News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Google announces Calico, a new company that will focus on... by anigbrowl on Wednesday September 18, 2013 @04:59PM (#6408099)
To me the (potential) benefit is not life extension but healthier lives.
Re:Google announces Calico, a new company that will focus on... by jclos on Thursday September 19, 2013 @12:31PM (#6412666)
I agree. The goal should be to achieve the best compromise between quality and length. Pushing from 80 to 130 is good and all, but I would prefer the research to be focused on preserving youthfulness rather than life in and for itself, i.e. I would rather die a young 80 year old than a decrepit 130 year old walking corpse. Of course, even better would be to die a young 130 y.o., or not die at all.
Re:Google announces Calico, a new company that will focus on... by PeterisP on Thursday September 19, 2013 @04:59PM (#6414262)
Well, but that's exactly what anti-aging research is about. If you learn how to fix heart disease or cure cancer or cure Alzheimers, then anyway afterwards you are a frail, decrepit person with a couple more years to live; but if you delay or fix the actual aging issues, then it prolongs the time that you are healthy and well-functioning.

Take a look at, for example, http://youtu.be/qMAwnA5WvLc (TEDx, Aubrey de Grey) linked in another thread.