Current Number of People in Cryonic Suspension
At present, there are three prominent cryonics facilities worldwide that specialize in freezing and preserving human bodies. These facilities include the Cryonics Institute located in Michigan, the Alcor Life Extensions Foundation situated in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the KrioRus facility located in Russia. In total, these three establishments currently hold an estimated 874 individuals in cryonic suspension.
Within these facilities, the bodies of the individuals in cryonic suspension are carefully stored inside specialized aluminum pods known as dewars. One notable example is that of James Bedford, a veteran of World War I, who has remained in a cryonic state at a chilling temperature of -200°C for an astounding period of over 50 years.
Is Cryonics a Legitimate Scientific Practice?
Despite its controversial nature, cryonics has been referred to by some medical professionals and researchers as a modern-day equivalent of snake oil – a supposed remedy that lacks any scientific evidence of effectiveness. Cryonics facilities heavily depend on ongoing financial support and a constant energy supply to maintain the freezing temperatures required for preserving bodies. With no governmental regulation or oversight, cryonics operates in a legal gray area as individuals are legally declared deceased before entering the frozen suspension process. Although both cryonics facilities in the United States have faced allegations of allowing bodies to thaw, these claims have been vehemently denied by the facilities.