Should Human Life Be Extended Into
Centuries Rather Than Decades?

Paleontologist and Famed Attorney Addresses Whether
It’s a Curse or a Blessing


The average life expectancy has been increasing, but Is there a limit on just how long humans can live?
Scientists appear split on the question. A recent study capped the potential age for people at 115, even though a few outliers have lived beyond that point. Other scientists, though, aren’t convinced that there is a ceiling on how long we could live.
But even if we can extend the human life span into centuries rather than decades, that might not be as wonderful as we would imagine, says Robert Buettner, scientist, attorney, former U.S. Army intelligence officer and acclaimed science fiction writer (www.robertbuettner.com).
“The first person who will live to be 1,000 may already be alive today,” he says. “That may sound exciting, but as a society we’re not really prepared to deal with that.”
Buettner explores longevity and its ramifications in his latest novel, The Golden Gate. Among the questions the human race would need to deal with: Where would we put all those people? Could we feed everyone? What about jobs? If we can live forever, does the afterlife that many religions promise become meaningless?
Buettner can share with your listeners some of the research about longevity and the implications for all of us.