Scientists' Open Letter on Cryonics

The Scientists' Open Letter on Cryonics is a digital open letter endorsing the scientific basis of cryonics. It was unveiled by the Immortality Institute at the Life Extension Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on November 5, 2005. As of May 2023, it is signed by 76 scientists, physicians, and ethicists. Currently, the official location of the letter is the Biostasis website, having the most recent and accurate version of the letter.

The signatories encompass all disciplines relevant to cryonics, including biology, cryobiology, neuroscience, physical science, nanotechnology, computing, ethics, and theology. The signatories, speaking for themselves, include leading scientists from institutes such as MIT, Harvard, NASA, and Cambridge University. The oldest signatures are from 2004 and the newest ones from 2023.

Signing of the letter does not imply endorsement of any particular cryonics organization or its practices. Opinions on how much cerebral ischemic injury (delay after clinical death) and preservation injury may be reversible in the future vary widely among signatories.

Signatories include Gregory Benford, Nick Bostrom, L. Stephen Coles, José Luis Cordeiro, Thomas K. Donaldson, K. Eric Drexler, Robert Freitas, Peter Gouras, Aubrey de Grey, Robin Hanson, Steven Harris, Kenneth Hayworth, Emil Kendziorra, João Pedro de Magalhães, Ralph Merkle, Marvin Minsky, Max More, R. Michael Perry, Yuri Pichugin, Martine Rothblatt, Klaus Sames, Anders Sandberg, Natasha Vita-More, and Brian Wowk.

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To whom it may concern,

Cryonics is a legitimate science-based endeavor that seeks to preserve human beings, especially the human brain, by the best technology available. Future technologies for resuscitation can be envisioned that involve molecular repair by nanomedicine, highly advanced computation, detailed control of cell growth, and tissue regeneration.

With a view toward these developments, there is a credible possibility that cryonics performed under the best conditions achievable today can preserve sufficient neurological information to permit eventual restoration of a person to full health.

The rights of people who choose cryonics are important, and should be respected.