IEEE Spectrum looks at cryonics

The March 2010 issue of IEEE Spectrum has an article on cryonics, a method of suspended animation, featuring Dr. Ralph Merkle.  Ralph is described as a nanotechnology expert; apparently the issue went to press just before he was also named as a co-winner of the 2010 IEEE Haming Medal.

As a long-time IEEE member, I was not impressed with the article.  Although there are plenty of quotes from Ralph, it gets some facts wrong (there aren’t “thousands” of people who’ve been suspended, Alcor is not a “company”).  Worse, the only people they found to present any skeptical comments are one retired philosopher and one retired psychiatrist.  I thought this was a technology publication?  Sigh.  —Chris Peterson