Cryogenics FAQs: Can We Really Bring Back a Frozen Body Back to Life?

News on the potential of treatment after cryogenics have popped up after a teenager who recently passed away due to cancer signed up to be the one of the very first to undergo cryogenic freezing. However, other scientists have started exploring the issue of just how plausible it is to treat patients after they have been clinically frozen.

These individuals may very well be the first of very few "subjects" that may be woken up and be cured of the conditions that "killed" them -- but is this really possible?

According to Popular Science, nature has given a resounding "yes" -- for some animals. It is possible to cryopreserve animals such as reptiles, amphibians, worms and insects. Some, like nematode worms, can recognize memories after being frozen.

The wood frog can allow itself to freeze into a block of ice and still hop around the following spring. However, when this is done to human tissue, it causes significant damage.

These processes are still poorly understood on the cellular level. However, this can be controlled. This means innovation in the field have to improve two aspects: preservation during freezing and recovery after thawning.

For instance, we can avoid damage in freezing if modulating temperatures and cryoprotectants are used to avoid ice formation, which destroys cells. According to Popular Science, this means simple substances such as sugars and starches were used to change viscosity and protect the cell membranes. 

Chemicals such as dimethyl sulfoxide, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and propandiol are used to prevent intracellular ice formation.

However, it is important to remember that while tissues can still be biologically stable while frozen, there's a risk that physical disruption such as hairline cracks that can cause potential problems.

However, the Conservation also hinted that "reviving" is an entirely different thing. Organs have to function homogeneously else they hold the risk of sabotaging the whole operation. There's a challenge of restoring the flow of blood to organs as well.

Still, scientists are making progress in the field of cryogenic preservation. In this case, parts such as fingers and legs, or complex organs such as kidneys, livers, and intestines, have been preserved, thawed and even successfully re-transplanted into an animal. 

Of course, preserving whole brains has been a question that hs been up since the 70s. Regardless, even if they are able to "restore" the functions of the body after being thawed, what about "reversing" death?

According to Popular Science, this can be reversed from a technical point of view. For instance, patients with disorders can already ask to be frozen before their memories are lost, but this already poses questions on legality and ethics. 

Another suggestion that effective repair must rely on highly advanced nanotechnology. The idea is that tiny molecular machines could hopefully repair damage to cells and tissues caused by cryonics extremely quickly, allowing for revival.