complex to express in just a draw- resulting in a huge Noah’s Ark ing. I was rediscovering an old style generation ship being built in love for science fiction, and soon an effort to conserve life on earth. made up my mind that I wanted However, unlike other SF novels to try my hand at writing a novel.” that have focused on the human Using this new source of inspira- element of such a venture, Flynn tion, he soon got to work and started writing a draft for a has approached this topic in a different way, exploring what book, and now, after four years of editing and refining the it would be like flying through space in the company of ani- storyline and characters, he has published his debut novel. mals and wildlife.

Flynn knew about the idea of cryonics from watching certain “Conservation”—the name of the generation ship in the films growing up, but he didn’t realise that there were real, book—has miles of fields, meadows, forests and patches of fully established facilities out there until he stumbled upon a jungle on board, as well as a whole range of tropical animals, Cryonics Institute video online. and the story touches upon what it would be like if certain species only existed in space. “I’ve always been very aware of how brief our time on this planet is, and I’ve always been bothered by that, so cryonics “There is a dark slant to the book as well though”’ Flynn Continues on page 25

20 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Cryonics Standby Training with Cryonics UK Utrecht, Netherlands, March 2-3, 2018 Taya Maki - Présidente - Société Cryonics de France

It was a pleasure to attend the recent Cryonics standby and knowledge for the Netherlands group to become a valuable support training in Utrecht, led by Tim Gibson of Cryonics asset for the European Cryonics movement, including the UK and organised by Jappie Hoekstra. Over 30 participants recent design and building of a cutting edge transport case, from 9 different European countries attended the event! The which has already been successfully used. Cryonics UK team members were 3 less than anticipated due After Jappie’s introduction, Jose Luis Cordero suggested to snowy weather in England, but Tim Gibson, David Farlow, that all participants introduce themselves, which was a nice and Frank Wilson braved the snowy and icy roads in their way for us to get to know each other. standby ambulance. Tim then gave an overview of the whole standby procedure, The Saturday morning session started with a warm welcome demonstrating the use of the equipment and its purpose in and introduction from Jappie. This included the reasons starting the patient’s successful cryopreservation. The most for holding such an event, special thanks to Cryonics UK important thing, as he emphasised, is the rapid cooling of for coming, and the importance of European Cryonicists to the patient in the ice bath to reduce or slow any possible develop a strong network of people and resources. He has damage. The cooling process is greatly aided by the use of done much work and research to acquire equipment and a CPS (cardio-pulmonary support) machine such as Lucas.

21 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG He explained the necessity of being adaptable, seeing as how the circum- stances of each case can change the procedure depending on the situation, the environment, and the cooperation (or lack therof) of other people, hospital staff, or family involved. He also empha- sised how important it is to have the necessary paperwork sorted out and the signature of the doctor involved before being able to go ahead with any standby support. This is very important, especially in countries where there are limitations or setbacks in this regard (such as France!). I really appreciated Tim’s candid way of explaining things, and that if you are involved in standby thumper, both of which are powered our many thoughts, inspirations and support, you really have to be ready for by compressed air. Another station ideas. anything and everything. involved the use of a respiratory sup- On Sunday morning we regrouped, After a nice buffet lunch, the partici- port machine, which would be set up and started the session with a great talk pants had the opportunity to try out just after or at the same time as the CPS. by Aschwin deWolf. He briefed every- the procedures and equipment. We The next station was the administration one on current research and progress split up into 3 groups, each with a of various drugs through an IV system, in cryopreservation. He let us know cryonics UK facilitator, to go through how to hook it up correctly, and how about new methods being tested by the steps of standby support. One sta- to use the multiple line IV connector. Alcor, including intermediate tempera- tion was the CPS, using both the more The German group also brought and ture storage. He thoroughly detailed modern Lucas machine and an older set up their ice bath structure which different standby methods, including seemed very practical. Another station Aldehyde stabilised cryopreservation, involved how to measure and prepare liquid ventilation and blood brain bar- the drugs for intravenous administra- rier issues. He emphasised the impor- tion, including the current protocol tance of a hybrid model of standby with used by Cryonics UK, listed in order of local support and a strong network of priority. Very important to remember: volunteers. It was great to hear some label your drugs! I personally enjoyed positive research outcomes involving being able to manipulate the equip- the preservation of brain structure after ment and go through the procedures vitrification using VM1 despite dehy- physically, as this is the most effective dration. Aschwin also outlined the lat- way of learning. est medication protocol undertaken Saturday evening, most of the group by Alcor and spoke about the uses met in town for a nice dinner, enjoying and benefits of certain drugs admin- the opportunity to discuss and share istered during standby. He also men-

22 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG tioned ICE standby in Oregon, and the cess, from the organisation of adminis- UK, is supplied normally by Alcor or the potential of a facility and team becom- trative tasks to the actual process of per- Cryonics Institute. The concentration ing relevant in China involving Aaron fusion to shipping the patient to the US has to start at 10%, increase to 30% Drake. At the end of his talk, Aschwin (or Russia). He noted the circumstanc- and eventually 70%. He also described opened the floor to various questions es in which it is possible or not possible certain physical signs of change and from the participants. All in all, a lot of to perform perfusion and the hygiene when they might occur, indicating a very useful information and as Tim also considerations involved. It is crucial successful perfusion. This procedure made clear, Aschwin reiterated that the to have the paperwork and finances is also widely variable depending on most important thing in any cryonics sorted out before hand, including the the situation of the patient and the case is rapid cooling and avoiding any documents required before being able standby received, considering if any delays. This is in the interest of preserv- to ship a patient’s body to the US and delays were involved. We also had the ing viability, as any attempt of perform- the logistics involved (coroner’s author- chance to use the perfusion equipment ing perfusion after a certain amount of ity to leave, embassy permission, flight and try to figure out which tubes go delay seems redundant due to swell- arrangement, shipping case etc). He where, which is initially not that simple! ing (most importantly of the brain) and also stated the importance of having Hence why we need this type of regu- the cooperation of an embalmer or a degradation of blood vessels which lar hands-on practice, for which I am surgeon who can perform the surgery would hinder a successful perfusion. very appreciative as is everyone else to allow access to the carotid (or other) Key phrase: FAST COOLING, using CPR I’m sure! arteries for the perfusion. You also and drugs to keep the patient viable! need to have the blood vessels rela- Before lunch, we managed to take a Tim Gibson then discussed the perfu- tively intact and accessible, i.e. not after group picture in front of the Cryonics sion of a patient in detail. Tim gave a a long delay before cooling. The perfu- UK ambulance as well as have a look very good overview of the whole pro- sion fluid, CI-VM1 as used by Cryonics inside. We also had a chance to see

23 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG tive, fun and interesting weekend, with many new contacts and renewed inspi- ration to improve the situation here in France and generally for the movement of Cryonics. Utrecht is a lovely town and the training space was perfect. I really look forward to the next one! I thank Jappie, Tim and the Cryonics UK team for making this possible and Aschwin for his insight. Taya Maki I also highly recommend that any Présidente Cryonicist in Europe attend Cryonics Société Cryonics de France UK trainings which are held quarterly If anyone is interested in getting in in Sheffield, and any other European touch about Cryonics France, the new shipping container Jappie training events. The more we create please contact Taya at : designed and had built for the Dutch connections and support networks, the [email protected] group which recently proved efficient better we will be prepared for inevitable in shipping a patient to Russia. cases in our areas. Cryonics UK: Tim Gibson: [email protected] All in all I found this a very informa- Remember: RAPID COOLING!

Sci-fi Novel continued from page 20 warns, “so it’s not for the faint hearted.” mates his second book won’t be pub- lished for at least another year or two, Like any good story, the drama in as according to him, it still has quite a “Conservation” grows from challeng- long way to go. es and conflict, so the ship naturally runs into problems during its journey “I’m really enjoying creating a story and the darker side of human nature is that’s based on cryonics,” says Flynn, revealed. “but I’m just not ready to release it yet. And I’m not sure how much of a What’s on the horizon for James Flynn? good advert for the cryonics industry James Flynn Throwing himself into this project has it’ll be, either,” he jokes, “because just given him a newfound love of writing, like “Conservation”, and a lot of my inspiring a second novel now in prog- other artwork, this second book will be “Conservation” is available ress. And yes, you guessed it, this one very dark and dystopian.” on Amazon.com or as an audiobook will be about cryonics! With cryonics on Audible.com and Audible.co.uk playing such a huge part in his life, it was only natural for him to dedicate James Flynn’s artwork can be found his next book to the subject. Flynn esti- at artistjames.deviantart.com

24 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG RAADfest 2018: Sept 20-23rd | San Diego, CA • Become a more empowered and • Connect with like minded people. effective advocate. • Learn the latest scientific advancements. • Interact with leaders of radical life • Have a blast celebrating our unlimited extension. future together with music and • Gain vital insights to extend your health performances. and wellbeing.

Speakers: Registration includes: • 4 days of information, live Q&A’s, and interactive sessions • RAADcity, the expo • A guide with practical age reversal information • 3 healthy meals • Live entertainment Ray Kurzweil Jim Mellon Keynote Speaker Juvenescence, Chairman • A party with live music • General Admission: $547* (*available until June 11th)

• Student (no meals): $397

• Young Adult (13-18): $200

• Children (5-12): $100

Dr. Brad Thompson Dr. Neil Riordan Kickshaw Ventures Ltd., CEO, MediStem Panama, CEO REGISTER NOW! and Wyvern Pharmaceuticals Inc.

25 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Standby Notebook Essential tips to prepare for your supension 5 worst mistakes in Cryonics

1) Not signing up ahead of time

Becoming a member, having contracts in place, and having paperwork in order should not be last-minute decision. Waiting last minute or after death results in a unnecessary delay of care or worse - No suspension at all! 2) Not providing proof of funding

Some people believe that they can worry about funding later or if they have funding they have put off providing funding proof to CI. This should be done annually. Failure to have proper proof of funding on recordresults in a delay of care while the funding clears. This can take weeks. 3) Not telling anyone your plans

Being reclusive, and not telling family or friends about your cryonics arrangements is not recommended. You should not be afraid to tell those around you what your wishes are, especially your next of kin. Wearing a cryonics bracelet, necklace or having identification or other items in view can speak to your wishes. This is all you have when you can’t speak for yourself. Disasters have resulted from these types of notification failures. 4) Not planning

Many think cryonics is a turnkey service where you can just sign up and let fate take over. No matter how much you pay for cryonics you are the only one who can make sure that you will have the best chance by planning and preparing in advance. CI has provided a lot of information on our website and in our standby manuals to help you with this process. Those who plan succeed - those who don’t fail. 5) Not notifying CI of Emergencies

There is no way that your cryonics provider can help you if they do not know about your emergency. Your family, friends, standby group or next of kin must immediately contact CI when you are having health issues or worse. Any delay in notifying us directly could result in a poor suspension. Those helping you must have simple and clear instructions, and contacting CI should be on the top of their list.

26 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Who will be there for YOU?

Don’t wait to make your plans. Your life may depend on it.

Suspended Animation fields teams of specially trained cardio-thoracic surgeons, cardiac perfusionists and other medical professionals with state-of-the-art equipment to provide stabilization care for Cryonics Institute members in the continental U.S. Cryonics Institute members can contract with Suspended Animation for comprehensive standby, stabilization and transport services using life insurance or other payment options.

Speak to a nurse today about how to sign up. Call 1-949-482-2150

or email [email protected] MKMCAD160205 21 6

605.83A SuspendAnim_Ad_1115.indd 1 11/12/15 4:42 PM Worldwide Cryonics Groups

AUSTRALIA: The Cryonics Association of Australasia QUEBEC: Contact: Stephan Beauregard, C.I. Director offers support and information for Australia & nearby countries. & Official Administrator of the Cryonics Institute Facebook Page. [email protected]. Information about Cryonics & perfusion services in Montreal Their Public Relations Officer is Philip Rhoades. for all cryonicicts. Services available in French & English: [email protected] GPO Box 3411, Sydney, NSW 2001 [email protected] Australia. Phone: +6128001 6204 (office) or +61 2 99226979 (home.) FINLAND: The Finnish Cryonics Society, (KRYOFIN) BELGIUM: Cryonics Belgium is an organisation that exists was established in 2008 and is an organization collaborat- to inform interested parties and, if desired, can assist with handling ing with all nearby groups and organizations. Contact them at: the paperwork for a cryonic suspension. The website can be found at kryoniikka.fi Their President is Antti Peltonen. www.cryonicsbelgium.com. To get in touch, please send an email to [email protected]. FRANCE: SOCIETE CRYONICS DE FRANCE is a non profit French organization working closely with European cryonics groups. For more BHUTAN: Can help Cryonics Institute Members who information: J.Roland Missionnier: phone: 33 (0) 6 64 90 98 41 or email: need help for the transport & hospital explanation about the cry- [email protected] • Facebook group onics procedure to the Dr and authorities in Thimphou & Paro. Contacts : Jamyang Palden & Tenzin Rabgay / Emails : GERMANY: DGAB There are a number of Cryonicists [email protected] or [email protected] in Germany. Their Organization is called “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Phones : Jamyang / 975-2-32-66-50 & Tenzin / 975-2-77-21-01-87 Angewandte Biostase e.V.”, or short “DGAB”. More information on their homepage at www.biostase.de. If there are further questions, CANADA: This is a very active group that par- contact their Board at [email protected] ticipated in Toronto’s first cryopreservation. President, Christine Gaspar; Vice President, Gary Tripp. Visit them at: GERMANY: CRYONICS-GERMANY is an http://www.cryocdn.org/. There is a subgroup called the active group providing cryonics support, including a special 8-member Toronto Local Group. Meeting dates and other conversations are held Standby Response Team. Members from Germany or Internationally via the Yahoo group. This is a closed group. To join write: csc4@ are welcome to join. at http://cryonics-germany.org. Direct cryocdn.org inquiries to [email protected]. CHILE: Community oriented to provide reliable infor- INDIA: Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need mation on human cryopreservation, as far as technical scientif- help for the transport & hospital explication about the cry- ic as well as other practical aspects. Dissemination, awareness onics procedure to the Dr and authority in Bangalore & Vellore and education on issues related to the extension of life in gen- Area. Contacts : Br Sankeerth & Bioster Vignesh / Email : eral and cryonics in particular. Contact José Luis Galdames via [email protected] Phones : Bioster / [email protected] or via Facebook 918148049058 & Br Sankeerth / 917795115939 at Crionica Chile. dent is Dr. Lluis Estrada. This is a large group of people, and ITALY: The Italian Cryonics Group (inside the Life Extension those interested in cryonics are welcome to contact them at Research Group (LIFEXT Research Group)) www.lifext.org and [email protected]. relative forum: forum.lifext.org. The founder is Bruno Lenzi, contact him at [email protected] or Giovanni Ranzo SWEDEN: www.kryonik.se or Facebook: Svenska at: [email protected] Kryonikföreningen. Initially, the society will focus on providing informa- tion and assistance to those who wish to sign up for cryonics. Eventually, JAPAN: Hikaru Midorikawa is President Japan Cryonics we also hope to provide practical assistance in cases, possibly in col- Association. Formed in 1998, our goals are to disseminate cryon- laboration with other European groups. ics information in Japan, to provide cryonics services in Japan, and eventually, to allow cryonics to take root in the Japanese society. Contact [email protected] or SWITZERLAND: http://www.cryonics.jp/ www.cryosuisse.ch CRYOSUISSE The Swiss Society for Cryonics is an active group with over Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need help for NEPAL: 30 members. To join, email [email protected] the transport & hospital explanation about the cryonics procedure to the Dr and authorities in Kathmandu. Contact : Suresh K. Shrestha / Email : Cryonics UK is a nonprofit UK [email protected] Phone : 977-985-1071364 / PO Box UNITED KINGDOM: 14480 Kathmandu. based standby group. www.cryonics-uk.org Cryonics UK can be contacted via the following people: Tim Gibson: phone: THE NETHERLANDS: Dutch Cryonics Organization 07905 371495, email: [email protected]. is the local support group since 2002 and able to provide advice, Victoria Stevens: phone: 01287 669201, standby, perfusion and shipment 24/7, in case of need. We are email: [email protected]. Graham an active group utilizing the latest equipment. New members from Hipkiss: phone: 0115 8492179 / 07752 251 564, email: The Netherlands welcome. [email protected]. Alan Sinclair: phone: 01273 587 660 / 07719 820715, E-mail: [email protected] email: [email protected] website: http://www.cryonisme.nl Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need help, funeral home, NORWAY : Can help Cryonics Institute Members who need help transport at London. Contact : F.A. Albin & Sons / Arthur Stanley House for the transport & hospital explication about the cryonics procedure Phone : 020-7237-3637 to the Dr, funeral home and authority at Sandvika. Contacts : Gunnar Hammersmark Sandvika Begegravelsesbyraa / Phones : 011-47-2279- INTERNATIONAL: The Cryonics 7736 Society is a global cryonics advocacy organization. www.CryonicsSociety.org. They publish an e-newsletter RUSSIA: KrioRus is a Russian cryonics organization operat- FutureNews. Phone: 1-585-643-1167. ing in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe that exists to help arrange cryopreservation and longterm suspension locally, or with CI or Alcor. Please contact kriorus@mail.ru or [email protected] for additional information or visit http://www.kriorus.ru. Phone: 79057680457 SPAIN: The Spanish cryonics group in Sociedad Crionica www.sociedad-crionica.org. The presi-

Please note, this list is provided as an informa- HELP US STAY tion resource only. Inclusion on the list does not UP-TO-DATE! constitute an endorsement by the Cryonics In- stitute or our affiliated organizations. We urge Please send any corrections or changes our readers to use this list as a starting point to the address below. If you know of, to research groups that may meet their own or are considering starting a support, individual needs. We further note that readers standby or other cryonics-related group should always use their own informed judg- in your area, please send details to ment and a reasonable amount of caution in [email protected]. dealing with any organization and/or individ- ual listed. CRYONICS NEWS

There’s no known upper limit to human longevity, study suggests New high-precision database of Italians shows risk of death leveling off at age 105 Human death risk increases exponentially from 65 up to about age 80. At that point, the range of risks starts to increase. But by age 105, the death risk actually levels off — suggesting there’s no known upper limit for human lifespan.*

That’s the conclusion of a controversial study by an international team of scientists, published Thursday, June 28 in the journal Science.

“The increasing number of exceptionally long-lived people and the fact that their mortality beyond 105 is seen to be declining across cohorts — lowering the mortality plateau or postponing the age when it appears — strongly suggest that longevity is continuing to increase over time and that a limit, if any, has not been reached,” the researchers wrote.

Read the full story at KURZWEILAI.NET

Research suggests that humans could one day regrow limbs Scientists have identified the specific type of planaria flatworm pluripotent stem cell that is capable of regenerating an entire organism In the June 14, 2018, issue of the journal Cell, researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research published a landmark study whose findings have important implications for advancing the study of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, according to the researchers.*

Over a century ago, scientists traced regenerative powers in a flatworm known as planaria to a special population of planaria adult stem cells called neoblasts (a type of adult pluripotent stem cell — meaning a cell that can transform into any type of cell). Scientists believe these neoblasts hold the secret to regeneration. But until recently, scientists lacked the tools necessary to identify exactly which of the individual types of neoblasts were actually capable of regeneration.

However, with a special technique that combined genomics, single-cell analysis, and imaging, the scientists were able to identify 12 different subgroups of neoblasts. The problem was to find the specific neoblasts that were pluripotent (able to create any kind of cell, instead of becoming specific cells, like muscle or skin). By further analyzing the 12 neoblast markers (genetic signatures), they narrowed it down one specific subgroup, called Nb2..

Read the full story at KURZWEILAI.NET

30 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CRYONICS NEWS

Test tube artificial neural network recognizes ‘molecular handwriting’ Researchers at Caltech have developed an artificial neural network made out of DNA that can solve a classic machine learning problem: correctly identifying handwritten numbers. The work is a significant step in demonstrating the capacity to program artificial intelligence into synthetic biomolecular circuits.

The work was done in the laboratory of Lulu Qian, assistant professor of bioengineering. A paper describing the research appears online on July 4 and in the July 19 print issue of the journal Nature.

“Though scientists have only just begun to explore creating artificial intelligence in molecular machines, its potential is already undeniable,” says Qian. “Similar to how electronic computers and smart phones have made humans more capable than a hundred years ago, artificial molecular machines could make all things made of molecules, perhaps including even paint and bandages, more capable and more responsive to the environment in the hundred years to come.”

Read the full story at sciencedaily.com

IBM researchers use analog memory to train deep neural networks faster and more efficiently New approach allows deep neural networks to run hundreds of times faster than with GPUs, using hundreds of times less energy Imagine advanced artificial intelligence (AI) running on your smartphone — instantly presenting the information that’s relevant to you in real time. Or a supercomputer that requires hundreds of times less energy.

The IBM Research AI team has demonstrated a new approach that they believe is a major step toward those scenarios.

Deep neural networks normally require fast, powerful graphical processing unit (GPU) hardware accelerators to support the needed high speed and computational accuracy — such as the GPU devices used in the just-announced Summit supercomputer. But GPUs are highly energy-intensive, making their use expensive and limiting their future growth, the researchers explain in a recent paper published in Nature.

Read the full story at kurzweilai.net

31 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG CRYONICS NEWS

CRISPR/Cas9 silences gene associated with high cholesterol Some steps for growing mini versions of human organs are easier than others Technique allowed researchers to reduce blood cholesterol levels in adult mice for six months following a single treatment Biomedical engineers at Duke University have used a CRISPR/Cas9 genetic engineering technique to turn off a gene that regulates cholesterol levels in adult mice, leading to reduced blood cholesterol levels and gene repression lasting for six months after a single treatment.

This marks the first time researchers have delivered CRISPR/Cas9 repressors for targeted therapeutic gene silencing in adult animal models. The study appeared online in Nature Communications on April 26.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is based on an antiviral defense mechanism in bacteria in which the Cas9 enzyme recognizes the viral DNA sequences of previous infections and cuts up invading DNA during re-infection. Researchers have engineered the CRISPR/Cas9 system to not only locate and cut specific sequences of DNA, but to also turn on or off the expression of targeted genes without making permanent changes to the DNA coding sequence.

Read the full story at SCIENCEdaily.com

Cellular recycling process is key to longer, healthier life

Building on two decades of research, investigators at UT Southwestern have determined that “cellular housekeeping” can extend the lifespan and healthspan of mammals.

A study jointly led by Drs. Salwa Sebti and Álvaro Fernández, postdoctoral researchers in the Center for Autophagy Research, found that mice with persistently increased levels of autophagy -- the process a cell uses to dispose of unwanted or toxic substances that can harm cellular health -- live longer and are healthier. The study, published online today, is found in Nature.

“Specifically, they have about a 10 percent extension in lifespan and are less likely to develop age-related spontaneous cancers and age-related pathological changes in the heart and the kidney,” said Dr. Beth Levine, Director of the Center for Autophagy Research at UT Southwestern.

Read the full story at SCIENCEdaily.com

32 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Member Readiness Checklist You’ve signed up for cryonics - what are the next steps? Welcome Aboard! You have taken the first critical step in preparing for the future and possibly ensuring your own survival. Now what should you do? People often ask “What can I do to make sure I have an optimal suspension?” Here’s a checklist of important steps to consider.  Become a fully funded member through life insurance or easy pre-payments

Some members use term life and invest or pay off the difference at regular intervals. Some use whole life or just prepay the costs outright. You have to decide what is best for you, but it is best to act sooner rather then later as insurance prices tend to rise as you get older and some people become uninsurable because of unforeseen health issues. You may even consider making CI the owner of your life insurance policy.

 Keep CI informed on a regular basis about your health status or address changes. Make sure your CI paperwork and funding are always up to date. CI cannot help you if we do not know you need help.

 Keep your family and friends up to date on your wishes to be cryopreserved. Being reclusive about cryonics can be costly and cause catastrophic results.

 Keep your doctor, lawyer, and funeral director up to date on your wishes to be cryopreserved. The right approach to the right professionals can be an asset.

 Prepare and execute a Living Will and Power of Attorney for Health Care that reflects your cryonics- related wishes. Make sure that CI is updated at regular intervals as well.

 Consider joining or forming a local standby group to support your cryonics wishes. This may be one of the most important decisions you can make after you are fully funded. As they say-”Failing to plan is planning to fail”.

 Always wear your cryonics bracelet or necklace identifying your wishes should you become incapacitated. Keep a wallet card as well. If you aren’t around people who support your wishes and you can’t speak for yourself a medical bracelet can help save you.

 Get involved! If you can, donate time and money. Cryonics is not a turnkey operation. Pay attention and look for further tips and advice to make both your personal arrangements and cryonics as a whole a success.

 Keep up to date! Read CI Magazine and follow the simple “STANDBY NOTEBOOK” exercise in each issue.

33 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Show the world you support FREE Memberships?!! cryonics with CI gear from Did you know the Cryonics Institute our Cafe Press store. offers FREE LIFETIME Memberships for minor children of paid Lifetime Members? Any minor children (under the age of 18) of fully-paid Lifetime Members are eligible for a permanent Lifetime Membership of their own. If you’d like to give your children the priceless gift of a second chance of life with you in the future, please contact CI Standby Kits us at 1 (586) 791-5961 and ask about Lifetime Membership Benefits.

Writers Wanted Got something to say? CI offers pre-made Standby Kits complete with The CI Newsletter is looking for all required equipment and detailed instructions. submissions from our readers! These kits are perfect for an individual or a group If you’ve got a great idea for a planning local standby support. story, please forward it to: Basic and Intermediate kits are available for sale [email protected] now. To purchase a kit, please contact us at: [email protected] CI Reading Room Serializing essential works on cryonics

PART TWO Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” Chapter 2 The Effects of Freezing and Cooling

If you are about forty years old now, then prob- temperatures near absolute zero (about -273C or ably when you die, in another thirty or forty years, -459F) reaction rates generally become negligibly physicians or technicians paid by your insurance small. The molecules are nearly motionless. The company will bank your blood, perfuse your parts, life processes of any organism cooled near this ex- and lay you to rest - not eternal rest, but temporary, treme should become immeasurably slow, and also and not in the cold ground, but in a much colder any processes of decay. Actual observation con- freezer. A few years later, perhaps they will slide firms this theoretical principle. your wife in beside you. Dr. Harold T. Meryman (Naval Medical Research At first thought, many people find this notion both Institute, National Naval Medical Center, Bethes- implausible and a little repellent. They may find it da, Maryland), a leading authority in the field, repellent because their minds associate a freezer says, “Under any circumstances, storage in liquid with dead meat. They find it implausible, because nitrogen, at - 197C can be considered as essentially they know a lamb chop looks pretty inert to begin indefinite.” (68) with, and furthermore begins to spoil after a very Dr. Humberto Fernandez-Moran (University of few years in a freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicago), a prominent expert in biophysics, notes It is also recalled that we sometimes have to chop that “. . . no detectable metabolic activity has been off a severely frostbitten toe; we cannot revive it, reported at liquid nitrogen temperatures . . .” He even though the rest of the body is alive. How, then, points out, however, that activity involving short- can we hope to revive a man frozen throughout his lived molecular fragments called “free radicals” can very vitals? How can we have any confidence that occur at - 197C and that long-term storage should it will ever be possible? perhaps be at liquid helium temperatures, namely within a few degrees of absolute zero. The reaction A mere, generalized optimism is certainly not con- rates at liquid helium temperatures are calculated vincing. It is all very well to say that future science to be slower than at liquid nitrogen temperatures will surpass imagination; but will it be able to take by a factor of about ten trillion! (30) a tub of frozen corned beef hash, and from this re- constitute a steer -the same steer that went into the Many other investigators have written to the same hash? We are interested in something that is prob- effect. The consensus of the best-informed opin- able, and not just barely conceivable. If our chances ion, based on long observation as well as theory, were no better than those of the hypothetical steer, indicates that a body cooled by liquid nitrogen can we would not want to be bothered. be stored without significant changes or deterio- ration for a period measured at least in years and To provide a basis for reasonable confidence, let us probably in centuries. A body cooled by liquid he- examine carefully some of the salient facts and es- lium will keep, for all practical purposes, forever. timates concerning the effects on living animals of cooling and freezing. Clearly, then, the storage problem is not the main difficulty. Whatever condition the body is in when Long-term Storage it reaches the storage temperature, that is the con- dition in which it will remain for as long as it is Our basic argument was based on one fact and one necessary to keep it. If it is alive, it will remain assumption. The fact - that it is possible, right now, alive; if it is somewhat damaged, it will remain to preserve dead people with essentially no dete- somewhat damaged. rioration, indefinitely - is easily established. The principal hazards pertain to the freezing and It is a well-known principle of chemistry that at thawing processes. Let us next inquire what prog-

36 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” ress has been made in actually freezing specimens tion of the water in the cells. and restoring them to active life. Clams on certain northern shores, exposed to tem- Successes in Freezing peratures far below 0 degrees celsius when the tide runs out, apparently become solidly frozen and Animals and Tissues thawed twice daily for weeks on end, yet survive. It Among smaller and lower organisms, there are is suspected that these organisms also may secrete many which can survive actual hard freezing at a natural protective agent of some kind, and inves- temperatures far below the freezing point, even tigation is continuing. (110) without any special protection, and others which When we turn our attention to larger and more can be assisted to do so. highly developed forms of life, we find there have Becquerel has found that certain minute, primi- been many successes in freezing and reviving cells, tive animals, which can tolerate dehydration, can tissues, and even organs. Usually protective agents be cooled, after drying, to within a fraction of a have been required, but not in all cases. degree of absolute zero, and after rewarming and Bull semen has been treated with glycerol, stored remoistening revive fully. (5) Since the water had at -79C (the temperature of solid carbon dioxide been removed before freezing, there had been no or “dry ice”) for periods up to seven years, and damage from ice crystals. thawed with a high survival rate. But it is interest- Two Japanese scientists, Asahina and Aoki, worked ing to note that a little deterioration occurs even at with larvae of a certain insect, Cnidocampa flaves- this temperature; lower temperatures improve the cens. The larvae were removed from their cocoons, results. kept for one day at -30C, and then immersed in (110) It is also observed, contrary to the experi- liquid oxygen at -180C. After thawing, their hearts ence with vinegar eels, that too rapid freezing can resumed beating, and some of them lived to their be harmful. (110) next developmental stage, that of “imago,” but none completed metamorphosis to the adult stage. (2) Human spermatozoa, without protection, show re- It was thought that the pre-freezing period of one sistance to extreme cold which varies from cell to day at -30C allowed growth of ice crystals outside, cell, and also from donor to donor. In one study, rather than inside, the cells; that is, the ice crystals up to 10 per cent of the sperm cells survived five- formed in the intercellular spaces. minute exposure; hardihood varied from donor to donor, but for a single donor survival was the same Many protective agents have been tried to reduce at -79C, -196C, and -269C. (110) damage to animal tissues in freezing; perhaps the most successful of these has been glycerol. Profes- Dramatic evidence of the viability of deep-frozen sor Jean Rostand, working with frog spermatozoa, human sperm is furnished in a New York Times provided the first evidence; motility of the sperm Service article (Detroit Free Press) of September 6, was preserved for several days at -4C to -6C. 1963. Two babies were born to women who had been artificially inseminated with sperm stored for (94) (The freezing point of pure water at standard two months at liquid nitrogen temperature. Dr. Je- pressure is 0C.) Subsequently it has been found rome K. Sherman, of the University of Arkansas, is that certain cold-hardy insects naturally contain glycerol in their bodies! (110) Another protective said to have stored semen at this temperature for agent sometimes used successfully is ethylene gly- three and a half years without loss. col, a solution of which was used by Dr. B. J. Luyet Dr. S. W. Jacob and co-workers have reported cool- and Dr. M. C. Hartring in freezing vinegar eels, ing human conjunctival cells (from the membrane anguillula aceti. The eels survived immersion in lining the eyelid) as well as sperm to within less liquid air at about - 190C, provided both cooling than one degree of absolute zero, with viability and rewarming were rapid. (110) It was thought maintained. (50) that the ethylene glycol caused dehydration, and induced a vitreous rather than a crystalline condi- Embryo chicken hearts, after treatment with glyc-

37 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” erol solution, have been cooled to -190C, and heat- Experimental work directed toward testing new ing resumed after thawing. This was one of the de- theories and new protective agents and techniques velopments which led Dr. D. K. C. MacDonald of proceeds vigorously, but on a relatively small scale. Ottawa University, an expert in low-temperature When the public becomes interested in freezers, physics, to write, “. . . perhaps the day will come progress should become much swifter. It is not al- when, if you want it, you can arrange to ‘hibernate’ ways possible to hasten scientific progress simply for a thousand years or so in liquid air, and then by spending more money, but in this instance the be ‘wakened up’ again to see how the world has possibility seems to exist. Many avenues appar- changed in the meantime.” (65) ently are not being explored, for lack of workers.

In the case of the mammals, attempts to freeze, Among other things, a massive, systematic search store, thaw, and revive specimens have not yet been for new protective agents seems called for. completely successful. But there have been many partial successes, and much has been learned. Even with work at the present relatively slow pace, there is much optimism. Dr. A. S. Parkes, F.R.S., in The best-known experiments may be those of the foreword to Dr. Smith’s hook, says that in the Dr. Audrey U. Smith, of the National Institute for next decade (1961-71), “The preservation [in deep Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, working with freeze] of whole organs for transplantation may golden hamsters. These animals have been success- become possible . . .” (110) fully revived after being about half frozen. In par- ticular, more than half the water in the brain had Dr. Juan Negrin, Jr. (Lenox Hill Hospital, New changed to ice, and the bodies were rigid; yet these York) is reported in 1961 as saying, “We are work- mammals recovered to apparently normal activity. ing now to develop a method for using full body (110) This is very important, since it seems to pro- freezing to suspend life. We have already succeed- vide some evidence that mental faculties can sur- ed in bringing about this state in various animals.” vive freezing and thawing. (117) Some new successes will no doubt be on a cut-and-try, empirical basis. But in order to get a It is to be noted that Dr. Smith’s results were better idea of future prospects and present pos- achieved by crude means: the cooling was with sibilities, let us briefly review current ideas about cold baths and cold packs, and the aids to resus- freezing damage. citation were simply artificial respiration and mi- crowave diathermy. The tissues were not given any The Mechanism of local protection in the form of special infusions, Freezing Damage although it is known that such protection can be very important. There are several suspected reasons for the fre- quent failure of animal cells and tissues to sur- Similar work includes that of Andjus and Lovelock, vive after being cooled to very low temperatures, who have reported recovery and long-term surviv- stored, and thawed. al of 80 per cent to 100 per cent of ice-cold rats. (110) Dr. J. R. Kenyon and his co-workers have Before listing these possible causes of freezing chilled dogs approximately to the freezing point, damage, it should be pointed out that “failure to with heartbeat and circulation completely stopped, survive” is a very vague and possibly mislead- and obtained sufficiently complete recovery so that ing expression. The usual criterion for survival is they survived many weeks after the experiment. resumption of function, if an entire organ is in- Chemical infusions were used to counter-act ac- volved, or growth in culture or successful trans- cumulation of certain harmful metabolic prod- plant or autoreplant if a piece of tissue is in ques- ucts. (55) The mechanism of freezing damage is tion. (Autoreplant refers to grafting the tissue back still poorly understood. There is much variation in into the donor animal.) A tissue just below the bor- hardihood among different types of cells, and even derline of resumed function is called “dead,” and among individual cells of the same type. Different an experiment in which only a small percentage of temperature ranges also have their own distinctive the cells survive may be considered a failure. But problems. in fact, near successes and partial successes afford

38 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” substantial grounds for optimism, since they sug- or even intranuclear ice crystals may form, with gest that a comparatively small amount of damage poorly known but probably dangerous potenti- has been done. alities. For example, a membrane surrounding the cell nucleus may be violated. It is convenient to list several separate types of pos- sible freezing injury, even though they are not all 2. There may be a dangerous concentration of mutually exclusive, as follows: electrolytes.

1. There may be mechanical damage by ice crys- Since freezing involves a separation of ice from so- tals. lution, it is a process of dehydration. The fluid left behind in the cell has an unnaturally high concen- The most obvious opportunity for injury would be tration of salts and similar substances, called “elec- a stabbing, crushing, or bursting action against the trolytes,” which have special electrical and chemi- cell membranes and cell bodies by the ice crystals cal properties. This drastically changed internal formed as water freezes. Yet oddly enough, this environment may be fatal to the cell. (69) kind of event seems rarely to have been observed, although it may sometimes occur. (In the case of Damage to the cell from this cause is thought to be plant tissues, with their more rigid membranes, dependent on the degree of electrolyte concentra- this kind of damage occurs much more easily.) tion, the time of exposure to it, and the tempera- ture; a lower temperature means a slower reaction. In slow freezing - involving a typical cooling rate The electrolyte concentration may be dangerously of, say, one Centigrade degree per minute - pure high, depending on the type of cell and other fac- ice gradually separates out from the solution in the tors, roughly between 0C and -25C. Hence cooling cell, the ice crystals forming beyond the membrane in this range should be relatively rapid, if possible, in the intercellular spaces. Slower freezing produc- in the absence of protective infusions. es crystals that are larger in size, and of course few- er in number; faster freezing, the reverse. When Dr. J. E. Lovelock thinks the lipoproteins are espe- the so-called eutectic temperature is reached, the cially sensitive to denaturation, or loss of chemi- remaining solution freezes out in a close mixture cal characteristics, from this cause. “A frequent if of crystals of ice and of the various salts or their not invariable component of the many membranes hydrates. of a complex living cell is the lipid-protein com- plex . . . held together not by the relatively strong There is ample evidence that ice crystal formation covalent bonds which link the atoms of a simple as such is not necessarily fatal, even though water protein, but by weak association forces similar to expands when it freezes. Meryman says: “Experi- those supporting a soap bubble, these complexes mental frostbite research produces evidence that are inherently unstable and probably maintained a dog’s leg can survive after the deep tissues have in living cells by continuous synthesis . . . Freez- been at a temperature well below freezing for as ing [can easily] denature the more sensitive lipid- much as fifteen to thirty minutes . . . There is no protein complexes of the cell. question but that ice crystals are formed, and yet the tissue survives . . . there appears to be little “The high sensitivity of lipid-protein complexes question but that in the soft tissues encountered in to the adverse effects of freezing suggests that not the animal kingdom it is possible for an ice crystal only the principal cell membrane, but also the less- to intrude itself between the cells and to collapse er membranes of the cell . . . may suffer irrevers- the cells completely without impairing their capac- ible damage during freezing. The profound change ity for survival.” (70) in the environment of the cell which occurs dur- ing freezing is also capable of causing harm to the In fast freezing, the crystals formed are much more stable molecular constituents of the cell.” (62) smaller, and possibly for that reason less danger- ous mechanically, even though the total volume Not to put too fearful a face on it, we should note of ice is the same. But fast freezing does not allow also that he goes on to say, “. . . many living cells the water to leave the cell, and small intracellular and tissues have now been stored successfully in

39 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” the frozen state ... in spite of these formidable haz- that at all but the very lowest temperatures, near ards.” absolute zero, eventually appreciable changes do take place, although they may be very slow. We should also remind ourselves once more that the phrase, “irreversible damage” is used much too Although Fernandez-Moran has pointed out that cavalierly, and really means only “incapable of be- free radical activity can occur at -196C, and sug- ing reversed by methods so far employed.” gested that perhaps long-term storage ought to be at liquid helium temperatures, nevertheless most 3. There may be metabolic imbalance. writers seem to agree that storage at the tempera- Dr. L. R. Rey, a prominent investigator of the Ecole ture of boiling nitrogen is probably safe. Normale Superieure, Paris, believes the cells may be thrown out of kilter by the unequal effect of In any case, the word “decay” is probably ill-chosen cold on delicately balanced life processes. “Vari- to describe the deterioration that may take place ous enzymes are not inhibited in the same man- at low temperatures. It is probably not a case of ner ... there may be an abnormal accumulation of general rot or putrefaction, or even normal me- intermediate metabolites which normally have a tabolism, proceeding at a reduced rate, but rather transitory existence and which may either prove to a case of a few sensitive processes going essentially be toxic or to orient the metabolism in a different to completion, with ensuing stability for an indefi- direction.” (90) nite period. If this is true, cooling with dry ice for long periods may be just about as safe as cooling This sounds rather hopeful, since it seems to leave with liquid helium, except for some initial minor open the possibility of redressing the balance, once damage. On this, however, I cannot quote author- we have both the understanding and the means. ity, and many questions remain unanswered. A similar comment has been made by Dr. L. Krey- 6. There may be thawing damage. herg. “It is evident that in areas of organized tis- sue in situ [on site] the limits for survival of some There is ample evidence that more damage may of the cells after freezing . . . is not decided by the occur during thawing than during freezing, espe- tolerance of the individual cells, but by the local cially if thawing is slow and protective infusions reactions to the disorganization of the social life of are lacking. The mechanisms of damage appear to the cells.” (56) One suspects a like remark might include migratory recrystallization of ice (small apply to conditions within an individual cell and crystals may merge into larger crystals, causing between its parts. mechanical disruption) and gas bubble formation, 4. There may be thermal shock and osmotic shock. as well as others. These effects may occur at tem- peratures as low as -40C. Rapid freezing is fatal to many cells, for reasons not well understood. One hypothesis about “ther- For a time, the difficulty of obtaining fast thawing mal shock” is that various materials in the cells and was thought to be extremely serious for any but their membranes shrink at different rates as the the smallest specimens, for which heat exchange is temperature is lowered, setting up destructive me- not a problem. It now appears, however, that mi- chanical stresses. “Osmotic shock” refers to the un- crowave diathermy and induction methods will favorable effects of sudden changes in solute con- allow rapid thawing, at a more or less uniform centrations in contact with certain membranes. rate throughout the body, even of large specimens. These methods involve the use of high frequency 5. There may be damage during storage. radio waves, alternating magnetic fields, or alter- The cell encounters various vicissitudes as it is nating electric fields; the former are analogous to cooled, depending on many factors in each of sev- an ordinary heating lamp, the latter to so-called eral ranges of temperature; and when it finally ar- electronic ovens. Apparatus has been described by rives at storage temperature, its troubles may not Lovelock. (61) Using this, rabbits can be thawed in be over. As already pointed out, there is evidence just a few seconds. (110)

40 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” 7.There may be miscellaneous deleterious effects. but chilled and malfunctioning blood vessels fail to supply the thawed parts. Various bits of evidence and speculation point to additional possibilities in the complex question of Medical texts recognize that thawing should be freezing injury. Drugs and antibiotics, as well as rapid, and rubbing (with snow or anything else) normal body solutes, may become concentrated avoided. (12) to lethal levels. At dry ice temperature, if glycerol is used, there may be incomplete freezing, and a In a word, the presently incurable cases of frost- slight solubility of salts in glycerol may allow slow bite are simply those cases in which the conditions damage. At extremely low temperatures, complete were unfavorable. In other cases, frostbite can be removal of water as ice might include water mol- cured. In fact, human skin has been rapidly frozen ecules necessary for the structural integrity of pro- to dry ice temperature, and then used in grafts with teins. And so it goes; much is known, but much some success. (110) Rabbit skin has been stored at more needs to be learned. dry ice temperature for four years without deterio- ration, after being pre- treated with glycerol. (110) In summary, if we seek the main danger to humans It is not obvious how a whole man could be rapidly frozen without perfusion by protective chemicals, frozen, or treated with glycerol, but these matters expert consensus seems to point to denaturation of will be discussed later. The point here is simply that protein molecules, a consequence of overexposure much is known about frostbite, it is preventable, to concentrated salt solutions, which in turn is a and it is often curable. In addition, of course, some consequence of too-slow freezing. As to the pos- of the cases now thought incurable will be curable sibility of avoiding this danger by using protective in the future. agents, or by increasing the speed of freezing, more will be said later. The Action of Protective Agents Frostbite A brief review of the substances which have been found useful as protective infusions to prevent or We are now in a position to answer the skeptics reduce freezing damage, and of the theory of their who say that, because a frostbitten toe may be in- action, shows that a good beginning has been curable today, they doubt it will ever be possible to made in the research, and that we are not without freeze and revive a complete man; and it may be resources even now. worthwhile to make the answer explicit. An ideal protective agent is one to which the cells To begin with, frostbite often is cured, as shown are readily permeable, which prevents all kinds of by both clinical and laboratory experience. When freezing damage but is not itself toxic, and which we investigate which cases are cured and which are can be easily removed after thawing. Nothing is not, we find some neat tie-ins with the earlier dis- known which completely fills this bill for all kinds cussion of the mechanism of freezing damage. of tissues. The substances which seem to be most It has been shown, both in man and other animals, nearly and most widely satisfactory are glycerol that freezing may actually occur, with formation of and dimethylsulfoxide. ice crystals in the tissues, without any irreversible Glycerol, in particular, has been extensively tested. harm. (110) The damage occurs if the temperature Its use has been markedly successful, although not is too low, so that too much ice separates out, pro- always completely successful, with a wide variety ducing too high a concentration of solutes in the of organisms and tissues, including mammalian tissue fluids; or if freezing is too protracted, result- kidneys, bone, lungs, sperm, skin, hearts, ovarian ing in exposure of the cells to concentrated solutes and testicular tissue, and -most important -ner- for too long a time; or if thawing is too slow, re- vous tissue. (110) sulting in dangerous high-temperature exposure to somewhat concentrated solutes; or if there has In most cases, glycerol is thought to exert its ben- been bending or rubbing of the member while fro- eficial action mainly by buffering the solution of zen, damaging non-resilient tissues; or if unfrozen electrolytes, that is by somehow preventing or re-

41 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” ducing the chemical action of the dissolved sub- As recently as 1960, Professor William Feindel of stances. This action may be linked to the capac- McGill University wrote: “. . . nerve cells have some ity of glycerol to bind water, and itself to dissolve of their numerous branches turning back to end some of the salts. Glycerol also suppresses the oc- on the body of the parent cell, so that they actually currence of a sharp eutectic point in physiologi- receive samplings of their own outgoing messages cal media; if there is no sudden crystallization, . . . these self-re-exciting nerve loops may keep up the cells may be saved from osmotic shock. (110) a perpetual circular impulse which is the ‘memory’ Other modes of protection may also occur, and the of that particular cell ....” (29) But he also pointed relative importance of the various modes depends out that memories might be related to physical, on the nature of the tissue. chemical, or electrical changes at the hundreds of tiny button-like endings covering each nerve cell Other substances, especially various sugars and in the brain. alcohols, have been used with varying degrees of success. More recently, however, Professor I. S. Roy John, director of the University of Rochester Center for Many fascinating experiments have been reported Brain Research, has written: “Ample evidence ex- whereby tissues have been induced to tolerate glyc- ists for a two stage process of memory . . . (1) an erol as a result in adjustments of other components early consolidation period approximately 0.5-1.0 of the solution used for perfusion, such as calcium hour long, in which reverberatory electrical ac- and potassium; and whereby ingenious methods of tivity probably maintains a representation of the removing the glycerol have been devised. It is en- experience, and (1) a long-lasting stable phase, in couraging to note that in a great many cases where which experience is stored as a structural modifi- unsolved problems remain, it is the thawing phase cation of some sort.” (51) and the removal of glycerol which seem to present the difficulty. This suggests that our bodies might In other words, very recent memories are dynamic, be frozen and stored in reasonably good condition, and this helps to explain the retrograde amnesias so that future technicians would only have to per- sometimes observed after certain kinds of shock fect methods of thawing and removing the protec- or trauma. But most of the memories, the long- tive agents, and would not have to perform exces- term memories, are static. In fact, they are believed sive wonders in reversing freezing damage. to consist of changes in protein molecules in the brain cells. (46) Many experimental tests have been The Persistence of Memory made. For example, Dr. Smith reports, “We found, after Freezing in collaboration with animal psychologists, that rats which had been trained to solve problems of Some scientists not so long ago feared that even if finding food in mazes showed no appreciable loss we could freeze a body, store it at low temperatures of memory after cooling to a body temperature just and then restore it to active life, the brain would above freezing. Activity of the cerebral cortex, as be wiped clean of memories, resulting in a kind of judged by electroencephalograms, ceases at about grown infant or idiot. It is obviously of the utmost + 18C in the rat, so that cerebral activity most have importance to assure ourselves that this will not be been arrested for 1-2 hr. in all the animals tested. the case. After reanimation they were, nevertheless, capa- ble of acting on previous experience. This result Everything hinges on whether memory is dynamic was not consistent with the theory that memory or static. In computing machines, there are two depends upon a continuous passage of nerve im- general ways to store information: there are dy- pulses through actively metabolizing neurons in namic methods, involving oscillations which will the brain.” (110) die out if the power is turned off, and there are static methods, such as the use of magnetic tape, There are two other points of great significance in which the information remains even though the concerning memories: each one seems to be stored machine is not turned on. These two possibilities in many separate locations in the brain, and there- exist for the brain as well. fore may withstand widespread damage; and they

42 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” consist of chemical coding similar to the traces heavier-than-air flying machine impossible; and which record genetic and immunological informa- before 1926, when Sumner isolated urease, it was tion, and possibly therefore they may be hardy and not even known for sure that enzymes were pro- resistant to damage. teins. (3) Further, as we shall see, the nature and extent of the denaturation is not uniform, and may Professor Hans-Lukas Teuber of the M.I.T. writes, in some cases be trivial; and the attack need not “Experiments employing massive cerebral abla- necessarily be “generalized.” tions [removal of parts] or multiple transections [cross sections] of cortex . . . show remarkable re- It must be stressed that even crude freezing fre- siliency of established ‘engrams.’ . . . The survival of quently fails to kill all cells, and that those “killed” old established traces following hibernation, gen- suffer varying degrees of damage; this is true even eral anesthesia, or convulsions suggests a mecha- if we fix our attention on a single type of tissue. nism protected against loss in a manner analogous Also, the most important parts of the cells may be to immune reactions, i.e., by virtue of multiplica- the hardiest. tion of the trace, relatively small size, and consider- able dispersal throughout the cerebrum. . . . [Cer- That some cells survive freezing even when most tain experiments may reveal] that biological trace “die” we note, e.g., from the work of Rey, who rap- processes are of essentially the same type, whether idly cooled embryo chicken heart tissue: “ . . . there we are dealing with genetic processes, embryonic is no growth in the cultures without glycerol ex- induction, with learning, or immunological.(116) cept sometimes in two or three migrating cells . . . some peculiar cells do survive after the exposure We shall see the importance of this view when we to liquid nitrogen. . . . Why is the main part of the ask how much freezing damage may be tolerable. tissue killed by rapid cooling in liquid nitrogen? . . . we think [these alterations] occur during the thaw- The Extent of Freezing Damage ing process.” (90)

It must be emphasized that freezing damage, es- Even though chickens are not people and hearts are pecially to the brain, may not be excessive, even not brains, it is important that some cells survive; though no mammal has yet made a complete re- we can logically conclude that probably many oth- covery after full-body freezing by the rather crude ers almost survived, and could have been rescued methods so far employed. by future scientists either before or after thawing by improved methods. There are several difficulties in freezing large ani- mals. Perfusion with protective agents is not easy, By way of analogy, imagine viewing (from the air) and fast freezing of deep tissues has been regarded a strafing attack on a column of troops. If none as hopeless. It follows that there may be denatur- gets up afterwards, perhaps they are all dead. But ation of protein molecules in the brain by concen- if even one or two get up, it is highly probable that trated salts, and this thought has produced much many others are merely wounded and not killed. gloom. In the next section it will be suggested that the major part of the freezing damage can, in fact, Again, Kreyberg says: “It is evident that through be avoided. In this section it will be argued that, severe exposures to cold, many cells, sometimes even if the freezing injury is as severe as it usually most of the cells, succumb. Sometimes single cells, seems to be, reasonable grounds for optimism re- sometimes smaller groups of cells survive and are main. able to repopulate cultures and even form rather complex transplants, as demonstrated through the First, while it may be hard to conceive of a gener- experiments with ovarian tissues.” (56) alized method for reversing protein denaturation, this is by no means the end of the story. For one There is somewhat similar experience with mam- thing, such a method may very well be devised, de- malian nervous tissue, which is the most vital con- spite our inability to conceive it, by the ingenious cern. Pascoe, working with rat ganglia, found that men and redoubtable machines of the future. Af- although one experiment was mainly negative, ter all, in the last century engineers considered a “One preparation [without glycerol] was stored

43 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” overnight at - 150C and on warming the post-gan- ficulty may lie not in freezing and storage, but in glionic nerve gave a small action potential when it the removal of glycerol. Dr. Smith, commenting on was stimulated directly.” (86) the work of Pascoe, who studied rat nervous tissue after perfusing whole rats with glycerol solution, Not only does experiment indicate that some cells says, “. . . damage to nervous tissue might not be survive unfavorable freezing methods, but theory a limiting factor in attempts to resuscitate a whole also. The act of freezing will catch various cells in animal which had been perfused with glycerol and many different environmental situations and at cooled to and thawed from a very low tempera- different phases of the metabolic cycle. Some of ture.” (110) these are almost sure to be lucky ones. Having gone to considerable pains to show that Further evidence that freezing damage to the brain even crude freezing methods may not kill all cells, may be only moderate, even in the absence of and that even many of the “nonsurvivors” may be protective infusions, seems to be provided by the only slightly damaged, we are now ready to make work of Dr. H. L. Rosomoff, of The Neurological Institute, New York. He produced lesions in dogs’ our conclusions more explicit. brains by contact of the dura mater (brain integu- It will be helpful if the reader will tentatively ac- ment) with a brass tube containing liquid nitrogen cept two propositions which will be given support for eight minutes. If the dogs were kept at normal in later chapters: temperature afterwards, they invariably died, and microscopic examination showed “wide-spread (1) Mastery is beginning to be obtained, and will destruction of cellular elements, especially the eventually be thorough, over the growth, devel- neurons, complete loss of cytoarchitectural mark- opment, and differentiation or specialization of ings, . . .” But of seven dogs kept at 25C or less (af- both genetic and somatic (body) cells. It will be- ter the lesions were produced) for eighteen hours come possible to grow replacement parts, large before rewarming, two survived, and the others or small, in culture, or alternatively to make the lived five times longer than those not kept hypo- body repair itself by regenerating missing parts. thermic; furthermore, examination of the lesions (In the case of the brain, of course, there cannot showed that: “The cortical architecture was better be complete replacement or regeneration, since preserved, cellular elements showed less evidence this would be equivalent to growing a new indi- of injury, albeit definite degenerative changes were vidual.) found which may or may not have been reversible in nature.” (93) (2) Wealth and resources will grow in the future at an ever increasing rate, qualitatively as well as This experiment was not intended to study freez- quantitatively. In particular, there will be avail- ing damage as such, but was meant to investigate able fabulous machines, capable not only of ac- the benefit of hypothermia (reduced temperature) tion on a titanic scale but also of “thought” on in the aftercare of any kind of brain lesion. Never- extremely high levels and manipulation on mi- theless, the damage to the cells in the lesion region croscopic levels. Now, we recall that memories presumably was produced by freezing. This seems are stored probably as changes in protein mol- to indicate rather clearly that the most serious ecules in the brain cells, with multiple locations damage following such freezing may be the result for each trace in many regions of the brain. (And of anatomical and physiological events during and since the memory recordings are thought to be after thawing, and that while frozen the cells were chemically similar to the codings of genetic in- in relatively good shape. As already pointed out, formation, and since the latter is known to with- this is very important, since our task need only be stand liquid helium temperatures, it may be that to preserve the bodies with as little damage as may memories are equally hardy, but we are not de- be; if necessary, we can leave to the future the prob- lem of proper treatment during and after thawing. pending on this.) Other elements of personality may be represented in a similar way, or they may Again, in the case of nervous tissue pre-treated inhere in larger-scale circuitry, as in the fiber with glycerol, there is evidence that the major dif- connections among the nerve cells.

44 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” There seems a good chance that the supra-molecu- the major risk of protein denaturation. How may lar circuitry can be read well enough after freezing. quick freezing be accomplished? Hence it may well be that only a small percentage of the brain cells need escape with little damage; Merely immersing the head or body, or even the this may be enough for reasonably faithful recon- naked brain in a cold bath such as liquid nitro- struction of the brain with freshly generated tissue. gen will not do it, except for the outer layers. And while methods of heat transfer other than simple The robot surgeons of the future will have pow- conduction do exist, they do not now seem ap- ers now only faintly foreshadowed, but beginnings plicable to cooling the body. The only means that have already been made in cell surgery. Individual seem presently feasible require more brain surface cells have been successfully operated upon, e.g., in contact with the refrigerant. transplanting nuclei into enucleated amoebae, even cross-species! (27) Thus, if brute-force meth- The most obvious method would be to circulate ods are necessary, it is not inconceivable that huge cold fluids through the brain’s blood vessels. This surgeon-machines, working twenty-four hours in fact is done in open-heart surgery, but at tem- a day for decades or even centuries, will tenderly peratures above freezing. Whether anything could restore the frozen brains, cell by cell, or even mol- be done in the subzero range is, so far as I know, ecule by molecule in critical areas. one of the open questions requiring investigation. It would certainly be difficult, with vessels tending We hasten to add that in all likelihood the methods to be brittle and clogged as well as constricted, but used will be much more elegant and yet unfore- it is not obviously impossible. seen. The great chemist, Linus Pauling, speaking in a general sense not so long ago, said, “The great Certain heroic measures also suggest themselves. discoveries of the future •those that will make the For example, the brain might be “teased” apart world different from the present world -are the into smaller segments which could be cooled more discoveries that no one has yet thought about. . . quickly. Or hollow needles carrying refrigerant . I know . . . that . . . discoveries will be made that might be inserted, as into a pincushion; care would I have not the imagination to describe -and I am be taken to penetrate different regions in the two awaiting them full of curiosity and enthusiasm.” hemispheres, to avoid destroying the homologous (88) tissues on each side. Or the brain, after cooling, We must also bear prominently in mind that only might even be sliced into sections for quick freez- those frozen in the very near future may be severely ing, on the theory that this mechanical damage, damaged; there will soon be accelerated research, although massive by present criteria, might yet and before many years non-damaging techniques be small compared with the damage done by slow should be available. Indeed, a man can probably be freezing, and more easily repaired. frozen right now with comparatively little injury, as we shall see in the next section. But the method of choice at the present time would seem to be moderately slow freezing after perfu- Rapid Freezing and sion with glycerol solution. Perfusion Possibilities Apparently there have been relatively few attempts at full-body perfusion. Dr. Smith says, “So far no Is a high freezing rate, with cooling of many de- technique has been evolved for perfusing indi- grees per minute, really out of the question for vidual organs or the whole mammal with glycerol an animal as massive as man? And what are the and removing it without damage. If this could be chances of giving a complete large organism the done it might be possible to cool the intact mam- protection of perfusion with a protective agent like mal to and resuscitate it from temperatures as low glycerol? as -70C. Long-term storage of frozen mammals It seems that in the absence of a protective agent, might then be considered. It must be emphasized the brain (and body) should be frozen quickly. that there is no prospect of accomplishing this in This will not prevent all damage, but might reduce the near future.” (110)

45 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” The great thing, however, is that we do not need of oxygen deprivation causes no harmful effects, the fullness of this accomplishment in the near although fourteen minutes at normal body tem- future! Whole rats have been perfused, as previ- perature is fatal. They believe the shorter estimates ously noted, and probably men could be also. The result from use of methods which leave circulation problem of removing the glycerol without damage depressed after the period of anoxia, producing can be left to the more distant future, along with added damage and causing the experiments to be the problem of repair of those parts not reached or misinterpreted. (10) incompletely protected by the glycerol. The people who are dying right now cannot, and need not, Of course much depends on temperature and indi- wait for 100 per cent mastery of the problem. vidual variation, as well as other factors. In a later chapter we shall recount the story of a boy who The Limits of Delay in Treatment made a nearly complete recovery after twenty-two minutes under water and 2 1/2 hours of clinical If you have a dying relative, you can probably give death. him his best chance by obtaining skilled medical help, planned in advance, to prepare, perfuse, and While the brain cells do indeed “die” more quickly freeze the body. If this kind of help is not avail- than cells of other kinds, we must not therefore able, and you nevertheless want to give him some come to a hasty pessimistic conclusion. As already chance, more desperate measures are required. In indicated, it may well be that the most important any case, it is important to know how soon after parts and functions of these cells are not so delicate death treatment must be started, and this question as the cell as a whole. will now be considered. By way of crude analogy -- which of course must Many laymen, and even many physicians, have the not be stretched too far -- consider a bicycle and impression that the body must be frozen within a a huge snowball rolling down a slope. The bicycle few minutes after clinical death in order to have a is much more complex, and it can be stopped by chance of revival. This is an error. merely thrusting a stick through the spokes, while much more effort is needed to stop the snowball. It is quite true that if the oxygen supply is cut off, the brain ordinarily seems to suffer damage within Just the same, a bicycle is on the whole much three to eight minutes. But this seemingly simple sturdier than a snowball, and when the stick is re- statement is very deceptive: the words “ordinarily” moved it will be ready to roll again. and “damage” beth require clarification. It is possible, then, that hope should not be given If death comes unexpectedly or without prepara- up so long as any of the body cells show life. If the tion, the brain may certainly suffer “irreversible” skin, for example, is still alive, then there is some damage. When the blood circulation stops, there chance that the brain cells are also alive, albeit is no more delivery of oxygen and dextrose, and damaged. Removal of excess lactic acid, adjust- no more removal of waste products. The immedi- ment of the fluid balance, and so on, by techniques ate causes of damage, according to Wolfe, include at the disposal of future science, may find them increase in inter- and/or intracellular fluid, loss of good as new. tone in the capillaries, increased permeability of tissues lining the blood vessels, disturbance of fluid The period of grace before all of the body cells die balance, and concentration of lactic acid. (129) is measured at least in hours, and perhaps in days. According to Lillehei et al., the stomach remains How quickly the damage begins to occur is not en- alive and healthy outside the body, even without tirely clear. Total circulatory interruption is con- cooling, for at least two hours. (59) Gresham, re- sidered dangerous after three minutes, and the ferring to an unpublished study by V. P. Perry, says, most commonly mentioned limit of tolerance of “Tissues removed from cadavers as late as 48 hours the brain to lack of oxygen is perhaps five min- postmortem have, in most instances, shown cellu- utes. But Brockman and Jude have conducted ex- lar outgrowth in tissue culture. Although this does periments with dogs indicating that ten minutes not eliminate the possibility of cellular alteration,

46 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” it suggests that many tissues may remain function- given without actual contact. Effectiveness would al for relatively long periods after death, and that depend strongly on the cause of death and the con- postmortem tissues may be satisfactory for viable dition of the body, but in some cases these simple grafting.” (36) measures might keep a body in reasonably good condition for hours. In other cases supporting Boiling all this down to a rule of thumb, what per- measures might be needed, possibly including in- haps emerges is that in a self-reliance situation, if jection of anticoagulants. you want to give the deceased the benefit of even a relatively slim chance, a body should be frozen In certain types of chest injury, possibly help might if it is found on the day of death. If the body has be obtained from a technique developed by Neely been exposed to cold weather, perhaps the chances and coworkers. They perfused dogs with a buffered are not too remote after two days. It seems en- glucose solution instead of blood, and found that tirely possible that the delay damage will still be “. . . animals can survive 30 min of asanguineous no greater than the damage of the crude freezing perfusion with no oxygen, and that the survivors method you may have to use. exhibited no gross brain damage.” (80)

In a hospital situation, with medical cooperation, Another intriguing possibility, if the equipment the story is different and much more hopeful, and were available, is suggested by the work of Dr. I. further remarks are called for. Boerema of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He has obtained some remarkable re- The Limits of Delay in sults treating patients inside a pressure caisson; the Cooling and Freezing surgeons and attendants breathe air at three atmo- spheres pressure, while the patient breathes pure Three separate phases of postmortem care of the oxygen at the same pressure. It has been found that body may be distinguished: measures in advance the blood circulation can be arrested without harm of cooling, cooling down to the freezing range, and for about twice as long as normal; at 14.5 deg C cooling down to storage temperature. dogs can be kept a half hour or longer without ex- For various reasons, death may come before cool- tracorporeal circulation. Animals can actually live ing equipment is ready. Looking for means to pre- without blood; with pigs, the hemoglobin could be vent deterioration meanwhile, we find interesting reduced virtually to zero for at least fifteen min- possibilities. Some of them are relevant only if utes, dissolved oxygen taking the place of oxygen specialized equipment and personnel are at hand, carried by red corpuscles. while other measures can be employed by almost “... when an animal or patient breathes pure oxy- anyone. gen at 3 atmospheres (absolute) there is a greatly Methods are already being applied to keep freshly increased physical solution of oxygen in all tis- dead bodies in good condition, for the purpose of sues of the body, both fluid and semi- fluid. . . . maintaining organs in good health, when a trans- [There is] extreme saturation of the whole body plant is contemplated but cannot be performed with physically dissolved oxygen, so that the cells immediately. Heart-lung machines have been used have a much higher reserve of oxygen than they to keep the body supplied with oxygenated blood normally have. . . . We may assume, then, that the for up to eighteen hours after death, and then livers increased amount of oxygen in solution provides a taken from the bodies and used for grafts. (Detroit true reserve for the tissues and, consequently, that Free Press, October 31, 1963.) the tissue cells can withstand a circulatory arrest of longer duration.” (7) An obvious resort in emergency is to use artifi- cial respiration and external heart massage. (At If a terminal patient could be kept in such a cham- the same time, the body could be cooled with ice ber, there would be a wider margin of safety when packs, or by exposure to cold air.) Anyone can he died. Or if a newly dead patient were put in such learn the techniques, and tubes are available so a chamber, artificial respiration and heart massage that mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration can be might work more effectively.

47 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” With fully adequate preparation, equipment, and tages of each. These are naturally occurring low personnel, the cooling phase seems to present little temperatures in the arctic and antarctic, and the problem in most cases. Heartlung machines and temperatures respectively of solid carbon dioxide, heat exchangers are available at many hospitals. liquid nitro gen, and liquid helium. The cardiopulmonary bypass technique is com- monly used for open-heart surgery, with cooling of By way of general introduction, Dr. Audrey U. the blood and body from the normal of about 38C Smith says: “The basic principle in storing living down to 20C, and sometimes lower; this technique cells is to arrest the processes of aging and degener- has been described, for example, by Sealy and co- ation. When living cells are cooled there is a slow- workers. (104) Apparently it could also be used, ing down of the biochemical processes involved in depending on the cause of death and opportunity respiration, metabolism and all the other interac- for preparation, to cool freshly dead bodies quickly tions between the cytoplasm of the cells and their and safely, with no damage to the brain. environment. If they are cooled to temperatures in the range below -79C in which carbon dioxide and Finally, we ask how long it is safe to keep the body, other gases are solidified or liquefied, all chemical after it has been cooled and before it has been fro- changes must either be slowed to a minute frac- zen. tion of the normal rate or else completely halted. Aging should not occur and it should be possible If a heart-lung machine has been used, and con- to preserve them for infinitely long periods in this tinues to be used, this time may be more or less temperature range.” (110) indefinite. Of course, “infinitely long” is a slight exaggera- If the brain has reached the vicinity of 10C with- tion, and in fact we know that some kinds of cells out damage, for example by use of a heart-lung stored at dry ice temperature, -79C, do show slow machine which then has to be disconnected, it can changes, with the percentage of living (revivable) survive up to an hour without blood circulation, cells decreasing week by week or even day by day, although there may be some relatively minor dam- even though other kinds of cells have shown no ap- age, if use is made of carotid arterial infusion of preciable deterioration after several years. For ex- low molecular weight dextran; this is on the ba- ample, Meryman says: “In the case of blood frozen sis of experiments of Edmunds and co-workers without glycerol significant decay is measured in with living dogs. (25) Likewise the experience of days of storage at -70C, weeks at -80C, months at Egerton and coworkers with patients undergo- -90 C, and years at •100C (70) ing hypothermic open-heart surgery showed that temperatures below 12C for more than forty-five This does not necessarily mean that the relatively minutes produced some brain damage, although high temperatures are altogether hopeless. Some most of them made complete recovery within four changes may take place, but little can yet be said months. (26) Other work also shows that there is about their extent and their reversibility. It may be some brain damage, even if the blood still circu- that the changes, even though “fatal” by present lates, when the temperature reaches the vicinity of tests, are minor, limited, and eventually reversible. 0C, the freezing point of water. It is not a case of general rot proceeding inexorably, although slowly; rather, it may be a case of some Hence probably the body should not be cooled kinds of action not being completely inhibited, and below about 10C before the freezing equipment is stability may be reached after only some changes made ready, if this can be done within an hour or which, seen in perspective, are trivial. so later, as ought to be possible in a hospital. Thus we cannot dismiss out of hand the sugges- Maximum and Optimum tion sometimes heard that bodies be submitted Storage Temperature to natural cold storage in arctic regions below the frost line. It has the obvious advantages of requir- There seem to be four main possibilities for choice ing no expensive investment and servicing, and of of storage temperature, and we must consider the reduced vulnerability in event of war. However, theoretical and practical advantages and disadvan- the coldest natural temperature is well above that

48 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” of dry ice, and probably too high. The odds would Radiation Hazard seem heavily adverse. Would a body in cold storage, although preserved For extremely long-term storage, there seems to against decay, be gradually “cooked” by the slow be nearly - but not quite •universal agreement that but inexorable attack of natural radiations? liquid helium temperatures, in the neighborhood of -270C, are safest . One of the dissenters is Dr. R. We know these are all around us: cosmic rays bom- B. Gresham, who says: “It has been shown that af- bard us from the skies; uranium, thorium, and ra- dium in rocks and soil, in concrete and brick, spray ter materials are frozen, there occurs a continuous penetrating emanations similar to X rays; and cer- thermodynamic activity down to -196C (-321F) tain radioactive atoms (radioisotopes) in our own or liquid nitrogen temperature, where movement bodies dribble slow poison. (In addition to this ceases only to be noted again at -269C (•449F) or natural “background” radiation, there is fallout ra- liquid helium temperatures. . . . Although the ef- diation from testing of nuclear weapons, but this fects of this thermodynamic activity on long-term so far is more or less negligible.) storage of living cells is not known, when storage time is to be measured in years, it is theoretically Since these radiations are of low intensity, they desirable to maintain a temperature of - 196C.” produce only a “chronic dose” which is scarcely (36) noticed, since a functioning body can repair most of the damage as fast as it occurs. But all doses ab- This argument does not really seem very impres- sorbed by a body in cold storage must be regarded sive. The “thermodynamic activity” and “move- as acute; we must consider the possibility that the ment” refer merely to certain irregularities in the cumulative damage to a frozen body might be- rate of heat loss as the temperature is lowered, and come serious as the centuries passed. accompanying shifts in the molecular structure or physical state of materials, mainly water. As far as I Examining the data, we find there may indeed be a problem, but not one too formidable. (The per- can see, there is no particular reason to think this tinent information can be found, for example, in implies any instability at a fixed temperature, in The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, U. S. Atomic En- general. Most writers do not seem to be worried ergy Commission, 1962.) by this question. The unit usually used to measure dosage of radia- A more serious objection to use of the lowest tem- tion is the “rem” (roentgen equivalent, mammal, or peratures is that while nothing will happen after man); we do not need its technical definition, but storage temperature is reached, changes may take may note that an acute dose of 100 rems or less is place en route. In other words, we should not use a unlikely to produce noticeable illness, a dose of 600 temperature any lower than necessary, because we rems results in severe radiation sickness requiring may be letting ourselves in for gratuitous trouble. hospitalization and the most competent care, and a In every range, more cooling means more change, dose of 1000 rems or more is almost certainly fatal and unnecessary changes are to be avoided. with the present resources of medicine.

On a practical level, liquid helium is relatively ex- Background radiation varies considerably with lo- pensive, and tricky to handle. cale, but as a rough average we might expect every- one to receive a dose of about 10 rems in 50 years. What would seem to emerge, then, is the following. A stored body, then, might take 500 years to ac- At the present time, the temperature of choice is cumulate a “clinical” or symptom-producing dose that of liquid nitrogen. When permanent installa- of 100 rems, and 3,000 years to soak up a currently tions are built, probably liquid helium will be used. dangerous dose of 600 rems. These times, to be As an emergency or austerity measure, one might sure, might be reduced if nuclear war or excessive use dry ice, which is cheap and easy to handle. weapons testing produced heavy fallout; but they could also be much lengthened by precautions available at moderate expense.

49 CRYONICS INSTITUTE MAGAZINE • CRYONICS.ORG Robert Ettinger’s “The Prospect for Immortality” If the bodies were stored underground, in vaults waiting in cold storage mainly for the solution of made of low-radioactivity materials, then they the aging problem. In light of the explosive accel- would be shielded from most of the external back- eration of scientific progress, it would be astonish- ground radiation, leaving only the internal radia- tors to worry about. These consist mainly of one ing if this were to take as long as 5,000 years. In this of the forms of the element potassium (the radio- view, we can ignore the effects of bodily radiation isotope potassium-40) found especially in the soft damage. tissues of the body. However, a postscript may be worth while to re- The dose rate due to potassium-40 is about 20 mil- lirems (0.020 rem) yearly. This will continue es- assure those worried about the genetic effects of sentially indefinitely, since the “half life,” or time radiation. It is true that a dose of 100-300 rems required for the dose rate to halve as the decaying inflicted on everyone in every generation might potassium-40 is used up, is over a billion years. But eventually produce so many mutations or freaks to accumulate a dose of 100 rems would take 5,000 years, and for 600 rems the wait would be 30,000 of inheritance as to threaten the race, if nothing years. were done about it. But we expect eventually to Even then, the radiation damage would no doubt control and tailor our genes, the physical blue- be substantially less than the injury done (to the prints of inheritance carried by our cells, and in earliest frozen bodies) by crude freezing methods, any event the resurrected frozen will not constitute so one might guess that at least 100,000 years must the entire populace. Individually, there is no cause elapse before radiation damage becomes critical. I can think of certain heroic measures to extend for concern: a man exposed to 500 rems has only this time to a million years or more, but it is hardly a negligible chance of observing deformities in his worth the trouble. children or grandchildren. (See, for example, the Most of us will be frozen by advanced methods article by Professor Muller in Radiation Biology, developed in the next decade or two, and will be ed. Alexander Hollaender, McGraw-Hill, 1954.)

NEXT ISSUE: Chapter III: Repair and Rejuvenation

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