OUT COLD

An enthusiastic pop-science account of extreme cold, especially as it applies to humans.

Writer and neuroscientist Jaekl reminds readers that until a few centuries ago, cold was considered a mysterious entity, perhaps a fluid, inherent in living matter. Once it was explained through atomic theory (and thermometers were invented in the early 1700s), experiments began in earnest. Today, “we continue to use cold to explore the nature of our very existence; it remains instrumental in shaping our definitions of life, death, and consciousness.” Everyone, the author included, loves stories of individuals who survive after apparently freezing to death. Aware that tiny worms return to life after being frozen, scientists in the 18th and 19th centuries froze innumerable higher animals, including dogs and monkeys, but none survived. In the 20th century, researchers developed techniques to chill patients, allowing surgeons to stop circulation during a long operation without causing brain damage. This usually works, but heart-lung machines work better. Chilling also allows isolated organs to survive longer before being transplanted. Pop-science fans will especially enjoy Jaekl’s discussion of modern high-tech fascinations, including cryonics, suspended animation, and human hibernation during space travel. Cryonics involves freezing and storing a corpse, hoping that future, technologically advanced humans will develop the means to revive it. The author delivers a fascinating yet often ghastly history of early cryonics, now a mature industry, although revival remains a long shot. Readers may roll their eyes as Jaekl discusses head transplants, a procedure investigated by a few serious scientists with unimpressive results, but the author concludes with an endorsement of therapeutic hypothermia. While it is still considered experimental, the procedure is often employed as a last resort to treat strokes, asphyxia in newborns, and severe seizures and to provide neuroprotection after a cardiac arrest.

A pleasing mixture of oddball and solid science, perfect for fans of Mary Roach and Sam Kean.