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Vitrification can dramatically increase the storage of viable biomaterials in the cryogenic state for years. Unfortunately, vitrified systems ≥3 mL like large tissues and organs, cannot currently be rewarmed sufficiently rapidly or uniformly by convective approaches to avoid ice crystallization or cracking failures. A new volumetric rewarming technology entitled “nanowarming” addresses this problem by using radiofrequency excited iron oxide nanoparticles to rewarm vitrified systems rapidly and uniformly. Here, for the first time, successful recovery of a rat kidney from the vitrified state using nanowarming, is shown. First, kidneys are perfused via the renal artery with a cryoprotective cocktail (CPA) and silica‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles (sIONPs). After cooling at −40 °C min−1 in a controlled rate freezer, microcomputed tomography (µCT) imaging is used to verify the distribution of the sIONPs and the vitrified state of the kidneys. By applying a radiofrequency field to excite the distributed sIONPs, the vitrified kidneys are nanowarmed at a mean rate of 63.7 °C min−1. Experiments and modeling show the avoidance of both ice crystallization and cracking during these processes. Histology and confocal imaging show that nanowarmed kidneys are dramatically better than convective rewarming controls. This work suggests that kidney nanowarming holds tremendous promise for transplantation. Vitrification dramatically increases organ storage times in the cryogenic state beyond current storage limits. However, vitrified kidneys cannot currently be rewarmed sufficiently rapidly or uniformly to avoid ice crystallization or cracking failures. A new radiofrequency rewarming technology called “nanowarming” addresses this problem by exciting magnetic nanoparticles to rewarm vitrified kidneys rapidly and uniformly.

Restored blood circulation causes ischemia-reperfusion injury involving calcium-mediated vasospasm, reactive oxygen species, blood hyperviscosity, and an immune-inflammatory cascade leading to brain swelling. Brain slices removed as long as 8 hours after clinical death at ambient temperature can contain viable neurons and glia, can exhibit positive tests for mitochondrial function and transgene expression, can retain dendritic connectivity, and can be maintained in vitro for weeks [9].

Human biostasis, the preservation of a human when all other contemporary options for extension of quality life are exhausted, offers the speculative potential for survival via continuation of life in the future. While provably reversible preservation, also known as suspended animation, is not yet possible for humans, the primary justification for contemporary biostasis is the preservation of the brain, which is broadly considered the seat of memories, personality, and identity. By preserving the information contained within the brain’s structures, it may be possible to resuscitate a healthy whole individual using advanced future technologies. There are numerous challenges in biostasis, including inadequacies in current preservation techniques, methods to evaluate the quality of preservation, and potential future revival technologies. In this report, we describe a roadmap that attempts to delineate research directions that could improve the field of biostasis, focusing on optimizing preservation protocols and establishing metrics for querying preservation quality, as well as pre- and post-cardiac arrest factors, stabilization strategies, and methods for long-term preservation. We acknowledge the highly theoretical nature of future revival technologies and the importance of achieving high-fidelity brain preservation to maximize the potential of future repair technologies. We plan to update the research roadmap biennially. Our goal is to encourage multidisciplinary communication and collaboration in this field.

We used both field and flight cage observations to investigate the echolocation and foraging behavior of the seldom studied, small, aerial insectivorous bat Myotis nigricans (Vespertilionidae) in Panama. In contrast to its temperate congeners, M. nigricans foraged extensively in open space and showed an echolocation behavior well adapted to this foraging habitat. It broadcast narrowband echolocation signals of 7 ms duration that enhance the chance of prey detection in open space. Because of rhythmical alternations of signal amplitude from signal to signal in our sound recordings of search signals in open space, we conclude that the bats scanned their environment with head movements, thereby enlarging their search volume. In edge-and-gap situations, and in the flight cage, M. nigricans introduced an initial broadband component to its search calls. In the field and in the flight cage, M. nigricans hawked for prey in aerial catches; gleaning was never observed. M. nigricans demonstrates call structures, such as narrow bandwidth and rather long signals adapted to foraging predominantly in open space. Moreover, call structure is highly plastic, allowing M. nigricans to forage in edge-and-gap situations also. These adaptations in call structure and plasticity have evolved convergently at least twice within the genus Myotis. Finally, M. nigricans echolocation and foraging behavior parallels that of the small, aerial, insectivorous pipistrelle bats (Vespertilionidae), which are not closely related to M. nigricans but forage in similar habitats.

Time travel is a solved problem. Einstein showed that if you travel in a spaceship for months at speeds close to the speed of light, you can return to earth centuries in the future.

Wowk and Harris respond to Kevin Miller's story in SKEPTIC, Vol. 11, No. 1, \"Cryonics Redux,\" in which he discussed the work of fellow cryobiologist Dr Kenneth Storey. Wowk disagrees with Storey when he says that vitrification (ice-free cryopreservation) intrinsically requires cooling rates of 1,000 degrees a minute, and that therefore vitrification is simply not going to transfer itself to organs in the real world. On the other hand, Harris objects to Storey's implication that only single cells survive attempts at vitrification.