Reanimation and the Science of Death

In May 2022, scientists at the University of Utah reanimated eye cells from a deceased person, challenging the notion of irreversible death. This experiment is part of a long history of attempts to bring the dead back to life, dating back to the 19th century with figures like Giovani Alini and Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'. In the 1920s and 30s, Soviet scientist Sergey Brukhonenko conducted experiments with heart-lung machines, further advancing reanimation science. These developments raise ethical questions about the implications of reversing death and the potential disruption of traditional beliefs about life and the soul.

What was the main achievement of the University of Utah scientists in their 2022 study?

• They reanimated eye cells from a deceased person.

• They created a new definition of death.

• They discovered a cure for irreversible coma.

• They developed a new type of heart machine.

What is the Harvard ad hoc brain death definition?

• Permanent unconsciousness

• Temporary death

• Irreversible coma

• Reversible coma

Who was inspired by Giovanni Aldini's experiments to write a famous novel?

• Sergey Bryukhonenko

• Victor Frankenstein

• Giovanni Aldini

• Mary Shelley

What did Giovanni Aldini use to make frog legs twitch?

• A battery

• A chemical solution

• A mechanical device

• A magnetic field

What was the result of Aldini's experiment on a human body?

• The heart began beating

• The body spoke

• The facial muscles contorted

• The body started walking

What novel invention did Sergey Bryukhonenko create?

• A device to regrow limbs

• A heart and lung machine

• A method to reanimate human brains

• A new type of electrical battery

What did Bryukhonenko's autojector allow organs to do?

• Heal rapidly

• Communicate with each other

• Function outside the body

• Regrow

What was the primary animal used in Bryukhonenko's experiments?

• Cats

• Pigs

• Rabbits

• Dogs

What is a potential future application of reanimation technology?

• Creating new species

• Reversing aging

• Developing new medicines

• Regrowing major parts of the brain

What ethical question is raised by the possibility of reanimating the dead?

• How to define irreversible coma

• How to improve heart and lung machines

• Whether to allow the dead to rest in peace

• Whether to continue traditional burial rites