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Defeating Death : Cryonics and the Future of Emergency Medicine

Cryonics is an extension of emergency medicine.

It’s been said that today’s younger generation may be the first ever to have the possibility of living long enough to live forever.

Anti-aging and life extension technologies are rapidly accelerating, and some scientists, doctors and futurists believe that we are just a few decades away from being able to extend our lifespans indefinitely.

But what happens if you’re not in that younger generation? Or perhaps you are – but what happens if you die in an accident?

Cryonics – the low-temperature preservation of the human body in hopes of future revival – is the topic of this episode of Remarkably Human Radio, and here to talk about it is Dr. Max More, President of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation.

Dr. More tells us exactly what cryonics is and is not, helps us to separate science fact from science fiction, and shows us why the idea is not at all as far fetched as some might think.  Today’s show is a thorough and captivating introduction to the science, philosophy and practice of cryonics.

Our bodies age and die because it’s too expensive for evolution to build a body that will last indefinitely.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS

• What is cryonics and can it work?
• Why “legal death” is not actual death, and whether or not cryonics patients are considered dead.
• The two things that everyone know about cryonics – that are actually wrong.
• How cryonics patients are cooled and stored, and why cryonics is not “freezing.”
• Whether or not cryonics is compatible with religion.
• How even well-intentioned, educated scientists fall prey to misunderstandings and misconceptions about cryonics.
• How medicine currently and regularly cryopreserves dozens of tissues and organs.
• What CT scans and electron microscopy shows about the quality of cryonic preservations.
• The sophisticated procedures used to preserve patients.
• Laws regarding death, dying and the transport of patients.
• The cost associated with cryonics procedures and storage.
• The important difference between immortality and indefinite lifespan.
• Why you might want to live indefinitely – and why some people might not.

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

• Alcor Life Extension Foundation (and their full library of online resources)
• Alcor YouTube Channel
• The Transhumanist Reader: Classical and Contemporary Essays on the Science, Technology and Philosophy of the Human Future edited by Max More and Natasha Vita-More
• Great Mambo Chicken And The Transhuman Condition by Ed Regis

We’re not promising eternal life.  What we’re doing is giving people the chance to carry on living.

MY THANKS, AND HOW YOU CAN HELP

This is only the fourth episode of Remarkably Human Radio, but already the response has been phenomenal.  I am simply blown away by the many personal messages that I’ve received in response to our first three shows.  It seems as if this material has really struck a chord with many of you!  So much so that I’ve had several people write in and tell me that they listened to some episodes more than once.  I am humbled and grateful.

Without you, dear listener, I would have no reason to produce this show.  And that’s why it’s incredibly important for you to keep letting me know how I’m doing.  Right now, the most important thing that you can do to help out is:

• Subscribe to the show in iTunes (and download all the episodes) and
• Rate the show and leave a review on the show page of the iTunes app.

That’s how I know we’re hitting the mark and will help me to keep delivering the stellar content and superb guests that you’re already coming to expect from this show.  And of course, your review on iTunes and shares on all the social sites help other listeners to find the show.  Your words carry weight.

So if you’d like to help, please do leave your feedback on iTunes.  As always, I can be reached at roderick@roderickrussell.com and I always encourage you to email me and stay in touch.

I am grateful beyond words for your support.  Until next week!

Cryonics is actually very conservative medicine.

Did you find this episode interesting?  Have questions or comments?  Leave them below and let’s continue the discussion!