In Silicon Valley, where there is an app for everything and money to burn, researchers are using science and technology to solve the ultimate challenge - death.
Funded by Google, and other tech titans, a cast of characters with expertise in stem cells, molecular biology and genetics are on a mission to eliminate ageing and ‘cure death’.
National Geographic writer Chip Walter looks at the advances they've made and the implications of their work in his new book, Immortality, Inc.: Renegade Science, Silicon Valley Billions, and the Quest to Live Forever .
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While the idea of immortality appeals to Walter himself, it’s not why he wrote the book.
But does he think it’s possible?
He does now.
“When I first started working on the book I was skeptical, but after spending three and half years researching it and spending a lot of time with the scientists that are featured in the book and the work they’re doing, and frankly the money that’s behind it, I think that they’re going to solve this problem.”
The question Walter says we need to ask is; What do we do when they do solve it?
There’s a much better understanding of molecular science nowadays, he says.
“We’re getting to truely understand why we break down and it’s complex but one thing that happens is that pretty much, when we age, every eight and a half years, your chances of dying double - that’s just the way it is.”
Cells start to break down, and become less effective at solving the problems thrown at them as we get older, he says.
We’re used to people getting older and eventually dying, he says.
“There are certain animals that have been found…that simply don’t age. They do eventually die, eventually everyone will die, but ageing isn’t necessarily absolute in the animal kingdom.”
Some of the scientists Walter spoke to are looking at why this happens for some animals, including a couple of mammals, in order to work out how to harness this for humans.
Chip Walter Photo: Chip Walter
The fish orange roughy, live for 300 years, says Walter. But a fish with very similar DNA, perch, only live for 3 years.
“Clearly there’s something different in their DNA that allows them to live that long,” he says.
“It’s important to mention that when it comes to trying to solve other diseases, one of the things that solving ageing will do is eliminate the emormous number of people who pass away from those other diseases.”
The scientists tasked with working on solving ageing think outside the box, and three of them have won the National Medal of Science or the National Medal of Innovation Technology.
While Google funded company Calico is trying to figure out how and why we age.
In another research area, one of the co-founders of a company called Human Longevity is a surgeon who discovered the power of stem cells from the placenta.
“He realised or discovered that the placenta is loaded with stem cells and those stem cells can be used by anybody without any immune issues.
“Those can be used, and they’re developing the technologies and the pharmaceuticals right now, to recharge maybe a heart or skin or muscles that are atrophying…they reboot the system and give you all new fresh cells and so that part of you feel younger.”
Walter thinks it will be the first wave of advances in this area.
If the scientists are successful, will it only be the super rich who are able to access it?
Walter doesn’t believe so.
“Insurance companies would do quite well if people got better and lived longer…when people are going in and out of the hospital in their last five years as they break down, that’s incredibly expensive…pharmaceutical companies want to reach as many people as they possibly can so I don’t really see them saying ‘We’re going to horde this for a few rich people’.”