Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have been caught on a hot mic talking about the potential of medicine to extend human life spans and "perhaps even achieve immortality".

In short:

A live-stream broadcast of China’s military parade has captured Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin discussing biotechnology’s potential to extend life.

An interpreter translating Mr Putin can be heard saying in Mandarin that human organ transplants could let “us live younger and younger, and perhaps even achieve immortality”.

Mr Xi responded that it may be possible for people to live to 150 years this century.

  • GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    18 hours ago

    There is a difference between maximum age and life expectancy, just as there is a difference between life expectancy at different ages. The life expectancy at 25 in Roman times was about 70 years old. All of our advances have added about 10% to a person’s life span after they got past childhood diseases, the recklessness of youth, and serving in the military in the case of Romans. And I’m not entirely sure of the relevance of a genocide in Israel to Xi’s prospects.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 hours ago

      The life expectancy at 25 in Roman times was about 70 years old.

      Maybe for a Senator or other member of the patrician class.

      But even in the last century, we’ve seen more movement than what you’re describing.

      in the early 20th century (around 1900-1902), a 25-year-old could expect to live approximately 39 to 40 more years, reaching around age 64-65. By 2017, a 25-year-old could expect to live about 55 more years, reaching roughly age 80.

      So, closer to 20%

      of our advances have added about 10% to a person’s life span after they got past childhood diseases, the recklessness of youth, and serving in the military in the case of Romans.

      The vast majority of these advanced have occurred in the last 70 years. The intervening 2500 has been relatively flat.

      And I’m not entirely sure of the relevance of a genocide in Israel to Xi’s prospects.

      Mostly just a comparison of wealth and technology.