More than 50 years have passed, yet the question remains: Can modern science truly achieve the miracle of bringing a frozen person back to life? Has technology advanced enough to revive someone preserved decades ago? These are the questions scientists, researchers, and the public continue to ask. Half a century ago, Dr. James Hiram Bedford, driven by hope and a desire for life, decided to take an extraordinary step. He volunteered to have his body cryogenically frozen with the promise of being revived in 2017.
Now, three years beyond that anticipated milestone, curiosity lingers. What became of the man who, at one point, was considered one of the wealthiest individuals in America? Has science made good on its promise?
James Hiram Bedford was not an ordinary man. A psychology professor at the University of California and a World War I veteran, Bedford led a vibrant and fulfilling life. He traveled extensively, exploring the depths of the Amazon rainforest, hunting in Africa, and wandering through the historical landmarks of Greece, Türkiye, Spain, England, Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland. He was also one of the first adventurers to drive along the Alcan Highway to the remote regions of northwest Canada and Alaska. Twice married and deeply passionate about life, Bedford had an insatiable curiosity about the world.
However, in 1967, Bedford’s life took a devastating turn. Diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer that had metastasized to his lungs, he faced a grim prognosis. With no viable medical treatments available at the time, Bedford had no choice but to confront his mortality. Yet, he wasn’t ready to give up. Inspired by the book The Prospect of Immortality by Dr. Robert Ettinger, considered the father of cryonics, Bedford saw a glimmer of hope. Ettinger’s Cryonics Institute had begun offering body preservation services after death, and Bedford decided to embrace this experimental technology.
On January 12, 1967, shortly after suffering cardiac arrest at the age of 73, Bedford’s cryonic journey began. Under the supervision of Robert Nelson, one of the pioneers of cryonics, Bedford’s body was prepared. Dr. Renault Able performed artificial respiration and cardiac massage to maintain some circulation. Bedford’s blood was replaced with dimethyl sulfoxide, a chemical designed to protect his organs from damage during the freezing process. Finally, his body was placed into a tank filled with liquid nitrogen, cooled to an astonishing -196 degrees Celsius.
Before his passing, Bedford set aside more than $100,000—a significant fortune at the time—to fund the ongoing maintenance of his frozen body. Despite his profound hope for the future, Bedford’s final words to Robert Nelson reflected a quiet understanding of the uncertainties ahead: “I want you to understand that I did not do this with the thought that I would be revived. I did this in the hope that one day my descendants will benefit from this wonderful scientific solution.”
Decades later, in 1991, Alcor Life Extension Foundation decided to examine Bedford’s preserved body. Technicians carefully cut through the metal exterior of his cryonic chamber and discovered Bedford wrapped in a pale blue sleeping bag, secured with nylon straps. He was then transferred to a more advanced liquid nitrogen tank lined with polystyrene foam for improved preservation.
During their examination, Alcor technicians noted that Bedford’s preservation was surprisingly good considering the primitive technology used in 1967. His face appeared younger than his 73 years, though some skin on his chest and neck showed signs of discoloration. There were two visible holes in his torso, and the smell of blood lingered around his nose and mouth. His eyes remained half-open, with corneas frozen into a chalky white state. His legs were partially exposed, with his right leg crossed over his left. Despite some cracks on the skin’s surface, Bedford’s overall preservation was deemed a success.
After completing their assessment, the technicians carefully rewrapped Bedford in a new sleeping bag and placed him back into a liquid nitrogen tank, where he remains to this day. Now, over five decades since his preservation, Bedford rests alongside 145 other individuals who share a collective hope—that science will one day unlock the secret to reversing death.
The science of cryonics has advanced significantly since Bedford’s time, with improvements in cryoprotectant solutions, cooling processes, and organ preservation techniques. Yet, the ultimate question remains unanswered: Can science truly revive a frozen human body without causing irreversible damage?
For now, James Hiram Bedford remains a symbol of humanity’s unyielding pursuit of immortality. His story serves as both a milestone in scientific history and a reminder of the vast unknowns still facing the field of cryonics. While scientists continue their research into nanotechnology, organ regeneration, and cellular repair, Bedford waits in his icy chamber—a pioneer frozen in time.
Whether he will ever open his eyes again remains uncertain. But his legacy endures as a testament to courage, hope, and the relentless human drive to overcome the impossible. In the pursuit of reviving Bedford, scientists are not just trying to bring one man back to life; they are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be human, one frozen breath at a time.
