Defying Death: Tomorrow Biostasis' Bold Venture into Cryogenic Revival
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In the heart of Berlin, a groundbreaking startup named Tomorrow Biostasis is embarking on an ambitious venture: the cryopreservation of human bodies with the hope of future revival. This concept, which straddles the line between cutting-edge science and speculative fiction, involves preserving bodies or brains at extremely low temperatures immediately after legal death, with the aim of reviving these individuals when future medical technologies can cure their fatal conditions.
The Vision and Leadership
Dr. Emil Kendziorra, the visionary behind Tomorrow Biostasis, is no stranger to the world of medical innovation. With a background in medicine and cancer research, Kendziorra found the pace of academic research too slow for his ambitions. After founding and successfully exiting two previous startups, he turned his attention to longevity technology. His goal with Tomorrow Biostasis is not merely to extend life but to offer a second chance at life through cryonics.
What is Cryopreservation?
Cryopreservation, also known as cryonics or biostasis, is a process that preserves a human body or brain at sub-zero temperatures shortly after death. The intention is to halt all biological processes and decay, maintaining the body in a state of suspended animation until such a time when future technological advancements can treat the cause of death and revive the individual. This procedure is legally regarded as a form of body donation to science in many European countries, making it feasible under existing legal frameworks.
The cryopreservation process involves cooling the body to -196°C and storing it in liquid nitrogen. This extreme temperature prevents the biochemical reactions that lead to decomposition. In practice, this involves a rapid cooling process and the use of cryoprotectants to prevent ice crystal formation, which can damage cells.
The Operational Challenges
Establishing a cryopreservation company is fraught with unique challenges. The technology for reviving cryopreserved bodies does not currently exist, making this a high-risk venture with uncertain outcomes. Furthermore, maintaining bodies in cryopreservation requires long-term infrastructure and financial stability, which poses significant operational and investment challenges.
Tomorrow Biostasis operates with a clear focus on these long-term goals. The company provides medical standby services for when a client is near death, ensuring that the cryopreservation process can begin as quickly as possible after legal death is declared. They also handle the logistics of body transport, customer communications, and community building to support their clients and their families.
Collaboration and Infrastructure
Unlike many conventional startups, Tomorrow Biostasis collaborates closely with two interconnected organizations to achieve its goals. The Tomorrow Patient Foundation (TPF), a Swiss non-profit, serves as the legal guardian of the cryopreserved patients. Meanwhile, the European Biostasis Foundation (EBF) provides the long-term care facility located in Rafz, Switzerland. Here, the patients are stored in dewars—large vessels designed to maintain the cryogenic temperatures necessary for preservation.
This collaborative approach ensures that the process of cryopreservation is managed with the highest standards of care and oversight. It also helps distribute the financial and logistical burdens associated with maintaining a cryopreserved body for potentially decades.
Financial Model and Accessibility
One of the significant hurdles for Tomorrow Biostasis is ensuring the financial sustainability of its operations. Cryopreservation is an expensive process, with the cost of whole-body preservation averaging around €200,000. To make this more accessible, the company offers brain-only preservation for approximately €60,000. Most clients choose to finance these costs through life insurance policies, reducing the immediate financial burden on their families.
Clients pay a membership fee of €25 per month from the time they sign up until they are cryopreserved. The fees for standby and storage are only required at the time of cryopreservation. This model helps ensure that the company can maintain its services over the long term without the need for constant external funding.
Client Demographics and Motivation
Interestingly, the majority of Tomorrow Biostasis’ clients are young, with an average age of 36. This demographic trend suggests that younger individuals, particularly those in the tech industry, are more open to the idea of cryopreservation. They are typically less influenced by traditional religious beliefs and more inclined to embrace technological solutions to mortality.
The company's clientele comes from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and various countries, reflecting a broad interest in the potential of cryonics. However, the common thread among them is a belief in the possibility of future medical advancements that could make revival feasible.
Ethical and Philosophical Considerations
Cryopreservation raises numerous ethical and philosophical questions. One of the most profound is the nature of identity and consciousness. If a person is revived in the future, will they retain their memories and personality? Could they be considered the same person, or merely a copy? These questions remain unanswered and are the subject of ongoing debate among scientists, ethicists, and futurists.
There is also the question of societal impact. If cryopreservation becomes successful and widespread, it could lead to significant changes in how society views life, death, and aging. It might also create new challenges related to resource allocation and population dynamics.
The Long-Term Mission
Tomorrow Biostasis is in it for the long haul. Dr. Kendziorra has stated that the company will never be sold, and investors need to be comfortable with this long-term mission. The goal is not to generate short-term profits but to ensure the sustainability and success of cryopreservation as a viable option for those who choose it.
Investors in Tomorrow Biostasis are not looking for quick returns. Instead, they receive dividends but not profits from a sale, reflecting the company’s commitment to its mission over financial gain. This approach ensures that the primary focus remains on advancing the science and practice of cryopreservation.
The Future of Cryonics
Currently, the technology to revive cryopreserved individuals does not exist. However, there have been promising advancements in related fields. For instance, in 2016, scientists successfully revived a rabbit brain from cryopreservation to near-perfect condition. While this is a significant step forward, the leap from preserving small animal brains to whole human bodies is substantial and fraught with technical challenges.
Despite the uncertainties, the possibility of future revival offers hope to those who choose cryopreservation. As Dr. Kendziorra puts it, "If you are cremated, you have zero chance of revival, but if you are cryopreserved, the chance is more than zero." This sentiment captures the essence of cryonics: a bet on future scientific breakthroughs that could one day offer a second chance at life.
In conclusion, Tomorrow Biostasis represents a bold and visionary attempt to push the boundaries of life extension and medical science. By focusing on the long-term goal of revival through cryopreservation, the company is navigating uncharted waters with a combination of scientific rigor, ethical consideration, and financial pragmatism. While the journey is fraught with challenges and uncertainties, the potential rewards are extraordinary, offering a glimpse into a future where death might not be the final frontier.
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