A 46.000 year journey, not through space, but through time, all thanks to the power of cold. This is the story of Siberian roundworms which, after a long frozen sleep, they came back to life. This discovery raised a fundamental question: If these tiny organisms can come back to life after millennia, could we one day do the same with humans? Cryonics, once the subject of science fiction novels, could become a tangible reality. But let's not fantasize here: let's explore the realities and challenges of every research. Also this.
Cryonics: time travel through ice
Most of us think of freezing as a way to preserve food, but nature has shown that it can be a means of preserving life itself.
Deep in the heart of Siberia, scientists have made a surprising discovery. They found nematodes that had been frozen for 46.000 years. These ancient organisms were discovered in a frozen squirrel nest in 2018. But how did they survive for so long?
The art of anabiosis
Anabiosis is a process by which some organisms can almost completely shut down their metabolism when placed in unsuitable environments. This state of “suspension” allows them to survive in extreme conditions.
If conditions become favorable again, such as when the nematodes have been placed in water, they can “reboot” and return to life.
Can we do it too? The challenge of cryonics
Valeria UdalovaCEO KrioRus, a company active in the field of cryonics, shared some thoughts on this question. According to Udalova, it is necessary for human beings to undergo extremely complex procedures in order to enter a state similar to that of anabiosis, because they obviously do not possess this ability. Unlike frogs, nematodes and other living things.
Cryonics includes truly radical procedures today, such as the replacement of blood with cryoprotective solutions, to protect cells and tissues. Radical to the point of not being able to "clear customs", to reduce costs and become a mainstream practice (even if only an alternative to traditional burial).
An icy path to “resurrection”
Cryonics isn't just about freezing. The real obstacle is awakening. The cryoprotective agents currently used have “toxic” effects on the brain and other parts of the body, for one thing.
Udalova believes that significant advances in medicine and tissue engineering will be needed to reawaken humans. Progress that she thinks could come within the next 50-70 years. Less than a year ago we estimated 300 years: do we consider this a step forward?
The Cryonics Dilemma: The Fate of the Frozen Pioneers
At this point, given the experts' estimate of decisive progress in cryonics (which could occur within 50-70 years), a crucial question arises: what will happen to the people who have already chosen to freeze themselves, hoping for a second chance at life?
Anyone who has chosen to freeze his body after death until today is a true pioneer. He has made a bet on the future, hoping that science and technology will advance enough to be able to awaken him to a new world. But if decisive progress is still far away, what are the real possibilities of these people?
Technical and ethical challenges
One of the major obstacles of cryogenesis is cell damage caused by freezing and thawing. Although current cryopreservation methods use cryoprotective solutions to minimize this damage, they are not perfect. As time passes, the risk of accumulated damage increases.
And beyond the technical challenges, there are also ethical questions to consider. If they could awaken these people, what kind of world would they awaken into? Would they have legal and social rights? And how would they deal with the trauma of waking up in an era completely different from their own?
We have nothing but faith and perseverance. Medicine, biotechnology and the study of the mind are progressing at a rapid pace. New techniques may also emerge to repair or replace damaged tissue. Nanotechnology, for example, could offer solutions to repair damage at the molecular level (studies on nanowarming they're very interesting). Furthermore, tissue engineering could allow the creation of artificial organs to replace damaged ones. In other words, those who have chosen cryonics today have an uphill road, but they could still have a chance.
Beyond death: a new frontier
If cryonics is successful, it could become a sort of “alternative” to death. Imagine a world where people with terminal illnesses could be placed on “standby” until a cure is found. A perspective that has profound philosophical, ethical and medical implications.
In summary, cryogenesis remains an evolving field of research: and as "radical" as it is, recent discoveries offer a possible vision: perhaps one day freezing will not only be a way to preserve food, but also a "processing machine". time” towards the future.
Let's also keep this hope fresh.
