Would eating heavy atoms lengthen our lives?

Re:Would eating heavy atoms lengthen our lives? by ars on Saturday November 29, 2008 @09:35PM (#380575)

Normally isotopes don't cause chemical changes, but with hydrogen they do. Deuterium is twice as heavy as hydrogen, so it moves slower, and is less reactive - for some reactions this can make a big difference. With the other isotopes the change in mass isn't anywhere near that.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Would eating heavy atoms lengthen our lives? by dcurtis on Saturday November 29, 2008 @10:01PM (#380587)

This makes sense. But has any human being-- or any animal in nature-- ever ingested deuterium in any significant amount? How can you not know if this will change ever-so-slightly the way DNA transcription takes place, or example?

I just think it's kind of irresponsible for a reporter at a science publication to make cavalier statements about things like this-- "It's completely safe..."-- without having any science to back them up.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Would eating heavy atoms lengthen our lives? by wheels on Sunday November 30, 2008 @12:38AM (#380669)

It seems like you didn't read most of the article. They specifically talked about its effects on lab animals, including rats which had been brought up on heavy water.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Would eating heavy atoms lengthen our lives? by dcurtis on Sunday November 30, 2008 @12:42AM (#380671)

The author never describes the results of those studies.

[ Parent | on HN ]