Cryogenics studies the effects of extremely cold temperatures on materials, including metals, gases, and biological matter. It has various applications, including hardening metals, preserving materials, and developing cryogenic fuels. Cryonics, the deep freezing of humans and animals for potential future resuscitation, is a controversial offshoot of cryogenics.
Cryogenics is the study of producing extremely cold temperatures. This field of science also examines what happens to a wide variety of materials, from metals to gases, when exposed to these temperatures. Cryogenics has a large number of potential and actual applications, ranging from tempering metals so they’re more durable to improving the tone of musical instruments. There are a number of research opportunities in this field of science for people interested in studying very low temperatures.
Etymologically speaking, cryogenics is literally the study of “things that produce incredibly cold temperatures”. There are a number of branches of this field, including the study of the impact of freezing on electrical components and the study of the effect deep freezing has on biological material such as animals or plants. Some scientists focus solely on finding new ways to produce and maintain extremely cold temperatures, allowing others to develop their work in various offshoots of this field of study.
The temperature ranges used in cryogenics vary. Many people consider the study of anything below -190 degrees Fahrenheit (-123 degrees Celsius) to be cryogenic. These temperatures are well below freezing and can have a dramatic impact on materials introduced into these very cold environments. There are several ways to produce such cold temperatures, ranging from specialized freezers to the use of liquefied gases such as nitrogen which will control temperatures under the right pressure conditions.
When metals are cryogenically frozen, the strength of their molecular structure can increase, making the metal itself stronger and more durable. Many high-end metal products can undergo cryogenics as part of the hardening process. The process is also used in the preparation of specialized medicines and in the preservation of a wide variety of materials. Cryogenic fuels are also popular for rockets and shuttles.
A branch of cryogenic storage known as cryonics pops up in the news periodically. Humans and other animals can be deep frozen under controlled conditions in the hope that medical advances will allow them to be resuscitated in the future. Cryonics facilities often charge a high fee for their services, and the actual possibility of resuscitation after cryogenic freezing is a matter of debate in the scientific and medical communities.
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