Science & Technology

Scientist suggests that humans could theoretically live for 20,000 years

By T.K. Randall
August 9, 2023

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) Mankind has been obsessed with gaining immortality for thousands of years, but even despite the incredible advances in science and medicine achieved over the last few centuries, our species still remains just as vulnerable to the aging process as our ancestors were millions of years ago.

In the not-too-distant future, however, advances in medical technology could very realistically offer the opportunity to turn back the clock and might eventually be able to stop it entirely.

Enter Joao Pedro de Magalhaes - a professor of molecular biogerontology at the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham, England.

By studying the genomes of long-lived animals such as bowhead whales and naked mole rats, he has determined that - by eliminating aging on a cellular level - it should be possible for humans to live for thousands of years (possibly even as much as 20,000 years).There is one catch, though - such a feat would require scientists to reprogram our cells - something that is currently impossible with today's technology.

"I actually did some calculations years ago and found that if we could 'cure' human aging, average human life span would be more than 1,000 years," Magalhaes told Scientific American.

"Maximum life span, barring accidents and violent death, could be as long as 20,000 years."

"This may sound like a lot, but some species can already live hundreds of years—and in some cases thousands of years."

Source: Scientific American

Tags: Aging, Immortality