What is cryonics?
Many people confuse the terms cryogenics, cryobiology, suspended animation,
cryonic suspension, and cryonics. Here are my definitions of these terms,
which I believe are pretty much standard.
- Cryogenics
- The study of materials at very low temperatures (near
absolute zero). Cryogenics is a branch of physics.
- Cryobiology
- The study of the effect of low temperatures (below the
freezing point of water) on biological systems. A primary goal of this
field is the preservation and long term storage of organ systems such
as hearts, kidneys, etc. for use in transplantation. This goal has not
yet been reached and currently only individual cells and organisms
consisting of only a very few cells (such as embryos) can be successfully
treated, stored, and revived.
- Suspended animation
- This term refers to the ability to start and stop, at will, a
biological system (usually a person) through some physical means (usually
the use of cold temperatures). Suspended animation does not currently
exist.
- Cryonic suspension
- A (currently non-standard) medical technique for attempting to prevent
the permanent cessation of life in individuals on the brink of death. It
involves the use of low temperatures to halt metabolic decay. A person who
is cryonically suspended can not be revived by current
medical technology. The freezing process does too much damage. What is
accomplished is that once frozen the person's biological state does not
change. The reason for performing a cryonic suspension is the belief that
science, technology, and society will advance to the point where revival
of the person is both possible and desirable.
- Cryonics
- A branch of science that aims to develop reversible suspended animation.
Until suspended animation is achieved, most cryonicists favor the use of
cryonic suspension as a last ditch effort for people whose medical
options have run out.
If this sounds interesting, check out the excellent
introduction to
cryonics (available as a hypertext document, no less) maintained by
Tim Freeman,
tsf@cs.cmu.edu
.
Other sources of information include Kevin Brown's
kqb@whscad1.att.com CryoNet mailing list and the
sci.cryonics newsgroup.
Here are some cryonics related cartoons: