Is it Possible to Flash Freeze the Human Brain and Send it into Space?

[Chase]

I've seen online that you can get a handful of your ashes sent into space for a hefty fee¹ and it got me thinking... Would it be possible when dead to flash freeze the brain and send it up into space in a radiation proof container and just allow it to travel through space like the voyagers do?

Or would it eventually melt and decay ect? The reason I ask is because when you're dead, your dead as far as we know so I thought what is there to lose if someone wanted to send their brain into space and who knows, in a billion years an alien race might find it, defrost it without damaging it and somehow restore it or transfer it's memories onto a computer or something.

Obviously this seems somewhat farfetched and probably impossible but I thought I was ask why this would or wouldn't be possible. The biggest concern is the brain defrosting over time.

 

[Borek]

What is the temperature in space?

 

[Chase]

What is the temperature in space?

~2.7K so I'm guessing it won't melt but is 2.7K cold enough so that decay won't occur?

 

[mesa]

~2.7K so I'm guessing it won't melt but is 2.7K cold enough so that decay won't occur?

Yes, what you have to worry about is sublimation.

 

[LudusRex]

I find this idea intriguing and thought-provoking. While it may seem like a farfetched concept, there are a few scientific considerations to take into account when discussing the possibility of flash freezing a brain and sending it into space.

Firstly, the human brain is a complex and delicate organ that requires a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to function properly. When a person dies, their brain cells begin to die off quickly due to lack of oxygen and blood flow. This process is irreversible and leads to the decay of brain tissue.

Flash freezing, also known as cryopreservation, is a technique used to preserve biological materials at very low temperatures. However, it is typically used for smaller samples such as cells or tissues, and has not yet been successfully applied to an entire human brain. The process of freezing and thawing can cause damage to cells, including brain cells, due to the formation of ice crystals which can rupture cell membranes.

Additionally, sending a brain into space would expose it to high levels of radiation, which can also cause damage to cells and tissues. While radiation-proof containers do exist, it is unclear if they could protect a brain from the intense radiation found in space.

Even if a brain were successfully frozen and protected from radiation, the extreme temperatures and conditions in space would likely cause it to eventually thaw and decay. The voyager spacecrafts are equipped with heaters to prevent their instruments from freezing in the cold of space, and a brain would not have this protection.

Furthermore, the idea of an alien race finding a frozen brain in space and being able to revive it or transfer its memories onto a computer is highly speculative. While we do not know what forms of life may exist beyond our planet, it is unlikely that they would have the technology or understanding to revive a frozen brain from another species.

In conclusion, while the concept of sending a frozen brain into space may be intriguing, it is currently not a feasible or scientifically sound idea. The delicate nature of the brain and the harsh conditions of space make it unlikely that a frozen brain could survive and potentially be revived by an alien race. Instead, our focus should be on understanding and preserving the brain while it is alive and functioning.