In 1967, Dr. James Hiram Bedford, a World War I veteran and University of California professor, made a decision that would make history — he chose to have his body cryonically preserved. Facing kidney cancer that had spread to his lungs, Bedford was introduced to the concept of body freezing through Dr. Robert Ettinger’s book The Prospect of Immortality. At a time when medical science was far less advanced than today, Bedford’s decision was both daring and visionary: he hoped that one day, future technology might allow him or others to benefit from this pioneering experiment.
On January 12, 1967, Bedford’s body was carefully prepared for preservation. After his blood was removed, he received an injection of dimethyl sulfoxide to protect his organs. Then, he was submerged in a tank of liquid nitrogen, reaching temperatures of -196 degrees Celsius. Bedford’s goal was not immediate revival — he openly stated that his hope was for future generations to explore the potential of this scientific frontier.
Over the following decades, Bedford’s preserved body became a reference point for cryonics research. Twenty-four years later, Alcor, a company specializing in cryonic preservation, examined his remains. Remarkably, his body had remained well-preserved: his facial features appeared youthful, corneas retained a distinct ice-white hue, and while some skin discoloration had occurred, the preservation of internal organs was notable. Bedford’s case provided invaluable insights into the longevity and potential of cryogenic techniques.
Today, more than 50 years later, Bedford still rests in liquid nitrogen, awaiting a future that may or may not see the revival of cryonics. His pioneering choice opened the door for countless others interested in this extraordinary scientific concept. As he once said, the decision was made not for himself but in the hope that descendants might one day benefit from the discoveries his body helped inspire — a legacy frozen in time, yet alive in imagination.