X-Message-Number: 4919
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 10:10:43 +1000
From:  (Kitty te Riele)
Subject: Cryonics vs mummification

I found Doug Skrecky's posting (#4895) interesting. Chemical preservation
is certainly immensely safer and cheaper method of long term storage. But
can we expect the essential brain structures to be preserved? The evidence
available gives a tiny hope for cryonic suspension working out at the end,
hence its "relative" popularity.

I know DNA appears to be preserved for millenia. Some organisms will dry,
remain dormant then rehydrate and live. Ancient seeds sprouts. But is there
more?

The capsule construction would probably be a simple matter. Cold cure
silicone elastomer remains flexible to temperatures below -70 C and could
provide inert cushioning cocoon as well as facilitate the body's removal.
Some resins have extremely low gas and water permeability, high chemical
resistance and physical strength. One could be used to cast the second
envelope, perhaps the size of a coffin. This monolithic resin casing can be
surrounded with reinforced concrete (modest radiation shield can be easily
incoporated). This would provide a durable and cheap "time capsule".

But what of the inhabitant? My understanding is that no reversible chemical
preservation even of a single cell organism exists to this day.

Regards,

Joseph Havlena
(e-mail via Kitty: )

-------------------------------------
Centre for Learning and Teaching, UTS
phone: 330 2584        fax:  330 2217


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