Modern mummification sounds like a rebirthed ancient method, but the concept has changed. Mummification, according to Egyptian culture, is the preservation of their kings and queens enabling their body to evade decay over a long period of time. Modern mummification, however, is an attempt to preserve human life through various methods. There are several types of mummification practiced and being researched on. Some of these practices are centuries old and hold significant importance in the place they are exercised. They include embalming, cryonics, and SUMMUM. A practice from the 11th to 19th century, ‘Sokushinbutsu’ ₋self-mummification, was banned by Emperor Meiji in 1879.
My focus is on cryonics––a scientific aspect where the body is frozen and left in suspended animation in hope that future technology will reverse the process (cryopreservation). A lot of investment has been made into this research and the slots are up for purchase ranging from $200,000 (NBC News, 2016). What is fascinating is how they have sold the concept and that their solution is based on hope. Billions of dollars are being invested into such research facilities and a variety of scholars are pursuing this method. The limitations lie whether they can regenerate the body’s youthful state. When the fluids in the human body crystalizes, it destabilizes its normal functioning. The fluid structure expands and ruptures, creating new structures making resuscitation extremely unlikely with current technology.
What are the possible side effects if it becomes possible? Assume future scientists are reviving a body that is about 3 generations or more old. This body poses a threat where they might contain microorganisms and bacteria which are the parent to the more evolved of its kind. An example of this scenario was where a hospital attempted to treat a certain disease using modern methods. The patient showed all signs and symptoms of that disease but was not responsive to medicine. The doctors tabled the patient’s report. Only after historical analysis did they know they were dealing with the parent of this current microorganism. The patient later testified that they had been to the Alpine glaciers––the glaciers were centuries old and so they had trapped the parent microorganism. Medicine since that parent microorganism has developed to cope up with the evolution of that same organism.
If about 1000 people from every nation commit to this technology, it may cause an uproar in the future during their ‘rebirth’. When they are frozen, their present culture, norms and laws are frozen with them. Also keep in mind the procedure is primarily open to older adults. Changing their mindsets could become very tough since they are learned and can challenge that current concept or topic.
Ranging from scientific research where they will be shocked to sight technology that disobeys the laws of nature (like flying vehicles and teleportation), some laws can be found not to be in favor with them and cannot be challenged causing unrest. Regarding their possessions, some anticipate that their descendants will have kept well and multiplied the inheritance they left, only to find it depleted. It will stir many conflicts due to contradictions of their expectations. Some may fall victim as prisoners of war or held in frozen state until their descendants pay up any additional debt.
Preservation of such bodies requires extremely low temperatures and most preferably the use of liquid nitrogen. The substances we have in our possession are non-renewable and limited in capability. They also require high costs to sustain their supply. In comparison to the high consumption of water used to sustain artificial intelligence technologies today, we can predict the cost to sustain approximately 198,000 (1000 people from 198 countries). It will be recorded as the highest energy consumption, without value addition, for a long period of time. It will be robbing the earth of its resources just to keep us alive to see it die completely.
Scientific research faces such biased challenges and questions. But that did not stop the Wright Brothers from flying their first plane. Only that we take a measurable amount of risk while minding your sanity and safety.