Cryonics: A $200,000 Bet on a Second Life?

Can Science One Day Bring the Dead Back?

What if death wasn’t the end? What if, instead of accepting mortality, we could pause time—waiting for a future where medical advancements might undo fatal conditions?

This is the vision behind Tomorrow.Bio, Europe’s first cryonics lab. For $200,000, individuals can opt to have their bodies preserved at ultra-low temperatures, with the hope that science will one day revive them. The idea is simple: freeze the body today, wake up in a world where death is no longer permanent.

How Does Cryonics Work?

Cryonics isn’t as straightforward as putting a body on ice. The process involves replacing bodily fluids with cryoprotective agents, which prevent ice crystals from forming and damaging cells. The body is then cooled to -196°C and stored in liquid nitrogen—potentially for centuries.

So far, Tomorrow. Bio has already cryopreserved a handful of clients and even pets, with 700 more signed up for the procedure. Many fund their preservation through life insurance policies, treating it as an investment in the future.

The Science and the Skepticism

Cryonics remains one of the most controversial scientific fields. To date, no one has been successfully revived, and experts argue that significant challenges remain.

• Biological degradation begins immediately after death. Even with cryoprotection, is it possible to fully restore a human brain, including memories, consciousness, and identity?
• Ethical and logistical concerns. If revival becomes possible, how will these individuals integrate into a radically different society?
• Scientific feasibility. Some compare cryonics to early organ transplants—once thought impossible but now routine. Tomorrow.Bio’s founder, Emil Kendziorra, believes breakthroughs in neuroscience and regenerative medicine could make revival a reality.

A Long Shot—But Worth Taking?

Despite skepticism, cryonics continues to attract those who see it as a form of time travel—a second chance at life in a distant future. Tomorrow.Bio aims to preserve neural structures by 2025 and achieve reversible cryopreservation by 2028.

For now, cryonics remains speculative, but its growing popularity speaks to humanity’s relentless pursuit of life extension—and perhaps, one day, the defeat of death itself.