Live forever: Scientists say they’ll soon extend life ‘well beyond 120’

In Palo Alto in the heart of Silicon Valley, hedge fund manager Joon Yun is doing a back-of-the-envelope calculation. According to US social security data, he says, the probability of a 25-year-old dying before their 26th birthday is 0.1%. If we could keep that risk constant throughout life instead of it rising due to age-related disease, the average person would – statistically speaking – live 1,000 years. Yun finds the prospect tantalising and even believable. Late last year he launched a $1m prize challenging scientists to “hack the code of life” and push human lifespan past its apparent maximum of about 120 years (the longest known/confirmed lifespan was 122 years).
Yun believes it is possible to “solve ageing” and get people to live, healthily, more or less indefinitely. His Palo Alto Longevity Prize, which 15 scientific teams have so far entered, will be awarded in the first instance for restoring vitality and extending lifespan in mice by 50%. But Yun has deep pockets and expects to put up more money for progressively greater feats. He says this is a moral rather than personal quest. Our lives and society are troubled by growing numbers of loved ones lost to age-related disease and suffering extended periods of decrepitude, which is costing economies. Yun has an impressive list of nearly 50 advisers, including scientists from some of America’s top universities.


http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/11/-sp-live-forever-extend-life-calico-google-longevity


Okay now that the anti-Muslim brigade have calmed down, we can get back to some normal debating


Is this the way forward in a world where the populations are rising, which will in affect make worse?

I can only think of one group of people by extending their lives where it would be of benefit to humanity.

What do others think?

And back to the article at hand.

Phil Didge wrote:In Palo Alto in the heart of Silicon Valley, hedge fund manager Joon Yun is doing a back-of-the-envelope calculation. According to US social security data, he says, the probability of a 25-year-old dying before their 26th birthday is 0.1%. If we could keep that risk constant throughout life instead of it rising due to age-related disease, the average person would – statistically speaking – live 1,000 years. Yun finds the prospect tantalising and even believable. Late last year he launched a $1m prize challenging scientists to “hack the code of life” and push human lifespan past its apparent maximum of about 120 years (the longest known/confirmed lifespan was 122 years).
Yun believes it is possible to “solve ageing” and get people to live, healthily, more or less indefinitely. His Palo Alto Longevity Prize, which 15 scientific teams have so far entered, will be awarded in the first instance for restoring vitality and extending lifespan in mice by 50%. But Yun has deep pockets and expects to put up more money for progressively greater feats. He says this is a moral rather than personal quest. Our lives and society are troubled by growing numbers of loved ones lost to age-related disease and suffering extended periods of decrepitude, which is costing economies. Yun has an impressive list of nearly 50 advisers, including scientists from some of America’s top universities.


http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/11/-sp-live-forever-extend-life-calico-google-longevity


Okay now that the anti-Muslim brigade have calmed down, we can get back to some normal debating


Is this the way forward in a world where the populations are rising, which will in affect make worse?

I can only think of one group of people by extending their lives where it would be of benefit to humanity.

What do others think?

if people want to do that then they will also need to ensure that birth rates plummet

Jock McFlap wrote:
if people want to do that then they will also need to ensure that birth rates plummet

I do not think it is practical except for geniuses who can benefit society, hey have more time to bring forth many aspects that could help society.

To live an extra 20 to 40 years for me is of little benefit, but agree as stated you need to sort out the population rises,

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She's feline her age! Poppy named world's oldest cat at 24 (that's 114 in human years)

The tortoiseshell puss from Bournemouth was born in February 1990, making her a ripe old 114 in human years

Yahoo News – Mon, May 19, 2014

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  Yahoo News. - Happy birthday: Poppy celebrates her 24th. (SWNS)
  

Poppy the cat is certainly feline her age - after being recognised as the world’s oldest cat at 24 years.

The tortoiseshell puss from Bournemouth was born in February 1990, making her a ripe old 114 in human years.

She has lived through five British Prime Ministers but is now a frail old lady and spends most of her time indoors relaxing.

Poppy, who has been recognised by Guinness World Records, is one year younger than Misao Okawa of Japan, the oldest person in the world.

She has picked up the title following the death of Pinky, a cat from Kansas who passed away at the age of 23 last year.


At the age of five she was adopted by Marguerite Corner and her daughter Jacqui.

When she was ten she went with Jacqui who had moved in with future husband Andy West.

The couple now have two sons - Joe, 11 and Toby, eight - and Poppy shares their home with four other cats, two rabbits and a hamster.



She is deaf and blind, but despite her age and frailty she is still the boss of the house and if the other cats try their luck with her they are swiftly dealt with.

Jacqui, 43, said: 'People always ask what we put Poppy's longevity down to and I guess she has a good diet and lots of exercise.

'She keeps herself fit by walking around and she eats a lot. She has biscuits in the morning and tinned food later on. She's never been a big cat though.


'She is partial to the odd takeaway. We sometimes give her a bit of KFC chicken, fish and chips and even the odd bit of kebab meat.'

Jacqui, an accountant, wrote to Guinness World Records in February after Poppy turned 24, submitting her into the category of 'Oldest Cat Currently Living'.

They investigated their claim and have now confirmed Poppy as the world's oldest living cat.



Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor-in-chief, said:  'We've been overwhelmed with claims for the 'oldest living cat', with owners from across the globe making applications on behalf of their cats. 

'Today, though, I'm pleased to confirm that we're recognising Poppy from Bournemouth in the UK as the world's oldest living cat, at the age of 24 years. 

'If anyone thinks their cat beats this, and can prove it, then we'd encourage them to get in touch with us.'


The oldest cat in history was a feline called Creme Puff who lived in Austin, Texas and who survived for an astonishing 38 years and 3 days.

Jacqui added: 'Poppy is definitely the top cat and she is still quite feisty. If one of the other cats tries to eat her food she will bite them on the ear.

'She's deaf and blind and meows for everything. We call her stroppy Poppy sometimes.

'She can get up the stairs but we won't let her walk down. Over the last year her health has gone down and we know the end is near.

'We knew she is old but to be officially recognised is just great. We are all chuffed for her. I think all old cats deserve recognition of their achievement.

'As a family, we are so pleased that she is still with us as well.

'There have been times in this last year when her health has declined and I've thought it was the end on several occasions but then she recovers and carries on. 

'Poppy does seem to be out-living all our other pets too. We unfortunately had a hamster and bunny die on us last year.

'Each time we tell the grandparents we've lost an animal, they all assume its Poppy. I've said goodbye to her a few times but she keeps on going.

'It brought a big smile to my face when I was told that Poppy was officially the world's oldest cat.

That's great,  if the owners are sure she's not in pain.

All the pussies I used to know are dead or dried up!

Phil Didge wrote:

Jock McFlap wrote:
if people want to do that then they will also need to ensure that birth rates plummet

I do not think it is practical except for geniuses who can benefit society, hey have more time to bring forth many aspects that could help society.

To live an extra 20 to 40 years for me is of little benefit, but agree as stated you need to sort out the population rises,

if people live for a thousand years then births would have to be few and far between. We die off for a reason.
Its quality of life that counts, not quantity

Jock McFlap wrote:
if people live for a thousand years then births would have to be few and far between. We die off for a reason.
Its quality of life that counts, not quantity

Did you seriously just write that?
wow
So to you each and every birth in quantity is not a quality of life to each and everyone?
Please explain that gobbledygook?