Biostasis Newsletter June 2023
Who are the Cryonics Experts? Cryonics in the UK! Support Cryonics and Debunk Myths
Who are the Experts on Cryonics?
Hint: Probably not a cell cryobiologist without good knowledge of organ vitrification, the neuroanatomy of identity and memory, and molecular medicine. In his most recent contribution to the Biostasis Standard, Max More explores the question who we can trust to be experts on cryonics, why the interdisciplinary nature of the field requires elementary knowledge of various (unrelated) disciplines, and how even experts can be wrong about future technologies.
Biostasis in the UK
Cryonicists in the United Kingdom live thousands of miles from both Alcor and the Cryonics Institute. That underlines the need for more local response capabilities. To bring more information, and to boost interest in the UK, Biostasis Technologies got together with Tomorrow Biostasis – a relatively new organization serving members in continental Europe and potentially the UK – to put on a one-day conference.
Max More of Biostasis Technologies kicked things off with a concise introduction to cryonics followed by his argument for thinking of cryonics as Plan A in your life extension efforts. Aschwin de Wolf, BT’s President, followed up by covering “The Science and Practice of Cryonics.” Emil Kendziorra, the main force behind Tomorrow Biostasis and the European Biostasis Foundation, introduced the goals and achievements of those two organizations.
After a brief lunch break, cryobiologist João Pedro de Magalhãe introduced his new cryobiology research company Oxford Cryotechnology. Max returned to regale the audience with his tales of the beginnings of UK cryonics in the 1980s. Garret Smyth, also a founder of UK cryonics, added greatly to that history with an entertaining talk reaching back into the past including, for example, the pioneering work of Audrey Smith. Finally, Tim Gibson, the leading light of Cryonics UK, provided detailed information about the organization, its capabilities, and its legal battles to keep cryonics alive in the UK.
Cryonics Survey
If cryonics is to grow and increase the resources available to improve procedures and do more research, we need to better understand where to find potential new supporters.
In the long-ago days of 1989, before the internet as we know it, Mike Perry and Max created the first cryonics survey. Since then, the cryonics movement has grown manyfold – something like 2000%. There have been one or two efforts since then to learn about those who take practical steps toward cryopreservation arrangements, but nothing more comprehensive recently. Max Marty stepped up to do the work of a major survey. Max is known for co-hosting the cryonics podcast and running the cryonics Discord server.
He has written up the results with comments in two new blog posts. These cover responses to 64 questions from 244 responders. The first post reports on answers to questions dealing with the demographics and preferences of cryonicists, cryonicists and the family, pets, and their political, social, religious, and ideological orientations. The second post focuses on philosophical and related matters – cryonicists’ views on the mind, consciousness, existence versus nonexistence, or life versus non-life. The next post will look at how cryonicists see each other, their cryonics service providers, and other related issues.
Scientists’ Open Letter on Cryonics
The Scientist’ Open Letter on Cryonics is an independent initiative that seeks to show support for cryonics among scientists and scholars. The official location of the Letter is at the Biostasis.com website. Recently the number of signers has been expanded to 76, including new entries for Dr. Emil F. Kendziorra and longevity researcher John Schloendorn, Ph.D. If you support the feasibility and practice of human cryopreservation (at least if practiced under good conditions), please contact us to be added to the letter. Suggestions for additional signers are welcome as well.
Thank you!
The Biostasis Standard will always remain a (mostly) free publication, but we have been pleasantly surprised to see some of you switching to a paid subscription to further support our work. Please encourage two or three people in your circle to subscribe, or even gift a paid subscription to someone.
In our next newsletter we are going to start diving a little more into the technical projects that Biostasis Technologies is supporting. Stay tuned!
Top 10 Myths About Cryonics Debunked!