Paging Ponce de Leon: Some Scientists Think We Could Live Forever by the 2030s
While theoretical, proponents of ‘Longevity Escape Velocity’ argue that rapid progress in aging research makes a modern-day fountain of youth plausible within a few decades.
In recent years, the concept of “Longevity Escape Velocity” has captivated both enthusiasts seeking eternal youth and investors looking for groundbreaking opportunities.
The term draws inspiration from “escape velocity,” a principle in physics where an object must reach a certain speed to break free from a planet’s gravitational pull.
Similarly, longevity escape velocity proposes that, in the near future, scientific advancements might allow humans to surpass the limitations of aging and potentially live forever.
The idea is that as we improve our ability to rejuvenate cells and counteract aging, people could theoretically extend their life expectancy faster than time passes, thus approaching a state of near-immortality.
While LEV remains theoretical, its proponents argue that rapid progress in aging research makes it plausible within a few decades. By enhancing cellular rejuvenation, we could significantly improve life quality and longevity.
Harvard geneticist George Church has speculated that this milestone could be reached within the lifetime of current generations, Insider reports.
Similarly, the head of strategy at the Longevity Vision Fund, Sourav Sinha, indicated during a recent panel in New York that achieving LEV might be possible within a couple of decades, provided adequate investment in research and technology.
A prominent figure in longevity research Aubrey de Grey, one of the term’s originators, predicts that LEV could be achieved as early as the 2030s.
“Everyone knows aging is bad, everyone says it’s bad, but nobody does anything about it,” Mr. de Grey said in a release when his new declaration was announced in early October. “Like bad weather – people are stuck in the assumption that nothing can be done, even if we try. We wanted to put that assumption to rest.”
Futurist Ray Kurzweil posits an even earlier timeline, suggesting LEV might become a reality by 2028 or 2029. However, these projections face significant regulatory and scientific hurdles, as no anti-aging treatments have been approved to date.
