Cryogenic freezing, a concept rooted in science fiction, is now a real-life pursuit of immortality. Over 500 individuals have been cryogenically preserved, with 5,500 planning to follow. The idea, inspired by 1940s research by Jean Rostand and popularized in Robert Ettinger’s 1962 book The Prospect of Immortality, relies on freezing bodies at ultra-low temperatures after legal death. Advocates believe future medical advances might reverse both death and the damage from freezing.

James Hiram Bedford, a psychology professor, became the first person to undergo cryonic suspension in 1967 after succumbing to cancer. Bedford’s body remains preserved in Arizona, symbolizing the promise and controversy of this unproven science. As researchers argue, “legally dead” isn’t “irreversibly dead,” pointing to cases of accidental hypothermia where individuals survived suspended animation.

Bedford’s legacy intertwines scientific hope and skepticism, leaving humanity to wonder if cryonics can truly conquer death.