X-Message-Number: 15687
From: 
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 04:15:30 EST
Subject: You never know...

I have continued to resist sending the following post to Cryonet from the 
time it was written a while back.  This is because of my cowardice in facing 
the reaction and flak it deserves to receive.

Before the operative text of the post (warning: more equivocation on the 
way), I will mention the following (as an additional hedge): I received 
unsolicited, "less than expert" advice on how to proceed with a fairly 
complicated project one time years ago.  I was amused.  My thoughts at the 
time were: "the boy ain't right" and "that's one bad confused puppy."  These 
thoughts of mine were accompanied by a tinge of pity and contempt for my 
would be advisor.

Oddly, it got me thinking about a new twist on a possibility I had not 
adequately considered, and consequently, the project was later completed more 
eloquently than it ever would have been otherwise. Yes, the advice was 
basically asinine.  And the "solution gained" from the proffered counsel 
would have never been attributable to our chance encounter by anyone other 
than me.  In fact, it was the complete preposterousness of the thinking/idea 
that widened my horizons to include both the super obscure and the obvious.  
Without further weaseling, here's the post:

An Alternative Approach?

I do not have a complete phase diagram chart for H2O; however, I believe H2O 
is denser (or can be--depending on one's definition of "denser") at liquid 
nitrogen temperatures than it is at its liquid temperature (i.e., water). 

Frozen H2O is an "expanded" state of H2O which has to do with hydrogen 
bonding of water molecules.  This bonding prefers/promotes a crystalline 
structure called ice.  The formation of ice may retard and/or hide the 
*apparent* full contraction of H2O to the more dense state expected via the 
"application of " liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperatures (e.g., dropping an ice 
cube in LN2). 

If an ice cube is submerged in liquid nitrogen, I do not know if one would 
say that it contracts.  I can see the possibility of needing to define, or 
agree on a definition of, "contracts." There may be no gross "contraction" 
evident, while there may be less space between a basic "structural units" on 
one level or another (i.e., molecular "groupings").  While its apparent 
volume may remain unchanged, in a manner of speaking, it may still be more 
dense.

I do however know that ice will sink in a dewar of LN2, as I have "watched 
it" (through clouds of blinding vapor)--and I know that it will still be 
there months later--right on the bottom.  It is LN2-temperature ice.

I have heard that a brain will/can "contract" slightly from its normal volume 
at LN2 temperatures [see Endnote]. I realize this organ has a higher lipid 
content than most organs.  My guess would be that the volume of a kidney may 
do the same.  It may become more dense and this may be a function of the 
phase of H20 at such temperatures.

Can even pure H20 vitrify?  If so, I believe it would have less volume than 
liquid water at LN2 temperatures.  There would be no need for a definition of 
"contracts."  It would not be subjected to the intermediate icing stage and 
the increased density results would be more apparent.

What might be a means of delaying the formation of ice to the point that it 
is too late for it to ever form?  Would it (i.e., H2O) not be vitrified when 
it solidified? H20 is a strongly charged polar molecule.  It should be 
affected by electromagnetic fields.  It should be more so affected by a Very 
Strong electromagnetic field--in the right position in the right strength 
field, a droplet of water might be persuaded to levitate.  Could huge masses 
of water molecules (e.g., those of large cryonic specimens) be induced to 
become continuously and repeatedly momentarily aligned like the domains in 
steel becoming magnetized.  This alignment force may be contrary to ice 
crystalline structure formation so as to resist ice nucleation or subsequent 
growth as ambient temperatures are dropped via LN2 vapors or CO2 vapors.

It is conceivable there could be a resonant or "harmonic" affect on the H2O 
molecules of a cryonic specimen via the "correct" frequency of building and 
folding electromagnet field lines via A/C current, or such an effect created 
via mechanically rotating a direct current source (i.e., an armature) around 
such a specimen to force the rhythmic crossing of "established" full strength 
field lines.  In conjunction with a vibrating "pedestal" for the cooling 
specimen.  The combination of electric/magnetic and other physical forces 
might alter, deter or delay typical hydrogen bonding while "net heat," 
(despite the mechanically and electromagnetically-induced kinetic energy) is 
simultaneously removed from the system via LN2 vapors.  Full submersion might 
coincide with pulling the plugs on the extras.  However, electromagnet (and 
ultrasonic) and vibrating forces could continue even after LN2 submersion. (I 
am aware that at least some experiments with electricity have been performed 
in the past while I do not know any of the details or results.)

We know that gravity affects crystal formation--only in space to do perfect 
crystals grow, except for snow flakes, however, they effectively face no 
gravity while forming.  If crystal formations of water (i.e., snow & ice) can 
be altered at atmospheric conditions (i.e., standard pressure) via the 
elimination of gravity, perhaps it can be even more so manipulated via a 
combination of other effects.

[Endnote:  Reportedly such contractions can cause macrofissures/cracking when 
the brain separates slightly from the skull.  Cryonics organizations have 
probably substantially alleviated this phenomenon via week-long temperature 
phasing to LN2 temperatures from dry ice vapor and LN2 vapor; and 
alternatively, via the taping of the cranium (specifically to control 
potential edema issues from profusion).]

David. C. Johnson

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