Knowledge Map / Plan B
Plan B
Cryonics and biostasis — the hedge, if biology doesn't get there in time.
Overview
Plan B is what happens if you don't win the race against your own clock in time: cryonics and related biostasis methods aim to preserve a person — most often by cooling the body or brain to very low temperatures shortly after legal death — in the hope that future technology could someday revive or repair them.
This remains speculative and unproven; no organization can currently demonstrate that a cryopreserved person can be revived. It's pursued by a small number of organizations as a hedge, not a guarantee, and it raises real legal, ethical, and technical questions the field itself actively debates.
Why it matters
For people who think biological solutions to aging may not arrive in their own lifetime, Plan B is the only currently available option that preserves the possibility of a future fix — however uncertain that future fix is.
Research & reports
Field guide
Scientists, companies & technologies
Timeline
Milestones
FAQ
Has cryonics ever successfully revived a person?
No — this has never been demonstrated. It's a hedge against future technology, not a proven procedure.
Is cryonics legal?
In most places, preservation can only legally begin after legal death is declared, which is one of the central practical and ethical constraints on the field.
What's the difference between cryonics and cryopreservation?
Cryopreservation is the general technique of preserving biological material at very low temperatures, used routinely for things like embryos. Cryonics specifically applies it to whole bodies or brains with the hope of future revival.
Related topics
References