| Timestamp | Username | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| ==Cryogenics== {{Infobox science | name = Cryogenics | image = ../Images/Cryonics.png | width = 200 | field = Physics, Engineering, Biology | primary_focus = Behavior of materials at extremely low temperatures | temperature_range = Below −150 °C (123 K; −238 °F) | applications = Superconductivity, rocket fuels, cryonics, medical preservation, quantum research | related_disciplines = Cryobiology, Thermodynamics, Low-temperature physics }}<br><br>'''Cryogenics''' is the branch of physics and engineering concerned with the production and study of materials at extremely low temperatures, typically below −150 degrees Celsius (123 Kelvin). The term originates from the Greek words ''kryos'' meaning "cold" and ''genic'' meaning "to produce". Cryogenics explores how substances behave under near-absolute-zero conditions and has wide-ranging applications in science, technology, and medicine.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Preface by Gerald J. Gruman, pp. 3–4.</ref> | |||
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Overview == Cryogenics involves both the generation of very low temperatures and the effects of these temperatures on materials and biological systems. The field developed during the early twentieth century with the {{../Images/cryonics_2.png|thumb|left|This "Bigfoot" Dewar is custom-designed to contain four whole body patients.|200|x240}}liquefaction of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, which allowed researchers to observe how extreme cold affects the physical and chemical properties of matter.<ref>Ibid., pp. 19–20.</ref><br><br>At cryogenic temperatures, atomic motion slows dramatically. Metals lose electrical resistance, enabling superconductivity, while biological activity nearly ceases. These effects make cryogenics essential to applications ranging from superconducting electronics to biological preservation.<ref>Ibid., Chapter II, pp. 19–31.</ref> | |||
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Scientific Development == The scientific basis of cryogenics was established through early experiments on gas liquefaction. By the 1950s, cryogenic engineering supported major developments in both physics and aerospace technology. Cooling with liquid helium and nitrogen became a standard method for maintaining stable ultra-low temperatures for superconducting magnets, particle accelerators, and space systems.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Chapter II, pp. 20–23.</ref><br><br>These same techniques later became the foundation for cryobiological and cryonic research, showing that matter and living tissue could remain structurally stable when cooled near absolute zero.<ref>Ibid., pp. 19–20.</ref> | |||
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Cryogenics and Biology == In biological research, cryogenics overlaps with cryobiology—the study of life processes under extreme cold. Experiments showed that individual cells and tissues could survive freezing if treated with cryoprotective agents such as glycerol, which reduces ice crystal formation and electrolyte damage.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Chapter II, pp. 30–31.</ref><br><br>Notably, researchers in the 1950s and 1960s demonstrated that frog sperm, mammalian tissue, and even small animals like hamsters could endure partial freezing and later recover normal activity.<ref>Ibid., pp. 21–23.</ref> Ettinger highlighted these studies as proof that freezing damage is not necessarily permanent, arguing that the preservation of human bodies could one day be biologically feasible.<ref>Ibid., Chapter I, pp. 11–14.</ref> | |||
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Cryogenics and Cryonics == The extension of cryogenic principles to human preservation—known as '''cryonics'''—was popularized by Robert C. W. Ettinger in his 1964 book ''The Prospect of Immortality''. Ettinger proposed that deceased individuals could be preserved at very low temperatures and later revived when medical science advanced enough to cure disease and repair cellular damage.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Preface by Jean Rostand, pp. 8–10.</ref><br><br>Ettinger wrote that “we need only arrange to have our bodies, after we die, stored in suitable freezers against the time when science may be able to help us.”<ref>Ibid., Chapter I, pp. 11–13.</ref> He reasoned that since freezing effectively halts all chemical decay, and future medicine may reverse both disease and freezing injury, cryonics represents a rational gamble for survival.<ref>Ibid., pp. 15–18.</ref><br><br>Although speculative, Ettinger’s ideas helped establish cryonics organizations in the United States and inspired decades of research into reversible suspended animation and biological repair technologies.<ref>Ibid., Preface by Gerald J. Gruman, pp. 6–7.</ref> | |||
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Applications == Cryogenics is widely used across science and industry: * '''Medicine:''' Cryosurgery, organ storage, and preservation of cells and embryos.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, pp. 19–31.</ref> * '''Physics:''' Superconducting materials, quantum computing, and particle research. * '''Aerospace:''' Storage of liquid hydrogen and oxygen as rocket fuels. * '''Food Industry:''' Rapid freezing to preserve flavor and nutrients. * '''Electronics:''' Development of ultra-sensitive detectors and processors. | |||
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Safety and Materials == Cryogenic substances pose significant hazards if mishandled. Direct contact with liquid nitrogen or helium can cause severe cold burns, while materials exposed to such temperatures can become brittle and fracture. Proper ventilation is essential to avoid asphyxiation from displaced oxygen.<ref>Ibid., Chapter II, pp. 27–28.</ref> | |||
| 16:55, 19 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| ==References== {{Reflist}} | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| ==Cryogenics== {{Infobox science | name = Cryogenics | image = image.jpg | width = 200 | field = Physics, Engineering, Biology | primary_focus = Behavior of materials at extremely low temperatures | temperature_range = Below −150 °C (123 K; −238 °F) | applications = Superconductivity, rocket fuels, cryonics, medical preservation, quantum research | related_disciplines = Cryobiology, Thermodynamics, Low-temperature physics }}<br><br>'''Cryogenics''' is the branch of physics and engineering concerned with the production and study of materials at extremely low temperatures, typically below −150 degrees Celsius (123 Kelvin). The term originates from the Greek words ''kryos'' meaning "cold" and ''genic'' meaning "to produce". Cryogenics explores how substances behave under near-absolute-zero conditions and has wide-ranging applications in science, technology, and medicine.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Preface by Gerald J. Gruman, pp. 3–4.</ref> | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Overview == Cryogenics involves both the generation of very low temperatures and the effects of these temperatures on materials and biological systems. The field developed during the early twentieth century with the liquefaction of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, which allowed researchers to observe how extreme cold affects the physical and chemical properties of matter.<ref>Ibid., pp. 19–20.</ref><br><br>At cryogenic temperatures, atomic motion slows dramatically. Metals lose electrical resistance, enabling superconductivity, while biological activity nearly ceases. These effects make cryogenics essential to applications ranging from superconducting electronics to biological preservation.<ref>Ibid., Chapter II, pp. 19–31.</ref> | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Scientific Development == The scientific basis of cryogenics was established through early experiments on gas liquefaction. By the 1950s, cryogenic engineering supported major developments in both physics and aerospace technology. Cooling with liquid helium and nitrogen became a standard method for maintaining stable ultra-low temperatures for superconducting magnets, particle accelerators, and space systems.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Chapter II, pp. 20–23.</ref><br><br>These same techniques later became the foundation for cryobiological and cryonic research, showing that matter and living tissue could remain structurally stable when cooled near absolute zero.<ref>Ibid., pp. 19–20.</ref> | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Cryogenics and Biology == In biological research, cryogenics overlaps with cryobiology—the study of life processes under extreme cold. Experiments showed that individual cells and tissues could survive freezing if treated with cryoprotective agents such as glycerol, which reduces ice crystal formation and electrolyte damage.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Chapter II, pp. 30–31.</ref><br><br>Notably, researchers in the 1950s and 1960s demonstrated that frog sperm, mammalian tissue, and even small animals like hamsters could endure partial freezing and later recover normal activity.<ref>Ibid., pp. 21–23.</ref> Ettinger highlighted these studies as proof that freezing damage is not necessarily permanent, arguing that the preservation of human bodies could one day be biologically feasible.<ref>Ibid., Chapter I, pp. 11–14.</ref> | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Cryogenics and Cryonics == The extension of cryogenic principles to human preservation—known as '''cryonics'''—was popularized by Robert C. W. Ettinger in his 1964 book ''The Prospect of Immortality''. Ettinger proposed that deceased individuals could be preserved at very low temperatures and later revived when medical science advanced enough to cure disease and repair cellular damage.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Preface by Jean Rostand, pp. 8–10.</ref><br><br>Ettinger wrote that “we need only arrange to have our bodies, after we die, stored in suitable freezers against the time when science may be able to help us.”<ref>Ibid., Chapter I, pp. 11–13.</ref> He reasoned that since freezing effectively halts all chemical decay, and future medicine may reverse both disease and freezing injury, cryonics represents a rational gamble for survival.<ref>Ibid., pp. 15–18.</ref><br><br>Although speculative, Ettinger’s ideas helped establish cryonics organizations in the United States and inspired decades of research into reversible suspended animation and biological repair technologies.<ref>Ibid., Preface by Gerald J. Gruman, pp. 6–7.</ref> | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Applications == Cryogenics is widely used across science and industry: * '''Medicine:''' Cryosurgery, organ storage, and preservation of cells and embryos.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, pp. 19–31.</ref> * '''Physics:''' Superconducting materials, quantum computing, and particle research. * '''Aerospace:''' Storage of liquid hydrogen and oxygen as rocket fuels. * '''Food Industry:''' Rapid freezing to preserve flavor and nutrients. * '''Electronics:''' Development of ultra-sensitive detectors and processors. | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| == Safety and Materials == Cryogenic substances pose significant hazards if mishandled. Direct contact with liquid nitrogen or helium can cause severe cold burns, while materials exposed to such temperatures can become brittle and fracture. Proper ventilation is essential to avoid asphyxiation from displaced oxygen.<ref>Ibid., Chapter II, pp. 27–28.</ref> | |||
| 19:13, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| ==References== {{Reflist}} | |||
| 19:02, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| ==Cryogenics== {{Infobox | name = Cryogenics | field = Physics, Engineering, Biology | primary_focus = Behavior of materials at extremely low temperatures | temperature_range = Below −150 °C (123 K; −238 °F) | applications = Superconductivity, rocket fuels, cryonics, medical preservation, quantum research | related_disciplines = Cryobiology, Thermodynamics, Low-temperature physics }} '''Cryogenics''' is the branch of physics and engineering concerned with the production and study of materials at extremely low temperatures, typically below −150 degrees Celsius (123 Kelvin). The term originates from the Greek words ''kryos'' meaning "cold" and ''genic'' meaning "to produce". Cryogenics explores how substances behave under near-absolute-zero conditions and has wide-ranging applications in science, technology, and medicine.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Preface by Gerald J. Gruman, pp. 3–4.</ref> | |||
| 18:59, 09 October 2025 | StarLord | https://australianhistory.net/Contents/Cryogenics.php | |
| ==Cryogenics== {{Infobox | name = Cryogenics | field = Physics, Engineering, Biology | primary_focus = Behavior of materials at extremely low temperatures | temperature_range = Below −150 °C (123 K; −238 °F) | applications = Superconductivity, rocket fuels, cryonics, medical preservation, quantum research | related_disciplines = Cryobiology, Thermodynamics, Low-temperature physics }} '''Cryogenics''' is the branch of physics and engineering concerned with the production and study of materials at extremely low temperatures, typically below −150 degrees Celsius (123 Kelvin). The term originates from the Greek words ''kryos'' meaning "cold" and ''genic'' meaning "to produce". Cryogenics explores how substances behave under near-absolute-zero conditions and has wide-ranging applications in science, technology, and medicine.<ref>Robert C. W. Ettinger, ''The Prospect of Immortality'', Doubleday & Company, 1964, Preface by Gerald J. Gruman, pp. 3–4.</ref> | |||
