Monthly Archives: September 2008

Refractometry in cryonics

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

Contrary to popular opinion, in cryonics the blood of the patient is replaced with a cryoprotective agent to reduce freezing, or more recently, to eliminate ice formation altogether through vitrification. This procedure requires surgical access to the circulatory system of … Continue reading →

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Time for the rebirth of cryonics in Britain

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Mike Darwin

A PDF file of this article with images is available here. “Tenderly you stroke a Nettle, and it stings you for your pains. Grasp it like a man of mettle, and it soft as silk remains.” – Old English proverb … Continue reading →

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Immortality and boredom

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

If immortality means a zero chance of death, it is doubtful whether mankind (or any lifeform) will ever achieve this. Nevertheless, advocates for extending the maximum human life span often face arguments that address the negative features of being immortal. … Continue reading →

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Armand Karow on Isamu Suda’s brain cryopreservation experiments

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

In 2007, cryobiologist Armand M. Karow passed away. Unlike many contemporary cryobiologists, Karow offered cautious support for the objectives of cryonics. In the mid-1960s, Karow served on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Cryonics Societies of America (CSA). He also … Continue reading →

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No disease in the brain of a 115-year old woman

Posted on September 20, 2008 by Chana de Wolf

In August 2008, Neurobiology of Aging published the interesting observations of den Dunnen, et al. of the post-mortem body of a 115 year old woman, which showed no evidence of atherosclerosis. Her brain was devoid of the amyloid plaques characteristic … Continue reading →

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Greg Fahy on the cryopharmacology of vitrification solutions

Posted on September 17, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

In an abstract in Cryobiology 55 (2007), 21st Century Medicine researcher Greg Fahy reports on the biological (pharmacological or “cryopharmacological”) effects of vitrification solutions. He identifies four different mechanisms of toxicity: 1. “Specific toxicity,” or the effects of vitrification agents … Continue reading →

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Life in non-aqueous solutions

Posted on September 16, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

Can life exist without water? This is one of the questions that fascinates astrobiologists. The behavior of biomolecules in non-aqueous solutions is also of interest to cryobiologists and cryoenzymologists. Ice formation below zero degrees Celsius can be prevented by high … Continue reading →

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Early total body washout experiments in cryonics

Posted on September 15, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

The question of whether cryonics “works” or not is too general and hides the  point that progressive breakthroughs can make the concept more plausible. Human cryopreservation consists of a number of procedures culminating in long term care at cryogenic temperatures. … Continue reading →

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D(+)-Lactose and other sugars in organ preservation and cryonics

Posted on September 14, 2008 by Mike Darwin

A PDF file of this document is available with images and structural visualization of various sugars. D(+) lactose monohydrate is the principal sugar in mammalian milks. The monohydrate part is easiest to explain; it simply means that the lactose molecule … Continue reading →

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The hostile wife phenomenon in cryonics

Posted on September 9, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

On August 23, Chana and Aschwin de Wolf drafted a blog entry on the phenomenon of partners who are hostile to cryonics. We sent our draft for review to a number of high profile cryonicists and received a message from … Continue reading →

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Cryoenzymology and cryoprotectant toxicity

Posted on September 4, 2008 by Aschwin de Wolf

The major limiting obstacle to reversible cryopreservation of complex organs is cryoprotectant toxicity. Elimination of ice formation through vitrification requires high concentrations of cryoprotective agents. These high concentrations of cryoprotectants can be toxic to tissues. Over the years, major advances … Continue reading →

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