Imagine a future where death isn’t the end but merely a pause button. Tomorrow Bio, a pioneering German start-up, is making headlines with its bold claim to offer customers a chance at a future revival.
The concept may sound like science fiction, but the company is already attracting significant interest.
Tomorrow Bio’s promise involves freezing individuals immediately after death with the hope of future reanimation.
This cutting-edge service is priced at an eye-watering £170,000 for full-body preservation or £63,000 if you only want to preserve your brain. Despite the hefty cost, the company is thriving.
Founded in 2020, Tomorrow Bio reports having frozen six people and five pets, with a waiting list of 650 members.
The Cryopreservation Process
Here’s how it works:
1. Post-Mortem Procedures: Once a customer passes away, Tomorrow Bio’s ambulance team swiftly collects the body. The ambulance is equipped to replace bodily fluids with a cryoprotectant while en route to the storage facility.
2. Freezing and Storage: Upon arrival at their Swiss storage facility, the body is gradually cooled to -198°C. This extreme cold preserves the body in a state of stasis.
3. Future Reanimation: The goal is to revive individuals when future technology is advanced enough to treat whatever caused their death. In the meantime, the body is maintained in a vacuum-insulated steel container filled with liquid nitrogen.
Fernando Azevedo Pinheiro, Tomorrow Bio’s co-founder, emphasizes the importance of rapid action. The company is unique for its field cryoprotection—beginning the preservation process immediately after legal death.
Their specialized teams, known as SST (Standby, Stabilization, and Transport) teams, are stationed in Berlin, Amsterdam, and Zurich to ensure timely collection and preservation.
The Cost Breakdown
Here’s a glimpse into the costs:
– Membership Fee: £42 (€50) per month.
– Cryopreservation:
– Whole Body: £170,000 (€200,000)
– Brain Only: £63,000 (€75,000)
– Additional Costs:
– Standby, Stabilization, and Transport: £67,500 (€80,000) for whole-body; £42,200 (€50,000) for brain-only
– Long-term Storage and Future Reanimation: £100,000 (€120,000) for whole-body; £8,400 (€10,000) for brain-only
A Growing Membership and Future Plans
So far, around 650 individuals have joined Tomorrow Bio’s membership program, with significant numbers from Germany, France, and the UK. The company plans to expand its reach to the continental U.S. by 2025.
Motivations Behind Cryonics
Pinheiro notes that the typical member is relatively young, around 36 years old, and not anticipating imminent death. The motivations vary—from curiosity about future technologies like space travel to a deep-seated fear of dying.
Some, including Pinheiro himself, are driven by a love for life and the desire to explore more of what it has to offer.
Including Pets in the Future
In a unique twist, Tomorrow Bio also offers the option to preserve pets, recognizing the strong emotional bonds people have with their animal companions.
Cryonics: An Overview
Cryonics involves cooling the body to -196°C (-321°F) with the hope that future medical advances will make revival possible.
Though the technology is still controversial, with skeptics questioning its effectiveness, the concept has captivated many and made its way into popular culture through films and television shows.
Final Thoughts
While the science of cryonics remains speculative, Tomorrow Bio’s ambitious plans and growing customer base highlight a fascinating frontier in the quest for life extension.