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Crossing the Boundary of Death: Why Do Some People Believe That Freezing Can Resurrect People?
Freezing technology, with the advancement of science and technology, has revealed new possibilities, making us think about whether the continuation of life can really transcend the boundary of death. The basic idea is to preserve human remains at low temperatures in the hope that future technology will be able to resurrect the dead. Although this concept has received considerable skepticism and criticism in the academic world, some individuals still have hope in it and explore this road to "rebirth" step by step.
Freezing is an extremely low-temperature preservation technology, mainly performed at -196°C, in the hope that future science will be able to reverse the damage caused by death.
The history and practice of freezing
Freezing technology first came into people’s view in the 1960s. In 1967, the first frozen body was that of James Bedford, who was cryopreserved shortly after his death. As of 2014, approximately 250 remains have been cryopreserved in the United States, and approximately 1,500 people have arranged their own freezing plans.
Although early cryoprotection practices encountered many failures, these early attempts laid the foundation for later cryotechnologies.
Currently, the cost of freezing a body ranges widely, from $28,000 to $200,000. Many cryonics companies rely on life insurance to fund these high costs and hope that future technology will enable the recovery of these frozen individuals.
Challenges of science and technology
However, freezing technology is not without its challenges. Scientists point out that the recovery of both large animals and complete organs is almost impossible at the current level of technology. Although some experiments have looked at freezing animal brains, restoring the cellular damage caused by ice crystals remains a challenge.
Many biologists have expressed doubts about the usefulness of cryotechnology, arguing that the method may raise unrealistic expectations based on anecdotal evidence.
In addition, problems such as nerve damage during the freezing process, tissue damage caused by hypoxia, and the toxicity of cryogens have all caused considerable obstacles in practical operations.
Law and Ethics Debate
On a legal level, freezing still faces some complex challenges. The laws of many countries consider a frozen body to still be a deceased person and is not considered a legal method of disposal. This leaves many people facing legal and ethical considerations when making cryonic arrangements during their lifetime.
Controversy among ethicists over cryonics revolves around issues such as the definition of death, the financial burden of cryopreservation and its potential social impact.
Is freezing a hope for the future?
Many proponents believe that even if the current technology is not yet mature, cryonics still has the potential to lay the foundation for future technologies. They hope that future nanotechnology will be able to repair the tissues of the dead and even digitize consciousness. This concept attracts many people to cryonics arrangements, whether based on belief in science or fantasy about the future.
Some people see cryonics as a new way of survival that is opposed to the traditional concept of death, and they hope that in the future they can break through the current technological limitations.
Frozen hope amidst the noise
There are still many sparks in the debate between supporters and opponents of cryo, and in some cases the stance of cryo supporters has sparked backlash from family members. Regardless, freezing certainly inspires deep thoughts about life, death, and the future.
In such a controversial field, the understanding of death and possible future rebirth remains a topic that stimulates thought. How should we think about the end of life, and whether cryonics can actually help us welcome the future of life again?
