The History of Cryonics
The first person to be cryogenically frozen was a 73-year-old psychologist, Dr. James Bedford, who was suspended in 1967. His body is reportedly still in good condition at Alcor Life Extension Foundation.
The idea that a person could be frozen and then brought back to life when the technology had evolved far enough originated with the book "The Prospect of Immortality," written by physics teacher Robert Ettinger in 1964. The word "cryonics" is derived from the Greek term for "cold."
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By the late 1970s, there were about six cryonics companies in the United States. But to preserve and then maintain each body indefinitely was so expensive, many of these companies wound up closing shop by the following decade.
Today, only a handful of companies offer full cryosuspension services, including Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Arizona and the Cryonics Institute in Michigan. In early 2004, Alcor had more than 650 members and 59 patients in cryopreservation.
For more information on cryonics and related topics, check out the links below.
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
More Great Links
Books
- "The Prospect of Immortality" by R.C. W Ettinger
- "Medical-Legal Aspects of Cryonics: Prospects for Immortality" by George Patrick Smith
- "Forever for All: Moral Philosophy, Cryonics, and the Scientific Prospects for Immortality" by R. Michael Perry
- "Cryonics: Frozen for Eternity" by George Stromeyer
- "Cryonics: Reaching for Tomorrow" by Brian Wowk
Sources
- Associated Press. Splendid Splinter Chilling in Scottsdale. August 2, 2003.
- Cryonics: A Basic Introduction. Cryonics Institute.
- Friend, Tim. Vitrification Could Keep Tissue Safe During the Big Chill, USA Today, July 28, 2002.
- Johnson, Carrie and Alex Leary. "Ted Williams' Family Seeks to End Dispute," St. Petersburg Times, July 16, 2002.
- Miller, Kevin. "Cryonics Redux: Is Vitrification a Viable Alternative to Immortality as a Popsicle?" Skeptic, January 1, 2004.
- Mishra, Raja and Beth Daley. "Williams Dispute Piques Interest in Cryonics, Except for Scientists," The Boston Globe, July 10, 2002.
- Stroh, Michael. "Life on Ice." Science World, Volume 59, January 10, 2003.
- Verducci, Tom. "What Really Happened to Ted Williams." Sports Illustrated, August 18, 2003, pg. 66.
- What is Cryonics? Alcor Life Foundation.
- Wilson, Jim. "Cryonics Gets Hot," Popular Mechanics, Volume 178, November 1, 2001, pg. 50.
- Wowk, Brian, Ph.D. Cardiopulmonary Support in Cryonics.
- Yount, Jim. Getting There From Here.