Part 9/10:
In fiction and reality, the cold showcases an endurance that transcends humanity, preserving and destroying in equal measure. It serves as a reminder of our impermanence and the humility we must adopt in the face of nature’s might. Scholars argue over the lengths to which we can be preserved by the cold, be it in cryonics or through natural phenomena involving permafrost—which, in thawing, threatens to unleash not just historical remnants but greenhouse gasses locked in the past.
As we investigate cold's representation both in horror narratives and real-world approximations, we recognize it as a vital component of existence. It compels self-reflection and a recognition of humanity's frailty.