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Scientist who supported the use of cryonics passes away

Scientist who supported the use of cryonics passes away

The death has taken place of Robert Ettinger who supported the system of freezing bodies as a way of achieving immortality. He was 92.

As a physics teacher in the 1960s, Mr. Ettinger began to express his belief that having bodies frozen at death would enable them to be resurrected scientifically at a later date when new cures for disease had been developed.

He outlined his ideas in his book, The Prospect Of Immortality, which he published in 1964.

Part of his plan involved the mass freezing of people who had passed away. He even pressed the U.S. Government to implement his plan.

His theories did encourage a number of organisations to become involved in the cryonics field. Many still offer services to people who wish to be frozen at death.

The process involves blood being replaced in a body with ‘cryoprotectant’ — which is really a form of anti-freeze. The body is then place in a vat of liquid nitrogen for long-term storage.

Mr. Ettinger followed-up his original book with Man Into Superman in 1968.

Despite the number of people choosing to have their bodies frozen after death remains relatively low, Mr. Ettinger was optimistic that it would eventually be taken up by the masses.

It is reported that Mr. Ettinger’s body will be frozen and placed in a facility in Michigan where the bodies of his two former wives and his mother are already in storage.

To view an interview with Robert Ettinger click here.

 

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