X-Message-Number: 21464
From: "Ben Best" <>
Subject: Vitrification explanations
Date: 24 Mar 2003 08:45:50 -0800

> Message #21447
> Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 11:00:34 -0600
> Subject: Vitrification?
> From: Brian A Stewart <>
>
> Recently I had a discussion with my father about 
> cryonics, and I mentioned that from what I understand
> Alcor is using some sort of "vitrification" technique in 
> an attempt to limit cell damage. Unfortunately, I really 
> don't understand what they mean by "vitrification", and 
> so, obviously, when my father wanted me to explain,
> I could not.  (He said that the only meaning of the term 
> he was familiar with involves high temperatures.)
> 
> Can someone explain vitrification to me in layman's 
> terms (my background in science is spotty at best)?  
> Or, if I have completely misunderstood, what it is that
>  Alcor is doing?  Additionally, wasn't ACS studying
> something similar?

   Brian,

      I have a very detailed article on vitrification
on my website:

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

     If you type "vitrification" into the Google
search-engine

                 http://www.google.com/

this article of mine will come up very prominently on the 
first page. A very closely related article of mine on the 
same subject has a focus on cooling/cooling-rates which
are of great significance in vitrification:

    http://www.benbest.com/cryonics/cooling.html

     I have been studying science most of my life, so I am
not sure how comprehensible these articles are to people
with a "spotty" background in science. The first essay 
places a great emphasis on a chemistry perspective, 
whereas the second is more concerned with an 
engineering perspective. If you (or anyone) reading these
essays has suggestions to me as to how I might simplify
my presentation or make the concepts easier to understand
I would greatly welcome such input. 

                            -- Ben Best 

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=21464