Nectome

2018: Sale of service of a cryopreservation of a brain for $10 thousand.

In March, 2018 it became known that the startup of Nectome began to offer an opportunity to save the consciousness for centuries. Though this service expensive and deadly, there were already many persons interested to use it. Among them — the billionaire from Silicon Valley Sam Altman.

For loading of human mind in a cloud it is necessary "to freeze" a brain, but to make it it is necessary during lifetime of the client.  The matter is that at  this moment to avoid damages of body, the flow of blood is replaced with the special embalming chemicals which allow to save structure of neurons untouched. The embalming chemicals will enter through a carotid still during lifetime. The procedure will take place under the general anesthesia.

But Netcome  cannot show yet how the digital copy of a brain of the person will look. However it is optional to die right now: it can be done, for example, during an incurable disease.

The graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Robert McIntyre based the project allowing people to save the brain and, perhaps, consciousness in hope that in the future scientists will be able to digitize it and to recreate in the form of computer model. The project developed technology aldehyde - the stabilized cryopreservation saving brain very tectonics for decades.

Were engaged in several years before researchers from Nectome in freezing of a brain of animals — a pig and a rabbit — saving neural communications. This project was awarded with Brain Preservation Prize. In February, 2018 the staff of Nectome stepped further away and froze a brain of the died woman, having received for the first time successfully zakriokonservirovanny brain of the person.

Nectome suggests clients to freeze a brain that in the future scientists could create its digital copy

Researchers calculate that this century scientists will be able already to digitize such "molds" of neurons of a brain, however so far this problem still has no solution therefore the future of clients of Nectome quite indefinitely. Robert Makintayr says that experiments of Nectome are considered as legal in states where euthanasia is resolved.

In California, for example, in 2016 the "Law on a possibility of the termination of life" permiting euthanasia by the seriously ill patient to patients was adopted. Euthanasia is also resolved in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont. However, by March, 2018 Nectome still works with  lawyers that their  workers  did not get to  prison for  the activity.

In the list of waiting of future clients of a startup there are already 25 people, among them — the founder and the president of business incubator of Y Combinator IT companies Sam Altman. the 32-year-old businessman hopes that his brain will be able to be loaded into a cloud service. The price of service of a cryopreservation is estimated at $10,000.

You can impart knowledge to the next generation, but it is more difficult to transfer wisdom. And children should study on mistakes which were made also by you. Meanwhile it is normal process, but we become stronger with each generation. Potential of our opportunities increases, but does not happen to wisdom of it — Makintayr says.

However experts doubt capabilities of Nectome to implement that want in the company. The president of Brain Preservation fund neurologist Ken Hayworth says that successful obtaining the digital copy of consciousness — in a modern context only a dream.

It can happen in hundred years, and can through two hundred. Personally I in case of a fatal disease would prefer euthanasia to this method — he reported.[1]

Despite a little skeptical relation of scientists to Nectome, company it was succeeded to receive solid financing. For example, $960,000 were provided  by National Institute of mental health  (engl. National Institute of Mental Health). The startup received about $100,000 more at Y Combinator which head decided on Nectome service.

 Makintayr is convinced that his idea has "the tremendous business potential" which cannot be implemented so far. He is sure that the entrepreneur should offer clients only what he is ready to go to — therefore  Makintayr is going to use  Nectome services in the future. 

Notes