Anders Freezes His Brain to Be Awakened in the Future

In a move that blurs the lines between science fiction and reality, Swedish philosopher Anders Sandberg is preparing for a future beyond his current lifespan by opting for cryogenic preservation of his brain. Sandberg, 53, has detailed his plan, which involves a specific protocol should he die unexpectedly. A medallion around his neck contains instructions for medical personnel to contact a US-based team that will retrieve his body and facilitate the freezing process.

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But because I am a miser, I thought I would save money by just freezing the brain. I live a cerebral life anyway, and if it is possible to revive a person in the future, it may also be possible to clone a body.

Sandberg, who has affiliations with Oxford and Stockholm universities, views this as a financially prudent decision, humorously noting his frugly nature as a reason for choosing brain preservation over full-body freezing. He reasons that if future technology can revive a frozen human, it might also be capable of cloning a body. This perspective underscores a belief in the rapid advancement of science and the potential for overcoming biological limitations.

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The probability is perhaps ten percent. But it is worth paying for, when the alternative is to be dead. Technology is developing rapidly.

While acknowledging that cryonics is an experimental and speculative field with no proven success in reviving mammals, Sandberg maintains a "low but hopeful expectation." He estimates a ten percent chance of success, a gamble he deems worthwhile given the alternative of permanent death. The process involves complex scientific challenges, including the use of anti-freeze agents to prevent ice crystal formation and the need for immediate preservation post-mortem to avoid tissue degradation. This forward-thinking approach, while unconventional, reflects a profound engagement with the possibilities of future technology and the enduring human desire to transcend mortality.

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If I get bad news from my doctors, I should go to the USA and spend my last time in hospital there, so that the treatment can begin immediately when I die.