Tomorrow.Bio, a cryonics start-up, offers the possibility of a second life for the cost of a luxury sports car. Is the promise of cryogenics realistic or just another lofty dream?
A small ambulance, parked near a green in central Berlin, looks more like a toy than a lifesaving vehicle. Its bright orange stripe and ceiling wires hint at something unusual. This is one of three retrofitted ambulances used by Tomorrow.Bio, Europe’s first cryonics lab. Their mission: freeze patients after death and, one day, bring them back to life for $200,000 (£165,000).
Cryonics in Practice: Freezing Time and Hope
At the heart of the operation is Emil Kendziorra, a former cancer researcher. Frustrated by the slow pace of medical advancements, he co-founded Tomorrow.Bio. The world’s first cryonics lab opened in Michigan half a century ago, sparking debates on its feasibility. Kendziorra, however, believes public interest is growing.
Tomorrow.Bio has cryopreserved “three or four” individuals, alongside five pets, with nearly 700 others signed up. In 2025, the company plans to expand across the U.S. The process begins once a doctor confirms a patient is near death. After legal death is pronounced, the patient is moved into a Tomorrow.Bio ambulance, where cooling and preservation commence.
During cryopreservation, the body is cooled to sub-zero temperatures and infused with a cryoprotective fluid. Emil Kendziorra explains: “Freezing causes ice crystals to form, which damages tissues. To avoid this, we replace water in the body with a cryoprotective agent.” The fluid contains dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol, similar to antifreeze. Once prepared, the body is cooled rapidly to -125°C and then gradually to -196°C before being stored in a Swiss facility.
Scientific Skepticism and Ethical Questions
Critics argue the science behind cryonics remains unproven. Clive Coen, a neuroscience professor at King’s College London, points out that no one has been revived after cryopreservation. He adds that brain structures as complex as humans’ likely cannot survive the process intact. Although techniques like nanotechnology and connectomics show potential, they remain theoretical.
Supporters of cryonics, however, draw inspiration from medical advances. They cite examples like Anna Bagenholm, who survived two hours of clinical death in freezing temperatures, or studies where cryopreserved rat kidneys were successfully transplanted. Kendziorra compares the skepticism around cryonics to early doubts about organ transplantation.
Still, ethical concerns persist. Bodies stored for centuries in Swiss facilities might raise legal and logistical challenges for future generations. Moreover, the process is expensive, costing families potential inheritances. Kendziorra defends the choice, suggesting it’s no different than spending on luxury goods or experiences late in life.
For some, cryonics is a gamble worth taking. Louise Harrison, a 51-year-old client, describes her decision as curiosity-driven. “It felt like a form of time travel,” she says. Despite skepticism from others, she views it as logical: “A small chance of returning is better than none at all.”
Looking Ahead: Hope or Fantasy?
Tomorrow.Bio’s U.S. expansion aims to attract others intrigued by life’s future possibilities. Reports suggest the COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of death, spurring interest in preservation technologies. By 2028, Tomorrow.Bio hopes to achieve reversible preservation from sub-zero temperatures—its so-called “holy grail.”
Kendziorra acknowledges uncertainties but remains optimistic. “The chances might be slim,” he says, “but they’re better than cremation.”
