Some folks here may be interested in Robert Prehoda’s approach, which was to begin with variants on survivable hibernation which become increasingly radical as technology improves. Prehoda was actually opposed to cryonics, though he reluctantly participated in the James Bedford suspension.
Both articles discuss ways to drastically lower the metabolic rates (with applications to humans). Though neither of the links mention cryonics directly, the application is obvious. If a dying human being can have their metabolic rate lowered significantly, the cryopreserving them becomes drastically simpler. As I understand it, damage done between death and when body temperature is very significantly below room temperature is quite significant. A way to lower the metabolic rate sounds like it could drastically reduce such damage.
The Wikipedia article on hydrogen sulfide (the compound discussed in the second link) discusses its role in the body and the possibility of inducing suspended animation. It mentions that two studies failed to lower the metabolism of pigs or sheep
The possibility of room-temperature, or at least above water-freeze (which causes major damage) suspended animation comes to mind. Then the person can actually be woken up (for possible treatment) at any time, rather than having to wait for nanotech or brain scanning.
That’s true too. Though there are immediate problems that spring to mind, like how long one could remain in that state, for example, I doubt you could spend 100 years like that.
Frozen? No. Following the links: “There, she was wrapped in a cooling blanket to bring her temperature down from a normal 37C to 33.5C.”
An interesting medical treatment, but it should be accurately described.
Some folks here may be interested in Robert Prehoda’s approach, which was to begin with variants on survivable hibernation which become increasingly radical as technology improves. Prehoda was actually opposed to cryonics, though he reluctantly participated in the James Bedford suspension.
I thought everyone on Lesswrong was already aware of Mark Roth’s work. They are in human trials as of last year.
If they need any volunteers to test a 10 year sleep I will be on board. I want to jump ahead to the good parts of the computing age.
EDIT: The following comment is untrue. The video is from 2010. Never mind.
The suspended animation video is from 2008. Does anyone know if these ideas have been followed up on?
It says on the video that it’s from February 2010
oops! Someone in the comments said it was from ’08 and I got the wrong date in my head.
It’s ok :)
Fascinating.
Both articles discuss ways to drastically lower the metabolic rates (with applications to humans). Though neither of the links mention cryonics directly, the application is obvious. If a dying human being can have their metabolic rate lowered significantly, the cryopreserving them becomes drastically simpler. As I understand it, damage done between death and when body temperature is very significantly below room temperature is quite significant. A way to lower the metabolic rate sounds like it could drastically reduce such damage.
The Wikipedia article on hydrogen sulfide (the compound discussed in the second link) discusses its role in the body and the possibility of inducing suspended animation. It mentions that two studies failed to lower the metabolism of pigs or sheep
The possibility of room-temperature, or at least above water-freeze (which causes major damage) suspended animation comes to mind. Then the person can actually be woken up (for possible treatment) at any time, rather than having to wait for nanotech or brain scanning.
That’s true too. Though there are immediate problems that spring to mind, like how long one could remain in that state, for example, I doubt you could spend 100 years like that.
I’m not willing to guess here—I’m likely to be massively wrong (though my gut feel is similar to yours).
With shorter periods space travel in Solar system might be a good application.
An excellent point.