Immortality:: How Science Is Extending Your Life Span--and Changing The World - Hardcover

Bova, Ben

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0380975181 ISBN 13: 9780380975181

Publisher: William Morrow, 1998

Synopsis

The first immortals are already living among us. You might be one of them.

At first glance, that arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is an astonishing, exciting fact--as explained clearly and cogently by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted the discovery of life on Mars, the space race of the 1960s, solar-powered satellites, the discovery of organic chemicals in interstellar space, virtual reality, the Strategic Defense Initiative, the advent of international peacekeeping forces, the discovery of ice on the Moon, and electronic book publishing Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span--and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life.

Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that cause aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing these processes According to Dr. Bova, if you have a normal life expectancy today, the medical and biological advances that will be achieved over the next ten to twenty years will probably allow you to live long past one hundred The longer you live, the more knowledge scientists will glean, and the further they will be able to extend your life span.

With crystal-clear, utterly accessible prose Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely, perhaps even reversing the effects of aging He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of the greatest challenge--and the most tantalizing opportunity--ever faced by

The first immortals are already living among us. You might be one of them.

At first glance, that arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is an astonishing, exciting fact--as explained clearly and cogently by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted the discovery of life on Mars, the space race of the 1960s, solar-powered satellites, the discovery of organic chemicals in interstellar space, virtual reality, the Strategic Defense Initiative, the advent of international peacekeeping forces, the discovery of ice on the Moon, and electronic book publishing Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span--and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life.

Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that cause aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing these processes According to Dr. Bova, if you have a normal life expectancy today, the medical and biological advances that will be achieved over the next ten to twenty years will probably allow you to live long past one hundred The longer you live, the more knowledge scientists will glean, and the further they will be able to extend your life span.

With crystal-clear, utterly accessible prose Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely, perhaps even reversing the effects of aging He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of the greatest challenge--and the most tantalizing opportunity--ever faced by

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Ben Bova has not only helped to write about the future, he helped create it. The author of more than one hundred futuristic novels and nonfiction books, he has been involved in science and advanced technology since the very beginnings of the space program. President Emeritus of the National Space Society, Dr. Bova is a frequent commentator on radio and television, and a widely popular lecturer. He has also been an award-winning editor and an executive in the aerospace industry.

Reviews

The quest for human immortality is ongoing in science labs around the world, and the possibility is now closer to science fact than fiction, claims Bova, who as a veteran and prolific author of science books (Space Travel, etc.) and SF (Moonwar, etc.) might know. Bova admits that few scientists would agree with that claim but that scientists "are usually not the best predictors of their own futures." Again Bova lives up to his reputation of writing straightforward, understandable prose to explain recent scientific advances. We are entering the fourth era of medicine, he observes, one in which science is working on solving the riddle of aging. He leads readers through a tautological compendium of the mechanics of cellular life and death. Why do certain bacteria and cancer cells apparently live forever, when those trillions that make up the human body are subject to senescence and death? Is aging caused by entropy, the genetic damage that accumulates daily until our genes are unable to repair themselves? Or is it a by-product of the progressive shortening of the telomeres that cap each chromosome? Bova subscribes to the telomeric explanation, believing that the issue may be resolved by selectively injecting telomerase analogs into certain types of cells to prohibit them from aging. Over the decades, many of Bova's scientific predictions have come true: the space race of the 1960s, solar-powered satellites, virtual reality, the discovery of water ice on the moon and even electronic book publishing. The promise of immortality based on scientific advancement is his most ambitious prophecy and, judging from the passion he bestows on it in this routine book about an outlandish subject, his most ardent hope.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

While ostensibly about the coming conquest by science of aging and death, this is actually a lively overview of the exciting work being done in biomedical research today. Prolific science-fiction writer Bova, who has some 90 futuristic books to his credit, bases his claim that some people alive today will achieve immortality on his belief that genetic research is progressing so rapidly that within the next 50 years the key to aging, which lies within the body's cells, will inevitably be unlocked. Taking the reader inside the cell to explain current theories about aging and death, Bova, who is singularly adept at interpreting scientific concepts for nonscientists, gives a short and snappy biology lesson on genes, DNA, and cells. For those wanting more information, back-of-the-book essays on bacteria, DNA, and the genetic code expand on the coverage in the main text. Bova then discusses the use of gene therapy for treating diabetes, sickle-cell anemia, cytic fibrosis, Downs syndrome, and cancer and predicts its techniques will become the tool for extending human life once the human genome has been mapped and all the genes involved in aging identified. While acknowledging that the conquest of death may take a while, he predicts that within a scant five years gene therapy will enable organ regeneration to begin to replace organ transplantation. Bova's knack for clarifying the complex works well when the subject is science. Less engaging is his offhand analysis of the enormous political, social, economic, and moral changes that greatly enhanced life spans or even human immortality could create. Even though the immortality thesis may not be persuasive, the review of microbiology, especially genetic research, is engrossing. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Bova, a renowned science journalist and sf writer, predicts that increased longevity will eventually lead to immortality. He speculates that medical advances achieved over the next ten to 20 years will likely allow human beings to live long past the age of 100. In a clear and nontechnical style, he explains basic scientific concepts such as the aging process, the genetic code, gene therapy, cloning, and molecular engineering. He also considers the social and political consequences of increased longevity. In previous writings, Bova predicted the space race of the 1960s, solar-powered satellites, virtual reality, and electronic book publishing, so it's a safe bet that he's on to something here. Highly recommended for popular science collections in public and college libraries.?Bruce Slutsky, New Jersey Inst. of Technology Lib., Newark
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: William Morrow
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0380975181
• ISBN 13: 9780380975181
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288