X-Message-Number: 16130
From: 
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 01:39:26 EDT
Subject: LN2 Trip and Back this Summer?

Ben Best wrote an assay some time ago regarding the potential of high 
pressure techniques for cryopreservation.  I found it intriguing.  His 
writing inspired some thoughts on the subject--an experiment, and the subject 
matter of a planned mini-series of posts. This is "Installment #1." While I 
will be referencing and quoting sections of his writings in subsequent posts, 
a prior reading of the assay is recommended.  It is located on Ben's website 
www.benbest.com (http://benbest.com/cryonics/pressure.html).  For those who 
have not already partaken, and may currently have the time and interest, 
other background sections to be recommended in subsequent installments 
include:

http://benbest.com/cryonics/mobility.html

http://benbest.com/cryonics/vitrify.html

Only a thought experiment at this stage, but looking towards fruition (and 
extension) perhaps with the input from others on the Cryonet, here is the 
basic concept to date:

Those to chill out at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit for the afternoon will 
relocate to a very thick-walled steel container with a heavy breach-lock lid. 
 Envision a high quality, stainless steel pressure cooker--without a handle.  
Now envision it as being about the size, shape and weight of a cannon ball 
(with its contoured lid in place).  Its center "payload chamber" is about the 
size and dimensions of the interior of a tennis ball. All the volunteers 
(i.e., mostly draftees) are in their element inside the this snug vault-like 
chamber of their preferred environment--pure sea water.  This capsule is 
manned by a small but brave aquatic crab, an equally ambitious and diminutive 
starfish, and a sea weed.  Completely full (e.g., no air spaces whatsoever), 
the hatch is locked-down and the unit is submerged in a very large insulated 
Walmart cooler full of liquid nitrogen (LN2), which is situated in the center 
of a large meadow.  The once Standard Temperature & Pressure Volume of fine 
young specimens and their aquatic surroundings quickly cool and solidify into 
one round glass-hard block of matter.  Two hours later, the liquid nitrogen 
has completely evaporated from the closed cooler.  An hour after that, the 
chamber's contents have nearly reached room (i.e., meadow) temperature.  With 
a minimum of encouragement, the celebrities quickly exit and are shuttled 
back in their aquarium apartments to rest up and prepare for tomorrow's 
repeat matinee performance.

Installment #2 out soon.

Regards,

David C. Johnson, Raleigh, NC

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