What Is Cryogenics and What Is It Used For?

According to a study conducted in 2017, most Americans would not want to live forever if given the chance to do it.

About 24 percent of people said they would want to live to be between 76 and 100 years old. Another 20 percent said they would prefer to live to be between 51 and 75.

But there were some people who said they would love to have the opportunity to live for as long as possible. About 3 percent said they would choose to live for more than 100,000 years.

Cryogenics could make it possible. There are more and more people choosing to have their bodies cryogenically frozen at the time of their death in the hopes of being brought back to life in the future.

Learn more about cryogenics and how it’s being used below.

What Is Cryogenics?

Before we can talk about what cryogenics is being used for today, it’s important for you to understand what it is. It can be difficult for some people to comprehend cryogenics since it sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Cryogenics is defined as “the branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures.” Those who study what happens to different elements when they’re exposed to very cold temperatures over extended periods of time are called cryogenicists.

Most people are familiar with what happens to things when they’re exposed to normal freezing temperatures. But cryogenics digs deeper to discover what takes place when different things are exposed to temperatures ranging from -150° C to -273° C.

What Is It Used For?

Over the years, cryogenicists have been able to change the way in which different materials behave by using cryogenics. They’ve used it to alter the mechanical strength, electrical resistance, and thermal conductivity of various materials.

As a result, cryogenics is used in lots of different ways today. Scientists have figured out how to utilize cryogenics to do things like:

Store gases

Preserve foods

Manufacture electronics

Power rockets

Conduct surgeries

But maybe most notably, cryogenics is used for the purpose of cryogenic storage. There are people who are using a technique called cryonics to cryogenically freeze their bodies and preserve them for years to come.

The thought is that, by using cryonics, people might be able to bring themselves back from the dead in the future thanks to major advancements in medicine, science, and technology.

There is still a ton of research to do before scientists can even think about making this happen. But in the meantime, there are people paying good money (more on that in a second!) to take advantage of the perceived benefits of cryogenics and cryonics.

Who Is Using It?

As recently as about 50 years ago, there were only a handful of people who had asked for their bodies to cryogenically frozen when they died as opposed to buried or cremated. It took a long time for others to come around to the idea of using cryogenics and cryonics.

Today, there are still very few people who have gone through the process of having their bodies frozen and preserved through the use of cryogenics. But the number of people who are using it is on the rise.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact number of people who have been cryogenically frozen. But studies have speculated that the number sits at somewhere around 250 people. There are also about 1,500 living people who have expressed a strong interest in using cryonics one day.

There are quite a few famous people who have asked to have their bodies placed into cryogenic chambers following their death. Some of the most notable names are:

Ted Williams

Dick Clair Jones

Dr James Bedford

For years, there were also rumours about Walt Disney using cryonics when he died in 1966. But it does not appear as though there is any truth to them.

How Much Does It Cost?

One of the reasons why there aren’t more people using cryonics is because of the uncertainty surrounding it. There is no guarantee that a cryogenically frozen body is ever going to come back from the dead.

But one of the other reasons why some people have baulked at the idea of being cryogenically frozen is because of the high costs associated with it. It costs more than $200,000 in most cases to have a person’s body stored in a cryogenic chamber.

There are some people who are getting a deep discount on cryonics by only choosing to have their heads stored as opposed to their entire bodies. That costs right around $20,000.

But the cost of cryonics will need to come down a little bit more before it becomes a viable option for tens of thousands of people every year.

Should You Use It?

If you live outside the U.S., having your body preserved in a cryogenic chamber might not be a great option for you. There are only a few cryogenic facilities in the entire world, and the majority are in America.

But if you do live in the U.S., you might want to consider the possibility of having your body or even your head frozen rather than buried or cremated. It could give you a chance to live forever one day if that’s something that appeals to you.

Take Time to Learn More About Cryogenics Today

There is still so much for scientists to learn about cryogenics. The science behind cryonics, in particular, is new, and it’s going to take some time for scientists to find out how good of an option it is for people.

If you’ve been thinking about trying to use cryogenics to your benefit, it would be a good idea for you to stay up on the latest news stories about it. There are new developments behind made in the space each year. They’ll help you decide whether or not you want to be cryogenically frozen one day.

Browse through our blog for tips on how to live a longer life so that you won’t have to worry about using cryonics anytime soon.