Human Body Freezers Open Doors for a Day

A Michigan company that freezes humans and pets is opening its doors to the public on Sunday, June 24. The Cryonics Institute will display techniques and equipment which it claims may allow people to live thousands of years in a rejuvenated condition. Located in Clinton Township about 20 miles northeast of Detroit, the Cryonics Institute keeps over 80 humans and over 40 pets frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Established in 1976 and regulated as a Michigan cemetery since 2004, Sunday will be the first time the Institute has put its operations on display for the public.

"We want people to see that cryonics is a reasonable alternative to burial or cremation," said Ben Best, the organization's President.

Cryonics is the controversial practice of freezing people soon after legal death in the hope that future science will be able to restore them to youthful, healthy life. The Cryonics Institute is the only organization east of the Rockies storing humans in liquid nitrogen in the hope of future revival. Russia is the only country outside the United States with a cryonics facility.

Those visiting the Institute on Sunday
will see a "science fair" of the equipment and procedures used in cryonics. Visitors can see the huge ten foot high fiberglass thermos bottles holding the frozen humans and pets. There will be demonstrations of the properties of the liquid nitrogen which keeps the clients frozen to minus 321 degrees Fahrenheit. There will be a lecture on cryonics and rejuvenation.

Literally speaking modern cryonics organizations don't simply freeze humans, they attempt to reduce or even eliminate damaging ice by infusing anti-freeze compounds. One of the best of these compounds has been used to cool a rabbit kidney to -95ºF. The kidney was so well preserved that it was re-warmed and transplanted into a rabbit without loss of function. Such compounds are infused in the brains of persons receiving cryonics treatment. Details on the anti-freeze procedure will be on
display at the Institute.

Modern cryonics organizations often use professionally trained teams to stand by the bedside of terminal patients who wish to be preserved. As soon as death is pronounced, the team begins restoring circulation while cooling in an ice bath to maintain body tissues in the best possible condition. Equipment used for this procedure will be demonstrated at the Institute.

Persons choosing cryonics rather than burial or cremation believe that future medicine will be able to cure all diseases, including the disease called "aging". Cryonics advocates believe future medicine will be capable not only of rejuvenation, but of repairing any damage produced by the freezing process. Members can pay $28,000 for storage at the Institute. The price can be made more affordable by making the Cryonics Institute the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Those wishing to visit the exhibition on Sunday should look at the CRYONICS.ORG website and contact the Cryonics Institute.

###