Harvard Scientists May Bring Immortality

[Mezonpotania]

We are now one step closer to being timelords!
I am already working on a prototype infinite power source!

---

Plan:
Make spaceships!
Get infinite power source to power it!
Use chemical to live long enough to get to Trappist one star system!

---

That is how we deal with overpopulation!

[Camicon]

And how would you propose we deal with the population boom? With people never leaving the workforce? The strain it would place on pension programs?

[EDIT] Don't forget the old, rich bastards like the Koch's fucking around for another hundred years.

Perpetual warfare.

Pensions are only an issue if the body ages.

My brother will have a full military pension by the time he is forty. He gets that for the rest of his life. What happens if he gets a drug that lets him live til he's 150? How do current pension plans cope with people working for twenty - thirty, forty - years, and then living for another 100?

Living longer is great, but we as a species need to become a helluva lot better at living sustainably, or the trouble it brings is going to outweigh the benefits.

[Socio Polor]

Whenever transhumanism or immortality gets brought up, I'm the one salty asshole who says: Fuck no.

I guarantee that if immortality is ever remotely possible, which I doubt, it will bring about such a large scale social upheaval throughout the world. Not only do we lack the infrastructure, resources, or stability to hold a bunch more people, cost will be an issue.

People who can't afford whatever it is to become immortal will inevitably be pissed and do some really awful things. Immortality brings about a whole batch of issues I can think of. I am firmly against it.


To clarify, I realize actual immortality is a near impossibility. But making a normal lifespan even 20 years longer throughout the world on average could be very, very problematic...

If we can reverse the aging in mice, then I'm absolutely we can do it with us humans since we share similar DNA with mice.

[Major-Tom]

Whenever transhumanism or immortality gets brought up, I'm the one salty asshole who says: Fuck no.

I guarantee that if immortality is ever remotely possible, which I doubt, it will bring about such a large scale social upheaval throughout the world. Not only do we lack the infrastructure, resources, or stability to hold a bunch more people, cost will be an issue.

People who can't afford whatever it is to become immortal will inevitably be pissed and do some really awful things. Immortality brings about a whole batch of issues I can think of. I am firmly against it.


To clarify, I realize actual immortality is a near impossibility. But making a normal lifespan even 20 years longer throughout the world on average could be very, very problematic...

If we can reverse the aging in mice, then I'm absolutely we can do it with us humans since we share similar DNA with mice.

Is reversing the effects of aging the same thing as bringing about immortality, though?

[Washington Resistance Army]

If we can reverse the aging in mice, then I'm absolutely we can do it with us humans since we share similar DNA with mice.

Is reversing the effects of aging the same thing as bringing about immortality, though?

It's a good starting point to reaching immortality.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Whenever transhumanism or immortality gets brought up, I'm the one salty asshole who says: Fuck no.

I guarantee that if immortality is ever remotely possible, which I doubt, it will bring about such a large scale social upheaval throughout the world. Not only do we lack the infrastructure, resources, or stability to hold a bunch more people, cost will be an issue.

People who can't afford whatever it is to become immortal will inevitably be pissed and do some really awful things. Immortality brings about a whole batch of issues I can think of. I am firmly against it.


To clarify, I realize actual immortality is a near impossibility. But making a normal lifespan even 20 years longer throughout the world on average could be very, very problematic...

I mean, I will be honest, I'd be fine with new technology used for medical purposes.

I am one of those people who'd rather see others be healed of their illness rather than die in a ditch.

But this whole "WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE IMMORTAL, WEEEE!", not a big partisan of it.

[Major-Tom]

Whenever transhumanism or immortality gets brought up, I'm the one salty asshole who says: Fuck no.

I guarantee that if immortality is ever remotely possible, which I doubt, it will bring about such a large scale social upheaval throughout the world. Not only do we lack the infrastructure, resources, or stability to hold a bunch more people, cost will be an issue.

People who can't afford whatever it is to become immortal will inevitably be pissed and do some really awful things. Immortality brings about a whole batch of issues I can think of. I am firmly against it.


To clarify, I realize actual immortality is a near impossibility. But making a normal lifespan even 20 years longer throughout the world on average could be very, very problematic...

I mean, I will be honest, I'd be fine with new technology used for medical purposes.

I am one of those people who'd rather see others be healed of their illness rather than die in a ditch.

But this whole "WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE IMMORTAL, WEEEE!", not a big partisan of it.

That is fine, using new technology for the sake of medicine, I'm not a luddite, I encourage it. What I don't like is this idea of transhumanism. It isn't feasible, but if it were...it would be relatively dangerous from my point of view.

[Camicon]

Whenever transhumanism or immortality gets brought up, I'm the one salty asshole who says: Fuck no.

I guarantee that if immortality is ever remotely possible, which I doubt, it will bring about such a large scale social upheaval throughout the world. Not only do we lack the infrastructure, resources, or stability to hold a bunch more people, cost will be an issue.

People who can't afford whatever it is to become immortal will inevitably be pissed and do some really awful things. Immortality brings about a whole batch of issues I can think of. I am firmly against it.


To clarify, I realize actual immortality is a near impossibility. But making a normal lifespan even 20 years longer throughout the world on average could be very, very problematic...

If we can reverse the aging in mice, then I'm absolutely we can do it with us humans since we share similar DNA with mice.

Everything shares similar DNA with everything. Humans and fruit flies share about 50% of their DNA.

[Major-Tom]

Is reversing the effects of aging the same thing as bringing about immortality, though?

It's a good starting point to reaching immortality.

Given how these bags of flesh we have are always getting fucked up, I just don't see it as feasible anyways.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

If we can reverse the aging in mice, then I'm absolutely we can do it with us humans since we share similar DNA with mice.

Is reversing the effects of aging the same thing as bringing about immortality, though?

Not really. Immortality would mean your cells wouldn't degenerate to a point where aging won't take its toll.

I'd say reverting the effects of aging =/= beating time.

[Novus America]

If we can reverse the aging in mice, then I'm absolutely we can do it with us humans since we share similar DNA with mice.

Everything shares similar DNA with everything. Humans and fruit flies share about 50% of their DNA.

Yes but this does not give mice imortality. Entropy is a bitch.

[Socio Polor]

If we can reverse the aging in mice, then I'm absolutely we can do it with us humans since we share similar DNA with mice.

Is reversing the effects of aging the same thing as bringing about immortality, though?

If we continue research on it than reverse/ anti-aging can evolve into immortality

[Mezonpotania]

We are now one step closer to being timelords!
I am already working on a prototype infinite power source!

---

Plan:
Make spaceships!
Get infinite power source to power it!
Use chemical to live long enough to get to Trappist one star system!

---

That is how we deal with overpopulation!

I am literally working on a prototype infinite power source!!!

[Genivaria]

Scientists Can Reverse DNA Aging in Mice

Immortality appears to be mere years away if the human research pans out.

Ehh, Captalism will just ruin it anyway, they will sell bottles of this for 300 bucks a piece I betcha

If you want to make something sound out of reach for most people you should give a much higher number then what I make in a week on 9$/hr.

[Novus America]

Perpetual warfare.

Pensions are only an issue if the body ages.

My brother will have a full military pension by the time he is forty. He gets that for the rest of his life. What happens if he gets a drug that lets him live til he's 150? How do current pension plans cope with people working for twenty - thirty, forty - years, and then living for another 100?

Living longer is great, but we as a species need to become a helluva lot better at living sustainably, or the trouble it brings is going to outweigh the benefits.

Pensions ages WILL have to be increased. Something we are going to have to do with or without this particular treatment. Avoiding one treatment (impossible anyways) does not avoid the fact life spans will continue to increase. And we will have to adapt as a result.

But over half the world, and the half that would have this treatment available is a sub replacement birthrates anyways.

[Novus America]

Is reversing the effects of aging the same thing as bringing about immortality, though?

If we continue research on it than reverse/ anti-aging can evolve into immortality

Theoretically closer too it a long ways from now. But entropy is inescapable.

[Proctopeo]

Hey, this might extend lives long enough for young people today to get the next life-extending treatment.

[Victoria and Vacuna]

Hey, this might extend lives long enough for young people today to get the next life-extending treatment.

[Novus America]

If getting cancer means you live 120 instead of 80 years? Yes you might want it.
Plus how is using this to live longer worse than anything else?

And again the point is moot, enforcement is impossible so at the very least it will be used widely for longer lifespans at least by the rich. You cannot stop it.

It's not, per se, worse, but you have as others have pointed out, the issue of overpopulation, scarcity, and so on.

We're already stretching the blanket a bit too thin. The bigger problem here is how much thinner can we stretch it.

Enforcement is possible. The only thing that you're arguing is "the rich will get access to it". If you regulate it for gene therapy it won't, but then you'll have to deal with cancer. So it's either get cancer to get this treatment, or go on with a normal life.

And getting cancer is not all that funny either. So it's not like we're talking about something like "Oh well, let me get a soccer ball and play at the park".

Tell me how well our drug enforcement is going. Banning something does not eliminate it, and a lot of countries will not ban this.

Yes the rich will still get it, even if you limit it to those with cancer in a few places. They will simply get around the laws. Travel somewhere that allows it to be given without having cancer, bribe someone to say they have cancer, etc. You would just be screwing the poor by making it more expensive to get.

And many cancers are not that bad if treated. They are not all the same in severity. Plus you are underestimating the lengths to which some people would go to get just ten more years off life.

[Socio Polor]

If we continue research on it than reverse/ anti-aging can evolve into immortality

Theoretically closer too it a long ways from now. But entropy is inescapable.

Perhaps, I agree technology could be abused by very bad people, but like every other technology we'll likely find a solution.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

It's not, per se, worse, but you have as others have pointed out, the issue of overpopulation, scarcity, and so on.

We're already stretching the blanket a bit too thin. The bigger problem here is how much thinner can we stretch it.

Enforcement is possible. The only thing that you're arguing is "the rich will get access to it". If you regulate it for gene therapy it won't, but then you'll have to deal with cancer. So it's either get cancer to get this treatment, or go on with a normal life.

And getting cancer is not all that funny either. So it's not like we're talking about something like "Oh well, let me get a soccer ball and play at the park".

Tell me how well our drug enforcement is going. Banning something does not eliminate it, and a lot of countries will not ban this.

Since when does regulation = banning?

The hell?

I don't know where you're getting the idea that I am proposing it to be banned. I am saying that gene therapy could benefit from this. And it's true, there's many illnesses this could make more treatable or even hinder its effects.

It's not a magic bullet that will cure it, but it is a solution to a complex problem such as genetic diseases. To suggest that the rich will get it and we might as well offer it to everyone misses the point of medical ethics, which is a thing, and also of medical treatment and potential side effects from using this sort of therapy for widespread aging reversion, which we have yet to understand if there are any in either rats, or humans.

[Commonwealth of Hank the Cat]

Holy shit! We're that much closer to Alpha Centauri! We got anyone from Nambia ready to distribute this stuff?

[Novus America]

Theoretically closer too it a long ways from now. But entropy is inescapable.

Perhaps, I agree technology could be abused by very bad people, but like every other technology we'll likely find a solution.

Sure. I am not against this technology at all.
True immortality is physically impossible due to entropy, but certainly our average life spans will keep getting longer.

We have adapted to them increasing from 60 to 80, and will do so as the go further. The adaptation will not be always easy or smooth though. But we have to do it regardless.

[United Socialist Ecuador]

YES!

[Wallenburg]

I have to hand it to you, OP, that was some grade A clickbait.

On the topic, good work by these scientists. DNA repair is a big leap forward in advancing life expectancy. I remember that simply keeping the body's production of telomerase at a good level was projected to increase an individual's life span by up to 10 years. Hopefully, the potential to repair DNA like this--or at least keep it from further deteriorating--could do even more than that.