h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One question that sort of sauntered into my mind was would suspended animation in space travel be the same as being cryogenically frozen? The theory is that faster than light travel is impossible due to Einstein's theories of relativity - though some say that these rules can be bent though they never mention that most engines are far from 100% efficient so engineering faster than light travel may be a theorectical possiblility but impractical. Another solution is to put the crew of a craft in inhibernation. (Another is that crew breed and subsequent generations man - or woman - the craft. See Brian Aldiss classic 'Non-Stop') I once read a newspaper article claiming that a gene in humans similar to a squirrel's hibernation gene had been discovered. The article then went on to suggest that this gene could be activated inducing hiberation. There were also suggestions that organs could be stored for transplant and injured soldiers removed from the battle field. Surely, to be truly frozen in the hope of being revived you'd have to be alive. Once you're dead, you're dead. Unless you're in Dennis Potter's "Cold Lazarus".

The theories are basically the same. The only difference is that someone in suspended animation was alive when they were frozen. The term cryogenically frozen is generally reserved for those who are frozen after they die, or in rare cases just before they die of something currently incurable.

Unfortunately, the freezing process is os primitive now that lots of cell damage occurs. It's rather a pointless experiment.

Try putting a cucumber in your freezer. Then take it out and let it thaw. Then you have an idea of what happens to humans that try it.

hmmmmmm, i've never tried that!

You should.

Suspended animation? Isn´t that when there´s lunch break at Disney Studios?

for some reason, that really made me laugh!

Sadly I just got it off an internet page.

never mind! i'll give you the credit though as you're the one eho made me laugh!