Imagine in a distant future, Mark Zuckerberg's 3000 year old head sits atop a healthy young body. Every 20 years he demands a new body donor from the populace as a tribute.
The movie 'In Time' (2011) has a nice view on this subject. Only the rich will be able to live forever but some of them discover they get tired of living.
I'm not sure living forever in this world will be that much fun.
I am not sure about immortality, but I think the final victory against hostis humani generis, the enemy of mankind, Plasmodium falciparum aka malaria, is within our grasp. This would be a trenemdnous boon to the humanity worthy of the Nobel Prize and more.
Death due to honeybees mutated with Box Jellyfish venom.
"the venom causes cells to become porous enough to allow potassium leakage, causing hyperkalemia which can lead to cardiovascular collapse and death as quickly as within two to five minutes"
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Perhaps I'm just too optimistic for the times, but I believe immortality is within our grasp.
Could be done with head transplant: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530103.700-first-hum...
Imagine in a distant future, Mark Zuckerberg's 3000 year old head sits atop a healthy young body. Every 20 years he demands a new body donor from the populace as a tribute.
He'll choose from a catalogue known as "Headbook."
The movie 'In Time' (2011) has a nice view on this subject. Only the rich will be able to live forever but some of them discover they get tired of living.
I'm not sure living forever in this world will be that much fun.
Extreme sports will be more fun though! (Living forever doesn't mean not dying, just raising the bar)
The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect [1] is a fascinating take on immortality (for everyone in this case) as a curse.
[1] http://localroger.com/prime-intellect/
Content warning: TMoPI is hideously graphic at times, and the ending contains an explicit description of father/daughter incest.
Watch the series "Dollhouse" for a similar topic. Bonus: It's by Joss Whedon, so you should watch it anyway! ;-)
And so the social games begin.
I am not sure about immortality, but I think the final victory against hostis humani generis, the enemy of mankind, Plasmodium falciparum aka malaria, is within our grasp. This would be a trenemdnous boon to the humanity worthy of the Nobel Prize and more.
According to Neal Stephenson, the most badass adversary humankind has faces is influenza.
I tend to nod in agreement, smiling wryly.
Well not immortality but really really good cyclists for the Tour de France.
"Immortality within our grasp"?
The world is fundamentally evil. 160 million dead via war in the 20th century alone.
Optimism in this matter is incredibly naive.
Immortality from death due to biological breakdown.
Death due to honeybees mutated with Box Jellyfish venom.
"the venom causes cells to become porous enough to allow potassium leakage, causing hyperkalemia which can lead to cardiovascular collapse and death as quickly as within two to five minutes"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironex_fleckeri
For each malady you bring up, the genome can be hardened against. Humanity has enough time to iterate ;)
Don't you mean pessimistic?