suspended animation
Life on hold
Suspended animation is a state in which the vital functions of a living organism are slowed dramatically or stopped entirely, yet the organism remains alive and can potentially be revived.
The term appears in science fiction to describe placing humans in a deathlike sleep for long space voyages, and in biology to describe natural states like hibernation or cryptobiosis.
Figuratively, something in suspended animation is frozen in place, neither progressing nor ending: The project has been in suspended animation since the funding dried up.
Inactive, sluggish state
- dormancySuspended biological activity
- estivationWarm-season torpor state
- diapauseInsect developmental suspension
- denningRetiring to lair
quiescence · fat reserves · arousal · emergence · metabolic depression · energy conservation · slowed breathing · bears
Low-temperature biological preservation
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- cryoprotectantSubstance preventing ice damage
- liquid nitrogenCryogenic form of air's main component
- cryobiologyStudy of low-temperature life effects
reanimation · cryostat · perfusion · revival · legal death
State of uncertain waiting
- abeyanceTemporary inactive state
- holding patternCircular flight awaiting clearance
- hiatusBreak in activity
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
pause · purgatory · on hold · in limbo · frozen in time · waiting game · uncertainty · neither here nor there
Frozen preservation of sleepers
- stasis podVessel preserving dormant occupants
- interstellar travelVoyaging between distant suns
- generation shipMultigenerational interstellar spacecraft
- hypersleepInduced hibernation for spaceflight
deep space · time dilation · sleeper ship · awakening · colony ship · hibernaculum · 2001 · Interstellar
Preservation through vacuum sublimation
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- tardigradesMicroscopic invertebrates, extremely resilient
- brine shrimpTiny saline-water crustacean
- seedsPlant embryos in casings
spores · dehydration · revivable · water bears · extremophiles
Unwakeable unconsciousness
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- life supportSystems maintaining vital functions
- neuroprotectionSafeguarding neurons from damage
cardiac arrest · trauma care · resuscitation · surgery · organ transplant · blood replacement · clinical death
torpor
Inactive, sluggish state
- dormancySuspended biological activity
- estivationWarm-season torpor state
- diapauseInsect developmental suspension
denning · quiescence · fat reserves · arousal · emergence · metabolic depression · energy conservation · slowed breathing · bears · ground squirrels
cryopreservation
Low-temperature biological preservation
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- cryoprotectantSubstance preventing ice damage
- liquid nitrogenCryogenic form of air's main component
cryobiology · reanimation · cryostat · perfusion · revival · legal death
limbo
State of uncertain waiting
- abeyanceTemporary inactive state
- holding patternCircular flight awaiting clearance
- hiatusBreak in activity
standstill · pause · purgatory · on hold · in limbo · frozen in time · waiting game · uncertainty · neither here nor there · between worlds
cryosleep
Frozen preservation of sleepers
- stasis podVessel preserving dormant occupants
- interstellar travelVoyaging between distant suns
- generation shipMultigenerational interstellar spacecraft
hypersleep · deep space · time dilation · sleeper ship · awakening · colony ship · hibernaculum · 2001 · Interstellar · Avatar
freeze-drying
Preservation through vacuum sublimation
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- tardigradesMicroscopic invertebrates, extremely resilient
- brine shrimpTiny saline-water crustacean
seeds · spores · dehydration · revivable · water bears · extremophiles
coma
Unwakeable unconsciousness
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- life supportSystems maintaining vital functions
neuroprotection · cardiac arrest · trauma care · resuscitation · surgery · organ transplant · blood replacement · clinical death
- sci-fi techteleporter, time travel, cryonics, force fields, time machine
- dormancyhibernation, dormancy, torpor, diapause, estivation
- stasisstasis, cryostasis, hibernation, dormancy, torpor
- suspended thingshanging, floating, hovering, dangling, swinging
- cryonicscryonics, cryopreservation, vitrification, liquid nitrogen, reanimation
- Desiccation Survivaltardigrades, tardigrade, water bears, water bear, brine shrimp
suspended animationwakefulness
State of being conscious
alertness · animation · liveliness · vitality · peak performance
suspend, animation, suspension, suspended, suspenders, suspends, suspending, suspender, unsuspended