The cryonic theory is a concept I find interesting on many levels. I first learned about the idea of cryonics as a young teenager; however, the notion has managed to remain fresh in my mind nearly four years later. Cryonics captivates me because of the possibilities entailed. Given the fact cryonics has the capacity to make successful users immortal, it is hard not to take interest. Granted, there is controversy as to whether or not the process works. Roughly 50 years of research backs cryonics, and recent breakthroughs have been made. 

Part of the main research question asks why people may choose to undergo the cryonic process. The research question brushes up against my values in the manner that Catholics believe in an afterlife. Being a practiced Catholic, I am more than familiar with the concept, but I do not know if I agree. I also personally know many intelligent, Catholic adults that completely disagree with not only the theory of cryonics, but the reasoning behind why one would consider it as well. This knowledge fuels my desire to dive into the research process. I am a qualified writer for this assignment because I have researched and read several articles and studies pertaining to cryonics. 

The first source is a study conducted in Germany in 2015. The study suggests that one's willingness to accept the cryonic theory is directly influenced by one's view of death. Having some sort of faith in an afterlife was influential in many people's decision; those that didn't follow any sort of religion swayed toward cryonics more than those that regularly practiced a religion (Lohmeier By use of statistics, the study states that the absence of religion in one's personal life makes one more keen to undergo the cryonic process; however, there are outliers included in the study (Lohmeier). At the bottom of the study, there is a biographical section that helps credit those involved with the experiment. Jens Lohmeier, the main author, is credible speaking on cryonics because of his academic background. He attended RWTH Aachen University in Germany, as well as medical school.

The second source is an article that gives a brief overview about the history of cryonics. It also describes how cryonics is its own science, formed by the coalition of cryogenics and biology (Gordon). The article then proceeds to equip readers with all the technical terminology used to discuss cryonics. Some of these include cryocapsule, cryogenic interment, etc. 

What is at stake dealing with cryonics? Not only is the patient affected, but his family as well. Often, family members oppose the cryonic workers' duty, when in reality, it is not their decision. Also, when someone pays to have his body cryopreserved, he knowingly accepts the risks involved. There is the possibility that in the future, operating cryonic equipment will become more expensive, and the patient's original payment may not cover the price increase (Gordon). The author of this source appears credible because of knowledge on cryonics. The article is an excerpt from American Speech, Vol. 50, titled The Vocabulary of Cryonics, and it thoroughly explains the cryonic theory. The author of The Vocabulary of Cryonics, W.T. Gordon, attended the University of Alberta, located in Canada. There is not much information on Gordon himself, which weakens the credibility of the source, but the University of Alberta specializes in research. One such area of research the university offers is science and medicine. 

The third source is an article that discusses the birth of cryonics and the early methods used to test the theory. Scientists used organs from small mammals to test cryogenic preservation. Failed attempts led to the incorporation of chemicals to prevent ice crystals from destroying the organs. These fixtures eventually earned the name "cryoprotectants". The main chemical to help prevent the formation of ice crystals in cells is glycerol. Later, researchers discovered that through the process of vitrification, the formation of ice crystals was no longer an issue (Kaiser).

The main issue that the article presents is that of the ice crystals. When being cryopreserved, ice crystals can form inside organs, which can be detrimental if one wishes to use them again in the future. There are solutions offered to the problem. The chemical glycerol can help prevent the formation of ice crystals. The other solution is vitrification, which is the process of filling the organs with a substance that does not freeze at low temperatures (Kaiser).

The author of the article, Jocelyn Kaiser, has written for Science Magazine for the past 21 years. Her education comes from Princeton University, where she received her degree in chemical engineering, and Indiana University, where she received her degree in journalism. Due to Kaiser's scientific background, the article may be biased.

At a glance, cryonics sounds straightforward. If one, for whatever reason, does not want to die, he can freeze himself, only to be revived in the future. The topic has debatable points to it. One of the main arguments made about cryonics is the possibility of the overall idea. Skeptics claim that once chemically frozen, humans have no chance of being revived. Research, on the other hand, shows that it is in fact possible for organs to undergo the freezing process without being damaged. On top of that, said organs can be used in another organism. The perspectives offered by the sources are similar to my own; however, they differ from my opinion because they have far more depth to them. 

