Southern Cryonics Freezes First Client, Marking Milestone in Cryonics
Southern Cryonics, a company specializing in cryonics, has announced a significant milestone with the successful cryopreservation of its first client at their Holbrook facility in regional New South Wales, Australia. The company expressed excitement over this achievement, recognizing it as a crucial step in their goal of preserving human life in the hope of future revival.
Cryonics involves maintaining the human body at cryogenic temperatures, typically around -196°C, with the aim of one day utilizing medical advancements to repair molecular damage caused by aging and disease, potentially restoring the individual to full health. Southern Cryonics’ first client, an 80-year-old Sydney man who passed away on May 12, underwent a meticulous preservation process.
The body was initially cooled to 6°C in a hospital cold room before being transported to A O’Hare Funeral Directors, where doctors and perfusionists employed a heart-lung bypass machine to circulate a cryoprotective solution through the body. This solution helps preserve cells and further reduce body temperature. The client was then wrapped in a specialized sleeping bag and packed in dry ice, lowering their body temperature to approximately -80°C.
Subsequently, the client was moved to Southern Cryonics’ Holbrook facility, where they remained on dry ice until the arrival of liquid nitrogen. The temperature was gradually reduced to -200°C in a computer-controlled cooling chamber, and the client was placed in a pod and lowered upside down into a dewar tank, a specialized vacuum storage vessel that can accommodate up to four individuals.
The entire cryopreservation process spanned from May 12 to 17 and reportedly cost the client approximately $170,000, with additional fees for medical teams involved in the preservation. Philip Rhoades, a 72-year-old biologist and cryonics enthusiast, played a pivotal role in this endeavor, having dedicated 14 years to developing and testing the preservation process.
However, Professor Bruce Thompson, head of the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, expressed skepticism about the scientific and ethical implications of cryonics. He emphasized the challenges and uncertainties associated with reversing the aging process and reviving individuals who have passed away.
Despite these concerns, Southern Cryonics remains optimistic about the potential of cryonics. With the successful cryopreservation of their first client, the company hopes to contribute to the advancement of the field and pave the way for future medical breakthroughs that could potentially restore life to those who have passed.
