X-Message-Number: 28734
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: Captain Oates, good news, bad news
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2006 11:23:13 -0000

I'd say that the chances of eventual recovery would be better, but it would
be impossible to put a figure on it. Ten to one is dubious considering that
most of the damage has already been done. It is a project better performed
in a century or so when and if cryonics has greater standing and there is
some better insight as to whether the project has any merit. Right now I'd
say that few if any cryonicists let alone others would feel it was worth
spending their own money on.

At present no one can prove revival can't ever be done, but equally no one
has the slightest idea of how it could be done.

Ancient Greeks could make a telephone with a piece of string (dried vine?)
between two pots (nut shells?) but suggest cell phones to them and they
would say "impossible".

I have a vague recollection that the bodies at the base camp were found and
"given a decent burial" (ie brought back to a warm climate and burned or
buried). A quick check round Google doesn't reveal any detail, but
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott%27s_Hut
does say that some of the food at Scott's Hut has become rancid. This is a
strong negative to reanimating ice frozen bodies, or even recovering
personality information from their brains. It also says

>>>
A cross was erected on the hill behind Discovery Hut in memory of George
Vince who is buried here, having died in an accident nearby in 1902. Again
some confusion arises from this, as there is another cross erected on a hill
behind Scott's Hut at Cape Evans, in memory of Scott, Bowers, Wilson, Oates
and Seaman Evans. That cross, however, does not mark their burial site.
<<<

which does suggest that they are buried somewhere else nearby.

What all this does suggest is that a hundred, or even two hundred years in
the future there will still be some frozen bodies buried somewhere, and if
it does turn out that their recovery is possible, then it could happen.
Until then, they are best left where they are.

Any money available from cryonicists is best given or bequeathed to their
chosen cryonics service provider. They are after all trusting themselves to
this provider, so it makes sense to trust the remains of their wealth as
well. Other projects, such as preserving old ice frozen bodies, or even more
immediate headline grabbing stunts to gain publicity, are only going to
dilute income the cryonics service providers need to continue.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

> Message #28730
> From: "Chris Manning" <>
> Subject: Re: Captain Oates, good news, bad news
> Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2006 12:58:53 +1100
>
> I knew that Scott and the others perished in Antarctica only a few miles
> from help, but I wasn't aware they were buried there as well.
>
> I think we have all been assuming that any reanimation attempt would have
> to
> wait until such time as their bodies become exposed, but what is the state
> of the art regarding locating their bodies now? Could it be done?
>
> You could envisage a scenario whereby some wealthy philanthropist with an
> interest in polar exploration funds a search for their bodies and
> subsequent
> transfer of them to cryonic storage. Their chances of successful
> reanimation
> under this scenario would be much greater* than if they awaited melting of
> the Ross ice shelf or arrival of their bodies at the sea.
>
> Anyway this is all speculation and the stuff of SF stories. Mind you,
> there
> are many people out there who would say that cryonics itself is SF.
>
> * Perhaps John de Rivaz would say that it is 1% instead of 0.1%. (g)

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