Living forever, as depicted in "Demolition Man" movie. - Innovative company plans to preserve corpses for future revival after a century.
In the modern world, we've seen dramatic portrayals of cryogenic sleep through movies like "Demolition Man" (1993) and "Vanilla Sky" (2001). However, this is not a work of fiction - it's a reality, born in Germany.
Dr. Emil Kendziorra (38) established his start-up in the heart of Berlin. His team of doctors stands ready for conservation missions, and one of the three re-purposed ambulances is stationed there, prepping individuals for cryogenic rest post-death.
Four individuals were crystallized last year
Tomorrow Biostasis, operated out of Berlin by Dr. Kendziorra, preserved four individuals in the past year. He's received hundreds more applications for this 'freezing' after death. The science behind it.
Cancer researcher turned cryoconservationist
Dr. Emil Kendziorra has a history in cancer research. "The progress was entirely too slow for me," he explains, frustrated with the empty promises of annihilating cancer every 10 years which has yet to come true.
His solution? Time travel through the ages and be present when cures for diseases become reality. There are U.S. and Chinese companies preserving people in liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees, and he's the first to introduce this in Europe.
Kendziorra: "Egg cells and embryos have been cryopreserved and thawed without harm for years. This has also been successful with animal organs."
"It may take 100, 300, or 500 years before it's possible to revive, heal, and rejuvenate a human organism," warns the doctor. "It's a risk, but it's also an opportunity." Medical advancements will keep evolving regardless.
"In the '60s, cardiac arrest meant you were undoubtedly dead," says Kendziorra. "There was no chest compressions then. Now, we know we have around eight minutes to resuscitate a person." Cooling bodies in snow and ice can prevent death for up to an hour.
Steel container, not a coffin
Preserving a human being: When a client is dying, one of Kendziorra's ambulances arrives. "Ideally, we learn of this in advance from the treating doctors, relatives, or the patient," he says. "We take over the client when they've been declared dead by the doctors treating them. In other words, when the only other options are burial or cremation."
Heart pumped and oxygenated
Once the client has died, their body is prepared for its journey into the future in the former ambulance. "In the car, we start the cooling process instantly," Kendziorra explains. "We also begin cardiac massage and provide oxygen through a breathing mask. Not to revive the deceased, but to slow down the gradual death of the cells and eventually stop it completely through cooling."
If the heart stops, the cells cease to receive oxygen and start to decompose, making resuscitation that much more challenging. Kendziorra stresses, "We must act fast before this process begins."
Over the course of the journey to the long-term storage facility, each body's temperature drops by 0.5 to 1 degree per minute to a maximum of -80 degrees. Some of the body's water is substituted in the vehicle with a preservative solution.
Steel containers in Switzerland
"We don't remove the customer's makeup or cut their hair," assures Kendziorra. "They remain as they are. We cool them down and transport them as quickly as possible to Switzerland."
A facility was set up in a small town near the German border, where crime is scarce and natural disasters like flooding or earthquakes are unlikely. The first four deceased customers already reside there - each in their own 3.20-meter-tall steel container filled with liquid nitrogen.
But after 500 years in liquid nitrogen, will you still be the person you were? Kendziorra says, "We believe that memories are preserved." Researchers have cryopreserved a specific type of worm and later revived it, only to find the worm continued obeying their previously established conditions.
What if you die at 90 and are revived? Aren't you likely to die again immediately? "If people can be revived," Kendziorra ponders, "their bodies could probably also be rejuvenated."
Will you feel lonely, separated from your old family and friends in the future? Kendziorra: "There are families who have signed up for cryopreservation together. But I think you can also create a new life for yourself. Of course, this is a very personal decision."
Who will look after people throughout the centuries and following their potential resuscitation? "There's a foundation whose council will be constantly changing over the coming years. Its members will be involved at no cost. It's also written in the charter that customers should be assisted in reintegrating into a new life." As well as safety and liquid nitrogen refills, Kendziorra assures, employees will be around to tend to their capsules.
In the future, having a chance at a new life doesn't come cheap. "Preserving the body currently costs 200,000 euros," says Emil Kendziorra. This payment is due at the time of death.
Most clients prefer to take out term life insurance with his company. Kendziorra aims to make cryopreservation more affordable for more people by reducing costs in the future. "Our goal is to lower the price to 20,000 to 30,000 euros," he says.
Right now, his startup offers brain preservation only for clients with fewer funds. The price for this is 75,000 euros. "It may be possible to preserve the body in the future," Dr. Kendziorra speculates.
Kendziorra will also be preserved. He made this decision before founding his company. "We can't predict if it'll succeed," Emil Kendziorra states. "It's a chance you won't have when you're in the ground."
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Source: symclub.org
