Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Secular Elation · 08-27-2003, 03:45 PM

The telomerase theory is fascinating. It is still too early to tell if it it can be potential reality or just pie in the sky.

Extending our lives far beyond our normal lifespan would be awesome. But I'm not sure if it would be an entirely good idea. Population would certainly be an issue--fewer people would be dying out, and the planet would become awfully crowded. (Assuming such techology would be available for everyone)

And even if extended lifespan is acheived, the fact is that immortality is, ultimately, impossible regardless of any technology our species can devise. Millions of years from now, the sun will expand (or is it implode? I can't remember) and will take the galaxy down with it. Will humans still be around by then? Would they be able to travel far away to another side of the universe by then? After a millions years, though, it may be true that evolution would advance our current species to something that can no longer be called homo sapien.

Bible Humper · 08-27-2003, 04:38 PM

Some good points, SE,

Quote:

Extending our lives far beyond our normal lifespan would be awesome. But I'm not sure if it would be an entirely good idea. Population would certainly be an issue--fewer people would be dying out, and the planet would become awfully crowded. (Assuming such techology would be available for everyone)

Yeah, I'm not too confident that our leadership would have the balls to implement the STRICT population control measures that would be needed immediately.

I could see the price being kept artificially high so that only the rich could use it.

Quote:

And even if extended lifespan is acheived, the fact is that immortality is, ultimately, impossible regardless of any technology our species can devise. Millions of years from now, the sun will expand (or is it implode? I can't remember) and will take the galaxy down with it. Will humans still be around by then? Would they be able to travel far away to another side of the universe by then? After a millions years, though, it may be true that evolution would advance our current species to something that can no longer be called homo sapien.

I don't think that would be a problem for us, I'm sure that in that amount of time, the odds of anyone not dying for any reason not related to age before the sun went nova is extremely low. We're all gonna die no matter what we do, sooner or later.

Vandrare · 08-27-2003, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Yeah, I'm not too confident that our leadership would have the balls to implement the STRICT population control measures that would be needed immediately.

hmmm.... very long life spans, and few children. thats going to make for one heluva slow evolutionary train!!

xorbie · 08-27-2003, 06:51 PM

Good point. But quite franky I see evolution leading to more fundies who don't believe in (oh the irony) and less intelligent people. Maybe we should market the drug (or whatever) as "Evolution potion." Who else would take it but scientists and other, at least somewhat, rational people?

Kip · 08-27-2003, 06:52 PM

To quote Ben Bova:

"The first immortal human beings are living among us today. You might be one of them."

Gothic_J · 08-28-2003, 02:40 AM

christ, if we're going to be immortal, we are freaking getting off the planet.

no possible way of having 30 billion people who *wont* die on one planet.

now, on 4 planets and an astroied belt - thats a lot more likely.

oh, and I believe this generation will be immortal. in all seriousness.

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08-27-2003, 03:45 PM	#11
Secular Elation Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: California Posts: 6,196	The telomerase theory is fascinating. It is still too early to tell if it it can be potential reality or just pie in the sky. Extending our lives far beyond our normal lifespan would be awesome. But I'm not sure if it would be an entirely good idea. Population would certainly be an issue--fewer people would be dying out, and the planet would become awfully crowded. (Assuming such techology would be available for everyone) And even if extended lifespan is acheived, the fact is that immortality is, ultimately, impossible regardless of any technology our species can devise. Millions of years from now, the sun will expand (or is it implode? I can't remember) and will take the galaxy down with it. Will humans still be around by then? Would they be able to travel far away to another side of the universe by then? After a millions years, though, it may be true that evolution would advance our current species to something that can no longer be called homo sapien.

08-27-2003, 06:51 PM	#14
xorbie Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Champaign, IL or Boston, MA Posts: 6,360	Good point. But quite franky I see evolution leading to more fundies who don't believe in (oh the irony) and less intelligent people. Maybe we should market the drug (or whatever) as "Evolution potion." Who else would take it but scientists and other, at least somewhat, rational people?

08-27-2003, 06:52 PM	#15
Kip Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: not so required Posts: 228	To quote Ben Bova: "The first immortal human beings are living among us today. You might be one of them."

08-28-2003, 02:40 AM	#16
Gothic_J Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New England Posts: 1,290	christ, if we're going to be immortal, we are freaking getting off the planet. no possible way of having 30 billion people who wont die on one planet. now, on 4 planets and an astroied belt - thats a lot more likely. oh, and I believe this generation will be immortal. in all seriousness.

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