You may have heard that recently, an Italian surgeon published an outline of his plan to perform the first full human head transplant surgery. The plan is to perform the operation in 2017, in a procedure that is estimated to take 36 hours, and will require a staff of 150 doctors and nurses. (Scroll to the bottom to see an interview with the volunteering patient) The procedure involves cooling down both donor body and patient’s head, then stitch them together and use a special chemical that will cause both ends of the spinal cord to fuse together. The patient will then be kept in a comatose state and his body will be prepared for waking up by electrically stimulating the spinal cord. The procedure is called Head Anastomosis Venture or “HEAVEN” for short. |
The point of the operation is to give people with degenerated muscles and nerves or cancer-permeated organs a second chance at life. In the 20th-century, such attempts were made using dogs and monkeys, but the recipients did not survive for more than a few days. A recent test using mice was successful, fueling further research that led to the current plans. Now, a Russian man by the name Valery Spiridonov has agreed to be the first person to have their head removed and transplanted onto a new host body. 30-year-old Valery is suffering from a genetic disordered called “Werding-Hoffman muscle wasting disease,” which is slowly killing him, and the procedure may be his last chance at life. |
|
There are those, however, who are not supporting the experimental procedure. The main problem is severing the spinal cord, which is the brain’s conduit of electrical impulses to the rest of the body. Hunt Batjer of the American Association for Neurological Surgeons told CNN: "I would not wish this on anyone, I would not allow anyone to do it to me, there are a lot of things worse than death." Even if the spinal cord is fused successfully, there is a fear that the new body will overwhelm the brain and not allow it to take full control of the motor functions. Arthur Caplan of New York University warns that "Their bodies would end up being overwhelmed with different pathways and chemistry than they are used to and they'd go crazy, It's not like you can unscrew your head and put it on someone else." |
Watch an interview with Valeri, the first man to volunteer for the full body transplant. |
Test Your Medical Knowledge With Our Medical Quiz
Take our trivia test and see how good your medical knowledge really is.
Epidemiologist Explains How to Behave in a Pandemic
Take a certified epidemiologist's advice as to what we can do to NOT catch a disease, be it COVID-19, or another infectious disease
Meet a Doctor Who LITERALLY Feels His Patients' Pain...
Read the story of Dr Joel Salinas, a physician who suffers from mirror-touch synaesthesia...
Flu Season Is Here: 8 Vital Points You Should Remember
The flu season is upon us. It is time to be guarded and take preventive measures to avoid the flu. Here are some vital points to consider.
These Are the Health Tests All Men Over 40 Should Undergo
Every man over the age of 40 should make sure to undergo these tests every once in a while.
These Tips Will Help You Cure Your Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve can not only be a highly annoying problem, but it can be extremely painful too. Here's how you can treat it.
The Psychology Behind Why Some People Are Habitually Late
Now we finally know why some people are habitually late.
8 Biggest Mysteries Still Surrounding the Human Body
Although modern science has revealed much about the human body, there are some things that still remain unknown. Here are the 8 biggest mysteries about it.
10 Fascinating Facts About the Subconscious Mind
10 facts about the way the subconscious mind works
Sleep Inventions: 16 Gadgets to Help You Doze Off
If you frequently struggle with sleep, then trying these amazing new sleep innovations could help change your life.
These Shoes Can Boost Your Walking Speed by 250%!
Robotic engineers have created shoes that, they claim, will increase your speed by 250%.
What Would You Do if You Had an Extra Thumb?
This revolutionary invention has the potential to revolutionize the field of prosthetics.
INTERACTIVE: How Personal Items Have Changed Over Time
Some of you will be old enough to remember what many of today's objects used to look like. Here are 20 such objects. Click to see them as they used to be.
The Magical Geometry of Crystals and How It Came to Be
How and why crystals are formed in such distinctive shapes that look like a human must have shaped them.
Travel From the Sun to Pluto With Our Interactive Guide!
The solar system is a fascinating place, and we wanted to bring you an interactive journey that you can use to travel through it. Enjoy the journey!
Behind the Scenes of the Human-Like Atlas Robot
In this video, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the incredible Atlas robot.
How Do the Drugs We Take Affect Our Brain?
We take many pills these days. What is it exactly that they DO to our brain? Find out now.
STUDY: The Effect of Personality on Our Level of Happiness
Researchers finally know which types of people will always be happier than others.
Watch This Man Build a Future Using Trash from the Past
In this video, you will see what this incredible community has been able to accomplish by building homes from recycled materials.
17 Experiments That Produced Very Bizarre Results...
Take a look at this collection of photos showing how common people performed some fascinating accidental scientific experiments.
24 Smart Storage Inventions You Didn't Know You Needed
These super useful inventions are designed to make you help space!
The Future is in Our Hands - Next Generation Technology
These young brilliant minds grind hard at finding and creating solution to waste recycling, and the results are promising.
Are Underwater Turbines the Answer to Our Energy Question?
One of the most promising technologies in the renewable energy market is the ocean. Learn all about it.
26 Incredible Facts About the Human Mind
The human brain is an interesting and powerful organ, which is why we've gathered 26 interesting facts about exactly how human psychology works.
Incredible New Bionic Arm Fuses With Woman's Nerves
Karin's bionic hand is real sci fi, making her one of the first true cyborgs.
Scientists Develop Wrap That Determines if Food is Spoiled
Scientists at MIT have developed a biodegradable plastic-like wrap that changes color when food goes bad. Find out more…
Revealed! This Is How Far We Have Sent Crafts into Space!
Ever wondered just how far humans have sent spacecrafts into space? If the answer is yes, then this video is just what you've been looking for.
20 Useful Facts About the Science of Cooking
The science behind cooking is not often thought of, but it plays a crucial role in a dish turning out right. Here are 20 facts on the science of cooking.
Revolutionize Your Green Space: 12 Cool Garden Gadgets
Take your garden to the next level with the amazingly cool inventions and gadgets.
The Accidental Discovery of the World’s First Antibiotic
Not too long ago, it was fairly common to die of the simplest of wounds due to bacterial infection. Penicillin changed everything.
10 Incredible Animal-Inspired Robots
Let's meet some incredibly realistic robotic animals.
WATCH: What Is the Fingerprint of God's Creation?
The golden pattern, describes the mathematical code of the universe. Is this the scientific evidence of God's will and plan?
Sci Fi Tech: Jetpack Rescue!
Paramedics in Britain are being trained to conduct mountain or sea rescues using jet suits. Find out more.
Whatever Happened to that Hole in the Ozone Layer?
Let's embark on this enlightening journey to better understand our atmosphere's health.
This Is Why You Should Choose Paper Towels Over Air Dryers
Jet air dryers seem to provide a rapid solution to drying our hands in public restrooms, but they're actually havens for bacteria. Take a look.
Guide: All About the Gut-Brain Connection in Your Body
it's becoming increasingly clear just how influential our tiny gut microbes are in shaping our mood and even our overall health.
This Mind-Blowing Talk Explores the Nature of Reality
In this video, cognitive scientist, Donald Hoffman, attempts to answer this mind-blowing question in this incredible TED talk.
Let's Talk About Size, From Big to Huge.
an incredible discovery that leads us to a better and better understanding of these objects' true size.
These Ancient Inventions Have Got Scientists Stumped!
Here are 12 items from long ago which prove that our ancestors possessed knowledge and skills far more advanced than we once believed them to be.
Introducing the Astronauts That Were Just Launched Into Space
The two astronauts — veteran NASA fliers Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are honored to have been on this flight. Let's get to know them!
The Surprisingly Convoluted History of Traffic Lights
What did the first-ever traffic light look like? Probably stranger than you imagine...
Incredible Science Breakthroughs That Made News in 2022
Let’s check out some of the most interesting scientific discoveries of 2022.
There are Some Great Secrets Found in Mathematics...
Numbers hold some great secrets - they even tell us about life!
Fascinating: What is the Deepest Hole Humanity Has Dug?
This video explains how low humanity has dug down so far.
Ancient Skull Found In China Unlike Any Human Ever Seen
A newly-discovered skull in China had baffled scientists. This could mean we might have discovered an entirely new species of humans.
These 20 Tech Inventions Will Define the Next Decade
The future is here. Check out some emerging technologies that are all set to chane our world forever.
This Humanoid Robot May Join the Workforce Very Soon...
Meet Digit – a bipedal robot that's ready to join human workers at warehouses around the world as early as 2024.