In a world where technology often seems to blur the line between science fiction and reality, one Berlin-based startup is taking that notion to a whole new level—by offering the chance to cheat death itself. Tomorrow Bio, a high-tech company, is betting on a future where cryogenically frozen bodies can be revived, promising eternal life, or at least a second shot at it, for those willing to pay the price.
And it’s not a cheap gamble. The company charges a staggering $222,603, plus a $55 monthly membership fee, to freeze a human body. For those who only want to preserve their brain, the cost is $83,473. It’s an investment in what many might consider the ultimate insurance policy—against death itself.
Fernando Azevedo Pinheiro, the co-founder of Tomorrow Bio, is a true believer in the potential of cryonics. “Personally, I believe that within my lifetime—I’m currently 40 years old—we may witness the safe cryopreservation and reanimation of complex organisms,” Pinheiro said. It’s a bold claim, but one that speaks to the human desire to push the boundaries of life and death.
For some, the motivation behind cryopreservation is rooted in a fear of dying. Cryonics offers a glimmer of hope and a sense of security, a possible path to extend life beyond its natural limits. It’s not just about freezing a body; it’s about freezing time itself, in the hopes that future technology can reverse the effects of death.
So far, Tomorrow Bio has put six people and five pets on ice, with 650 more individuals on a waiting list, the average age of these hopefuls being just 36 years old. “None of them are expecting to die anytime soon,” Pinheiro told the Daily Mail, highlighting the fact that many of these people are planning far ahead, betting on a future where death is not the end, but a pause.
The process offered by Tomorrow Bio is as high-tech as it is chilling. The company uses what they call “field cryoprotection,” where the cryopreservation process begins immediately after a patient is declared legally dead. Retrofitted ambulances, functioning as mobile surgery rooms, kickstart the procedure right at the scene, a unique service Tomorrow Bio claims to be the only one in the world to offer.
To prevent damage from the extreme cold, a body’s fluids are replaced with what Pinheiro describes as “essentially medical-grade antifreeze.” Over the course of a week, the body’s temperature is gradually lowered to around minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit before it is stored in a long-term facility—a steel container filled with liquid nitrogen.
While some may view this as a morbid curiosity, others are genuinely excited about the possibilities. “Many customers are fascinated by the possibilities of future technologies and experiences, such as space travel,” Pinheiro noted.
As Tomorrow Bio expands, with plans for a satellite location in New York City, the question remains: is this the future of humanity, or just another pipe dream? Regardless, the very idea that technology might one day allow us to outsmart death is enough to make anyone stop and think—perhaps even about their own mortality.
In the end, whether or not cryonics will truly deliver on its promise remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Tomorrow Bio is banking on the hope that one day, the frozen will rise again.