Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of science and ethics, exploring Nectome's groundbreaking mission to preserve consciousness beyond death. In this article, we'll be discussing the Nectome's bold claim of letting you live forever. 

The Nectome Controversy

Y Combinator-backed Nectome made headlines with its bold claim of a '100-percent-fatal' service for backing up and eventually digitizing people's brains. However, after MIT cut ties with the company, questions arose about the feasibility of this daring endeavor.

The Science Behind Nectome

But what is Nectome's approach? According to its founders, their goal is to figure out how to preserve the brains of dying people in incredible detail. To that end, they had developed a process that could turn a brain into a shelf-stable version of itself, with all the links between its neurons visible under a scanning electron microscope. Those links, Nectome suggested, could one day be used to revive dead people's consciousnesses

Nectome's founders, during an interview with Technology Review, revealed that Nectome had already consulted with lawyers about the legality, under California's physician-assisted suicide law, of using their methods on terminal patients. Their preservation methods would kill anyone subjected to them, leading to significant controversy in the tech circles. Technology Review also touted Nectome's relationship with MIT Media Lab neuroscientist Ed Boyden, whose collaboration with the company appears to have ended after the controversy, according to an MIT announcement. 

Ethical Conundrums 

The ethical questions surrounding Nectome's service are profound. Are we crossing a line by choosing a point of death for brain preservation? Nectome's service, while still in development, straddles a delicate line between innovative science and the moral implications of essentially choosing a point of death for brain preservation. 

While brain storage isn't a new concept, Nectome's method differs significantly. Unlike traditional cryopreservation, it focuses on preserving the brain's intricate structure and information rather than the prospect of physical revival.

The Prospect of Digital Immortality

As Nectome continues to push the boundaries of neuroscience and memory preservation, society grapples with the ethical, technological, and philosophical implications. Central to Nectome's philosophy is the belief that a digital copy of a brain could extend a person's existence beyond physical death. But can a mere copy truly capture one's identity and experiences? I’m not smart enough to answer that question. Share your thoughts in the comments below!