If everything they prophesy comes true, in 20 years, I won't need a car. I might have a regular bicycle or maybe 1 that can fly. I'll be able to run for as long as I like without getting tired. Nanites will do the hard work for me.

I love the dreams I get from Ted.com. The idea that I might someday run around the world with my friends is very appealing. One of my favourite ideas is the notion of never growing old. Tír na nÓg as it's known here in Ireland. I've been harping on about it for weeks now, and it seems the idea is gathering momentum.

If you consider ageing to be a form of cell damage you can fix, then it's possible to halt and even reverse the process. Start off by fixing half the easy to repair damage and leave the other (half hard to repair damage) for later, when the technology improves.

If this is done when you're 40, then you get 20 years back, making your body 20 years old. 20 years later, you celebrate your 60th birthday. Technology has improved and can now treat some of the hard type damage, in addition to the easy damage it fixed on your 40th birthday.

100% of the damage is 50% easy, 50% hard to fix. Both damage types rack up at the same rate.

40th Birthday fixes 50% easy damage, 0% hard damage. Ageing damage of 40 years is repaired at 50% efficacy.

New biological age comes to 20 years (fixing 100% damage would set your biological age back to 0)

60th Birthday fixes 25% easy damage, 41% hard damage. Ageing damage of 60 years is repaired at 66% efficacy.

New biological age comes to 20 years.

80th Birthday fixes 12% easy damage, 63% hard damage. Ageing damage of 80 years is repaired at 75% efficacy.

New biological age comes to 20 years.

As you can see in each case, the new biological age of your body comes back to 20 years each time. In the interim periods, technology improves and gets better at fixing problems as they arise.

Added to this are Nanites that can allow you to hold your breath underwater for up to 4 hours. Brave new world doesn't even come close. Imagine yourself as a grand patriarch/matriarch, sitting at a table on Christmas Day where 8 generations come to eat dinner together, all apparently the same age in appearance, but some being much older than others. Your friends and family haven't aged at all, nor have you. You might look like your in your mid to late thirties at worst,

Imagine yourself on a huge spacecraft on its way to distant galaxies. You're not ageing anymore, so there's plenty of time to travel. On the way, you can learn just about everything. There's even time to finish World of Warcraft!

Tags: Time, ageing, birthday, brave new world, future, nanites, repair, technology

0 members like this

Comment

You need to be a member of Geeks to add comments!

Join Geeks

Comment by Shtanto on April 25, 2010 at 6:05pm: I found an article about possible downsides to immortality over at io9.com. Plenty of good points raised.

Comment by cliffystones on April 16, 2010 at 7:47am: A character in Robert Heinlein's stories, Lazarus Long, was asked how he had managed to live so long. His reply went something like "I dunno, I guess it's because I always wanted to see what was going to happen next".

The down side of immortality is dealt with very well in Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars Trilogy". The problems with the "longevity treatments" involving overpopulation, who does and does not get the treatments, etc. are thoughtfully addressed in the story and characters.

On my 30th birthday, I had never spent a day in a hospital. By my 31st birthday, I had had 3 rounds of chemo, 2 rounds of radiation, and 6 hours + on the operating table. I've been blessed with every day of my life since. Personally, I would like to see what's going to happen next. And maybe use the wisdom of my years and experiences combined with new found youth to make a difference in the world. If the creator allows it, I'll stick around indefinitely. But when he decides he needs me for other things, well...............

Comment by Lee (Robzilla) Naramore on April 15, 2010 at 11:09am: I do not want to be here anylonger than I have to. I want my mansion, crown, a peace with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Comment by Shtanto on April 14, 2010 at 3:29pm: Great comments everyone!

As for where you'd put everyone, there's always space on other planets. Imagine the adventures! Yes, problems will arise such as space and politics, but there'll always be solutions.

At the moment, the only reason we stop ageing is because it always gets to a stage where it becomes pathological (it kills us). If ageing is cured, we'll all stop ageing before it kills us, leveling off somewhere between 20 and 40 years biological.

Fair enough, some people won't want it. No problemo, It's a choice. Every 20 years, you get to choose another 20 years or cash in your chips, so to speak.

Comment by twister7boy on April 14, 2010 at 2:24am: i would love for everybody to stay young and be with their friends and family and the new ones to come.
after some thought will there be enough room for everybody as well as how much of the earth could take on all its resources with more people living longer then planed by nature.
just wondering.
peace. gregg

Comment by YOGESH PAWAR on April 14, 2010 at 1:20am: if someone follows a joint family system like here in INDIA then you may find 3-4 generations sitting together, i love your plot of discussion, this reminds me of my childhood when mostly the scientist used to talk something like this

RSS

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service