Scientists have been able to d age cells in living organisms. There are mice that go blind from aging, and we can manipulate their genes so that they can see again. We're close enough to a benjamin button situation that philosophers are now publishing books about the morality of extending the human life. If you dunk individual cells in this particular cocktail of proteins, you can make those cells not just stop aging, you can making them younger. And we, of course, are made entirely of cells.
This week, we return to one of our favourite episodes, to ask the question: what does it mean to defy death? Rock climber Leo Houlding tells us about his terrifying family holidays, scaling vertical cliff-faces with his two young kids. We also explore radical life extension with science writer Anjana Ahuja. How close are we scientifically to extending the human lifespan to 150 or 200? What are the implications when we get there? And do we really want to live forever?
Links from the episode:
— Leo Houlding’s extreme family holiday in Wyoming’s wild west: https://www.ft.com/content/0bcba30a-bb46-4bc1-8a7d-9166dc43a5e8
— Anjana Ahuja on whether we can live forever: https://www.ft.com/content/60d9271c-ae0a-4d44-8b11-956cd2e484a9
— Inside the life extension market, with Tiffanie Darke: https://www.ft.com/content/867e647b-c0e8-4aeb-9777-fedff7ec3476
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Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner, with original music by Metaphor music.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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