“Nullius in Verba” by Aurelia

Mar 20, 2026

A breakdown of independent verification efforts for nanoscale brain preservation. Discussion of two key milestones needed to prove preservation works. A clear look at aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation and how it passed rigorous imaging tests. Examination of practical limits, post-mortem adaptations, and field demonstrations that tested real-world viability.

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INSIGHT

Aldehyde Stabilized Cryopreservation Works On Large Mammals

Aldehyde-Stabilized Cryopreservation (ASC) combines aldehyde fixation and cryoprotectant vitrification to preserve nanostructure across small and large mammal brains.
Aurelia developed ASC (2015) and demonstrated it on rabbits and pigs, then published results in Cryobiology and won BPF prizes.

INSIGHT

BPF Prize Drove Rigorous Traceability Standards

The Brain Preservation Foundation raised a $100,000 prize to enforce neuroscientific standards for traceable preservation and stimulated research funding.
Ken Hayworth required connectomic traceability and 100-year stability, prompting rigorous EM-based evaluation methods.

ANECDOTE

Three Day Live Verification With Ken Hayworth

Ken Hayworth attended a three-day session observing Aurelia preserve, vitrify, rewarm, and process a rabbit and a pig with tamper-proof chain of custody.
Hayworth performed FIB-SEM imaging at Janelia, scanning samples at 8–16 nm to judge synaptic traceability.

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Independent verification by the Brain Preservation Foundation and the Survival and Flourishing Fund — the results so far

Cultivating independent verification

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. In my previous post, "Less Dead", I said that my company, Nectome, has

created a new method for whole-body, whole-brain, human end-of-life preservation for the purpose of future revival. Our protocol is capable of preserving every synapse and every cell in the body with enough detail that current neuroscience says long-term memories are preserved. It's compatible with traditional funerals at room temperature and stable for hundreds of years at cold temperatures.

In this post, we’ll dive into the evidence for these claims, as well as Nectome's overall approach to cultivating rigorous, independent validation of our methods—a cornerstone of the kind of preservation enterprise I want to be a part of.

To get to the current state-of-the-art required two major developmental milestones:

Idealized preservation. A method capable of preserving the nanostructure of the brain for small and large animals under idealized laboratory conditions. Specifically, could we preserve animals well if we were allowed to perfectly control the time and conditions of death?

This work (2015-2018) resulted in a brand-new technique—aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation—which was carefully [...]

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Outline:

(00:16) Cultivating independent verification

(05:11) In the lab: Ken Hayworth and the BPF

(05:16) What is the Brain Preservation Foundation?

(08:29) A protocol that works under ideal conditions: Aldehyde-Stabilized Cryopreservation, 2015

(10:05) Independent Verification by the Brain Preservation Foundation

(13:22) In the field: Andrew Critch and the SFF

(16:54) Independent evaluation by the SFF

(20:53) Whats next?

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First published:
March 19th, 2026