Scientists say immortality 20 years away

[DeathRain2012]

Doesn't everybody want to die someday? Thats the whole beauty of life, we cease to exist after years of making history.

[Paracelse]

Doesn't everybody want to die someday? Thats the whole beauty of life, we cease to exist after years of making history.

What??? I can't be only one?

[King Fluffs]

I'd love me some immortality.

Of course, it would have it's downsides...

[WoIverine]

Uh...call me crazy, but I don't think I want nanobots replacing my blood cells. Well, at least until they explain how it works, can I get a set of Adamantium claws to go with it, pretty please?

[+OverSword]

Who are these scientists . ???????????????? Names please

Did you read the article?

[ThickasaBrick]

I would rather see nanobots fighting infections and cancer. If you had the knowledge that you would live forever, it would create a feeling that each day didn't matter. Life would be counted in decades or centuries rather than years.

On the other hand, it would give humans a much more broad perspective regarding the future. If the people in charge knew that they would be alive hundreds of years from now, much more interest would be shown in taking care of the Earth, rather than the short sited views many take today.

[rashore]

That's an appalling thought, humans living forever. And yuck, I would rather keep my human cells, no nano-replacements for me thanks.

[+OverSword]

jgorman, curing disease does fall under the umbrella of anti-aging resaerch in most cases. I did a quick search and found a short list of scientists actively doing research in related fields, over the last ten years I have read alot of articles and interviews, and heard podcasts with many of these people:

• Prof. Vladimir N. Anisimov Head of the Department of Carcinogenesis and Oncogerontology, N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, Russia; Author of Carcinogenesis and Aging and of Molecular and Physiological Mechanisms of Aging. [04/18/2005]
  
• Bruce N. Ames, Ph.D. Professor University of California, Berkeley, Senior Scientist Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute; U.S. National Medal of Science; Research in delaying the mitochondrial decay of aging.
  
• Robert Arking, Ph.D. Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University; Research focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying the onset of senescence in Drosophila; Author of Biology of Aging: Observations and Principles.
  
• Steven N. Austad, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Idaho; Author of Why We Age: What Science Is Discovering about the Body’s Journey Through Life and numerousother aging research publications.
  
• Nir Barzilai, M.D. Director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Author of numerous aging research publications; Founder of the Longevity Genes Project.
  
• Brian F.C. Clark, Ph.D., ScD. CoFounder of Senetek PLC, Professor of Biostructural Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark, Centre Leader of the Danish Centre of Molecular Gerontology.
  
• Antonei B. Csoka, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Magee-Womens Research Institute; Research led to the discovery of the gene that causesHutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome.
  
• Richard G. Cutler, Ph.D, Vice President of Kronos Science Laboratories, Inc., Longevity Sciences Group; founder of Genox Corporation; Proposed and tested the Longevity Determinant Gene Hypothesis the Dysdifferentiation Hypothesis of Aging and the oxidative stress as a primary mechanism of aging model.
  
• Aubrey D.N.J. de Grey, Ph.D. Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Founder of the Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) approach to anti-aging medicine; Editor-in-chief of Rejuvenation Research.
  
• João Pedro de Magalhães, Ph.D. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Namur in Belgium; Postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School; Author of a number of publications on aging; Designed and implemented the Human Ageing Genomic Resources.
  
• Joseph M. Erwin, Ph.D. Independent Consultant and Executive Director, Foundation for Comparative & Conservation Biology; Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology and VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech; Senior Fellow, Center for Conservation and Behavior at Georgia Tech; Co-editor of Aging In Nonhuman Primates.
  
• Leonid A. Gavrilov, Ph.D. Center on Aging, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago; Author of The Biology of Life Span; Founder of the Reliability Theory of Aging.
  
• Natalia S. Gavrilova, Ph.D. Center on Aging, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago; Co-author of The Biology of Life Span; Author of over a hundred scientific publications on aging and longevity studies.
  
• David Gems, Ph.D.UCL Centre for Research on Ageing, Department of Biology, University College London; Author of numerous aging research publications.
  
• David Gershon, Ph.D. Skillman Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; Chief Science Officer, Redox Pharmaceutical Corp.
  
• Christopher B. Heward, Ph.D. Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Arizona; Senior Research Fellow in the UCLA Program on Medicine, Technology, and Society; President of Kronos Science Laboratories, Inc.
  
• Matt Kaeberlein, Ph.D. Ph.D. in Biology from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Faculty member, The Basic Biology of Aging at the University of Washington; Co-founder, Longenity Inc.
  
• Alexander V. Khalyavkin, Ph.D. Academic Secretary, Gerontological Society of RAS, Moscow Branch; Academic Secretary, Problem Committee “Physiology & Biology of Aging”, Joint Scientific Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and Health Ministry; Author of the concept an organism’s non-senescence due to vital regimens, evoked by positive environmental influences or artificial cues.
  
• Marios Kyriazis, M.D. M.D. from the Univerisity of Rome; MSc in Gerontology from the University of London, King’s College; President of the British Longevity Society; Author of Carnosine: And Other Elixirs of Youth.
  
• Don A. Kleinsek, Ph.D. Received a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in Physiological Chemistry. President and founder of GeriGene Medical Corporation, in Madison, Wisc. GeriGene’s mission is to stop the aging process.
  
• Peter M. Lansdorp M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia; Senior ScientistTerry Fox Laboratory, B.C. Cancer Research Center; major focus of research on genetic instability in aging and cancer, publications.
  
• Marc S. Lewis, Ph.D. Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in Clinical Psychology. Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin of Clinical Psychology. Research is focused on the interface of molecular biology and epidemiology with an emphasis on the molecular biology of aging.
  
• Valter Longo, Ph.D. Professor and researcher at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Assistant Professor of Gerontology and Biological Science, Cell Biology and genetics, regulation of aging and multiple stress resistance systems in yeast and mammals, Alzheimer’s Disease.
  
• Alvaro Macieira-Coelho, M.D. Director at the French National Institute of Health (INSERM) in France; Author of numerous books on aging such as Biology of Aging: Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology, Cell Immortalization and Cancer and Aging.
  
• George M. Martin, M.D.Professor Emeritus of Pathology, University of Washington.
  
• Brian J. Morris, Ph.D. Professor of Molecular Medical Sciences in the School of Medical Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Sydney; has over 230 publications; research focusing on the alteration in genome-wide expression profiles during ageing of human cells. [10/116/05]
  
• S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D. Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois; Co-author with Bruce Carnes of The Quest for Immortality: Science at the Frontiers of Aging.
  
• Suresh Rattan, Ph.D., D.Sc. Professor, Danish Centre for Molecular Gerontology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus, Denmark; Editor-in-Chief Biogerontology; Editor of Aging Interventions and Therapies; Research areas and expertise: cellular aging, hormesis (mild stress-mediated aging interventions); gerontogenes.”
  
• Robert J. Shmookler Reis, Ph.D. Professor, Depts. of Geriatrics, Medicine, Biochemistry & Molec.Biol., and Pharmacology; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Career Health Scientist, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Service.
  
• Karl T. Riabowol, Ph.D. Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Director of the Laboratory of Aging and Immortalization, University of Calgary; Member, Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Aging Advisory Board; extensive publications on aging research.
  
• Arlan G. Richardson, Ph.D. Director, Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
  
• Michael R. Rose, Ph.D. Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine; Author of Evolutionary Biology of Aging.
  
• Stanley Shostak, Ph.D. Department Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh; Author Becoming Immortal: Combining Cloning and Stem-Cell Therapy and a number of other aging research publications.
  
• Rafal Smigrodzki, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Clinical Officer, Gencia Company; Charlottesville VA, publications on aging and genetics research
  
• Michael D. West, Ph.D. Founder of Geron Corporation; Director of Biotime, Inc., BioMarker Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and the Life Extension Foundation; President of Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.; Author of The Immortal Cell: One Scientist’s Quest to Solve the Mystery of Human Aging.
  
• Prof. Jan Vijg Principal investigator at the Functional Genomics of Aging research program which is located at the South Texas Center for Biology in Medicine at the Texas Research Park. It is part of the Sam and Ann Barshop Center for Longevity and Aging Studies.
  
• Prof. Thomas von Zglinicki Professor of Cellular Gerontology, University of Newcastle; Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Biogerontology, Newcastle General Hospital; extensive publications on aging and telomere research.
  

Edited July 18, 2012 by OverSword

[dharma warrior]

20 years? Crap! I'll be dead by then!

[+OverSword]

20 years? Crap I'll still be too broke by then!

[Junior Chubb]

20 years? Crap I'll be 57 for the rest of my life!

[shadowlark]

I saw a miniseries similar to this called TORCHWOOD Miracle Day. It tells a story of a time when people are no longer able to die. The overpopulation is instantly a problem among many others that would come with such a jump in population. Not such a paradise.

Miracle Day was crap. Now, Torchwood: Children of Earth - that's a good story.

[Coffey]

The porblem with Nantechnology is when someone does die... Do they carry on rebuilding? If so... Zombies... lol

[+OverSword]

The porblem with Nantechnology is when someone does die... Do they carry on rebuilding? If so... Zombies... lol

What I've always envisioned with using nanites to rebuild (thought of writing some fiction about it) is that you would be immortal, and would regenerate limbs, wounds would heal etc...The only way to be killed then would likely be decapition ala Highlander.

[JonathanVonErich]

Who are these scientists . ???????????????? Names please

I'm one of them.

[Coffey]

What I've always envisioned with using nanites to rebuild (thought of writing some fiction about it) is that you would be immortal, and would regenerate limbs, wounds would heal etc...The only way to be killed then would likely be decapition ala Highlander.

Good point, so what if they could regrow the head? lol What the feck would happen then?! lol Would someone else be made? lol

Guessing it would be imposisble, but what if the nanobots tried...

What if somebody was poisoned? Wouldn't that kill the person? Or would the Nano bots react to the poison and get rid of it.

What about viruses? Like a computer virus for nanobots...That could be awful.

[WoIverine]

Not only zombies, but immortal robot zombies! That is 7 levels of cartoon hell! If there is a soul, wonder what happens to it when all the bio is replaced with techno.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Spid3rCyd3

[Golly Buster]

5 Reasons Immortality Would be Worse than Death

Edited July 18, 2012 by Dolly Buster

[Mr Right Wing]

I don't have much doubt that this is true, maybe not within the next 20 years, and probably not a really great thing for humanity in general, figure out for yourself why not. But what disturbs me is the statement from this scientist Ray Kurzweil.

From the article:

Oh, virtual sex will also be commonplace in the not-so-distant future.

REALLY? This is where the mind of this well respected scientist is at??? We will have immortals who's main concern is busting a nut?

http://www.sfgate.co...way-3710466.php

We are already there.

Scientists have been de-aging mice and monkeys using a chemical called 4-OHT. Aging is caused by telomeres shortening and 4-OHT activates the cell mechanisms that lengthen them. The same mechanisms exist in human cells but trials have yet to begin. 4-OHT is commonly known as Estrogen the female sex hormone.

Whole cows milk has high levels of estrogen in it.

[+OverSword]

The nanites, as I envision it would be biological machines, in other words they themselves would be alive and self replicating. They would be programmed to reconstruct anything at a molecular level, so they could take a poison molecule and rearange the atoms into say a white blood cell. I can picture how it would all work in my mind but don't do the greatest job of describing it.

[ohio state buckeyes]

Where is everyone going to live ? Sounds like hes trying to end humanity and who wants to read a book in two min ?

[+OverSword]

Where is everyone going to live ? Sounds like hes trying to end humanity and who wants to read a book in two min ?

Then again if people can live for thousands of years space travel becomes a much more realistic endeavour. Interstellar

Edited July 18, 2012 by OverSword

[green_dude777]

While his timeline for his predicted events are optimistic, they certainly are realistic at some point. Addressing a couple posters' points;

I'm finding overpopulation seems to not be a potential problem, as apparently a lot of people claim they want to die eventually. Another point to note pertaining to our resources is the fact that they're finite as is. Keeping the population down doesn't change the fact that they will run out. Scientists in other fields are working on this, and our progression as a species to a 'type 1' civilization then onto a 'type 2' will make this resource problem a non factor.

The thoughts being demonstrated in this thread validate Mr Kurzweil's thoughts on human linear thinking, when our technology is improving exponentially. My recommendation is an old one "wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they need to say something."

[+OverSword]

So you're wise I suppose, posting here on the internet? participating in forums like this are how people who have a limited grasp of the dynamics of the disscussion or subject can gain more insight. Like the annoying school teachers all said there is no such thing as a stupid question.

[Mr Right Wing]

While his timeline for his predicted events are optimistic, they certainly are realistic at some point. Addressing a couple posters' points;

I'm finding overpopulation seems to not be a potential problem, as apparently a lot of people claim they want to die eventually. Another point to note pertaining to our resources is the fact that they're finite as is. Keeping the population down doesn't change the fact that they will run out. Scientists in other fields are working on this, and our progression as a species to a 'type 1' civilization then onto a 'type 2' will make this resource problem a non factor.

The thoughts being demonstrated in this thread validate Mr Kurzweil's thoughts on human linear thinking, when our technology is improving exponentially. My recommendation is an old one "wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they need to say something."

Most of the planets surface is wilderness. Theres plenty of room for new cities, new farms and new transport systems. The problem is many people lack the vision to see beyond the current. They have limited us to how the world currently is so they think the planet cant possibly support anymore people.

The human race will still be here in a million years time, we will be immortal, we will be able to overcome all problems and the population of planet earth will pass the trillion mark.