Speaking of aging, Nature has an article on the topic at its web site, The times of our lives, which looks at current theories about aging.
A good article, for the most part, until the last couple paragraphs which detail why we might not get to immortality as quickly as we’d like — politics.
Most human beings are not so blessed. According to figures from the World Health Organization, people born today in Sierra Leone will be lucky to reach their 40th birthday. Life expectancy in Africa and countries such as Russia are declining for a variety of reasons, ranging from AIDS to economic hardship. The leading cause of death among young black men in the United States is gunshot wounds.
One might argue that before we seek to find ways to increase the maximum possible human life span from Jeanne Calment’s current record of 122 years, we should ensure that more people get the chance to enjoy even that allotted span.
I’m not quite sure how stopping basic research into aging would keep black men in urban areas from killing each other in such large numbers nor how biologists, or anybody for that matter, will be able to stop the real scourge that plagues Africa: non-responsive, corrupt regimes (how can South Africa stop its AIDS problem when its president recently denied outright that HIV causes AIDS).
Fortunately there is a huge profit to be made from any breakthrough that might extend longevity, so I’m confident research will continue.