Amazing Science!

[bobquasit]

A scientist has discovered a way to put animals and possibly people into suspended animation with a poison gas:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/09/cheating.death.suspended.animation/index.html

This stuff just amazes me. Too bad it almost always turns out to be impractical or impossible to develop.

Comments

[klyfix.livejournal.com]

Ya know, what jumped into my mind when I saw the bit about putting people into a suspended animation with a poison was one of the explanation of zombies. The idea is that the voodoo priest slips somebody a poison, they go unconscious, and when the person is dug up and comes out of it their cultural notions kick in and they assume that they're zombies and go out about saying "Braaains" (okay, not the "brains" part as that's not a part of the original legends).

So the SF/Horror story take on this would be to have a chemical mix that does put people into a state of reduced life functions so that there's a greater chance of curing whatever, but also allows to program the patients so that they do the bidding of the mad scientist or government agency or evil corporation.

[bobquasit.livejournal.com]

What I found fascinating was that death is apparently caused by toxic reactions by the small amounts of oxygen remaining in the system - and that removing ALL the oxygen (as much as possible) simply turns the cells off temporarily.

I can't help but wonder if bacteria in the body are also turned off! And what about viruses? I don't think THEY use oxygen, but the cells that they rely on DO.

Presumably a person in suspended animation doesn't stay warm. I wonder if they're stiff, or limp? They'd have to be maintained in an oxygen-free atmosphere, perhaps?

The whole thing is so interesting!