Episode 355

An entire pig’s brain has been preserved after death, using a technique that will keep the structure of the brain intact - potentially for hundreds of years.

Scientists say they will offer the treatment to terminally ill humans, in the hopes that one day, in the distant future, we’ll be able to reconstruct their minds and bring them back to life. Because of the speed at which scientists need to preserve the brain tissue, the method will only work on people who opt in for assisted dying.

But will we ever be able to digitally upload and reanimate a brain, or is this just offering false hope to those already suffering? And if we do develop the technology, what kind of world will these people wake up to?

To discuss this new method, the ethics and science of consciousness, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Alexandra Thompson and Thomas Lewton.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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