How the Coronavirus Pandemic may Influence our Views on Space Exploration and Longevity Technology.
The Coronavirus pandemic, arguably one of the most devastating plagues since the Black Death, has forced us to ask some important questions, questions, as regards our humanity, hygiene, and collective responsibility as a species have been asked, but are we asking the right questions? If we survive this pandemic, what next? Do we sit on our hands and wait for the next pandemic to strike before we get to work? How do we ensure that an outbreak of this magnitude never happens again? And most importantly, if such a pandemic does happen again and it spirals out of control, how do we ensure the survival of and perpetuity of the human race?
This might sound like a sci-fi movie gone bad, and the thought of a plague wiping out mankind might seem quite absurd, but think again! Science and history have repeatedly proven a simple theory; “the larger the population density of a certain area, the higher the rate of transmission of communicable diseases.” Population density refers to the number of people per square kilometer of land area. In less nerdy terms, the population density of a particular place is the number of people crammed in its available living area. Therefore, the higher the earth’s population, the higher its population density, and the higher the rate of transmission of communicable diseases.
The earth’s population has more than doubled in the past sixty years, going from over 3 billion in 1960 to about 7.5 billion in 2019 and is estimated to exceed 11 billion by the turn of the century. The implication of this is that as our population rapidly increases, our ability to effectively curb the spread of communicable diseases reduces. Suppose this increase in population continues on its upward trajectory, the chances of realistically curbing outbreaks of airborne diseases in the next eighty years are quite slim. If this happens, what do we do? Where do we turn to? The answer isn’t far-fetched, we look to the stars.
In 1969, after The United States of America put the first man on the moon, the idea of space travel became a reality and our eyes have been on the stars ever since. However, the greatest challenge facing space exploration asides the obvious problem of technological advancement is time. A journey to our closest neighbor, the moon, takes three days; one to Mars takes about seven months and one to Proxima Centauri b, earth’s closest habitable planet will hold you back for about 20 years if you’re traveling at 20% of the speed of light. Do we have that much time? The average life expectancy in the U.S in 2019 was 78.87 years while that of the UK was 82.9 years, while these numbers might seem much to the average man, they amount to next to nothing on the astronomical scale of time. The obvious and only way out of this dilemma is to increase the lifespan of our species.
Have you ever stopped to think of the amazing things we could accomplish if only we had more time on our hands? Any avid fan of history can list off their fingertips, two or three kingdoms that would have avoided decimation, or plans that would have come to fruition only if certain people lived longer. Agreed, there are a fair amount of anti-aging creams that reduce wrinkles, fine lines and give firmer skin, but none of them have any effect on what really matters… the biological aging process. There’s absolutely nothing wrong in looking younger, in the words of a famous English poet “the beautiful, the flair, the elegant is that which pleases us”, but we can only mask aging for so long.
While our lovely creams and lotions give temporary aesthetic value, advancements in bio-science and biotechnology present the only realistic chance of delaying the biological aging process.
Of course, questions about how scientists intend to increase our average lifespan have been asked, and the truth, however disappointing it might sound, is that there is no simple answer to this. Different approaches have been taken and the front-runner appears to be Stem cell implants.
Stem cells are a unique group of cells that are capable of not only morphing into specialized cells but also replacing damaged specialized cells. What are specialized cells? Specialized cells are distinctive cells that serve peculiar purposes and occur in different organs of living organisms. For example, the specialized cells that occur in the lungs differ significantly from those that are present in kidney tissues. Stem cells that occur in different organs also differ with respect to their specialized cells. Stem cells occur in large quantities in children, teenagers, and young adults but begin a gradual decline as aging occurs and this, in turn, causes an observable decline in muscle and tissue function.
One of such observable and relatable declines in tissue function is balding. As men age, the number of stem cells present in their hair follicles reduces, thus, the damaged hair follicles have no means of repair and this finally leads to balding. Stem cell Implants in anti-aging treatment aims for the replacement of damaged organs and tissues and also through the replacement of worn-out or depleted stem cells.
Experimental treatments carried out on mice in 2015, involved implanting stem cells that produced fresh neurons in the brain which led to a 10%-15% increase in lifespan. If we intend to send men with longer life spans to explore and establish colonies in the stars, stem cell technology might have an important role to play.
Although not as popular as Stem cell implants, senolytics have tipped as the next big thing in the search for the philosopher’s stone. Senolytics is an aspect of biotechnology that involves the development of molecular drugs that induce the selective destruction of senescent cells, through a highly specialized process is known as apoptosis. What are senescent cells? Cells are said to be senescent when cellular division ceases.
As aging occurs, cells gradually become senescent, losing their ability to continue the cell cycle which is a process of continual division and growth. These cells induce senescence in surrounding cells and they collectively secrete protein-based compounds that cause inflammation and tissue dysfunction. Senescent stem cells also reduce cell regeneration.
Although it is still in its budding stage, senolytics will also be used in treating age-related diseases such as arthritis and Parkinson’s disease. Most senolytics are still in the experimental phase, but some are already being put to use in a way. This might come as a surprise, but quite a number of chemotherapeutic drugs constitute the basic compounds that are re-engineered to produce senolytics. Potential senolytic agents include dasatinib, quercetin, and navitoclax.
In an interview last year, Greg Bailey, CEO of Juvenescence, one of the biotechs investing heavily in longevity technology, confirmed that his company had raised about $165 million within 18 months to fund anti-aging research. AgeX Therapeutics, another biotech, has raised $63.8 million in funds, and Life Bioscience raised $50 million last year alone, which was double its initial target. The longevity industry is growing faster than ever, it is currently valued at $110 billion and is expected to skyrocket to a whopping sum of $610 billion in the next five years. Billionaires are investing like never before in the search for the elixir of life. Longer hours and greater effort are being put into ensuring our perpetuity as a species by increasing the time we have on our hands; time that would inevitably be spent on exploring the world above us.
Amidst the optimism, Anti-ageing technology, like any other groundbreaking research, is faced with a few criticisms and ethical concerns. The greatest concerns of the general public stem from personal beliefs, emotions, religion, and societal standards. The social desirability of life extension cannot be overlooked, while most individuals welcome the idea of having more time to spend with their loved ones, some believe that “more time is too much time”. Age is not the only cause known cause of mortality, so while watching your grandchildren grow into adults, and experiencing giant strides in science and technology might be enjoyable, having to watch those you love die off, one after the other, due to accidents and incurable illnesses might not be as pleasurable.
Some bioethicists have questioned the accessibility of longevity technology. In a world where financial buoyancy still dictates relative access to healthcare, any breakthrough in medicine that isn’t accessible to the common man will further widen the socioeconomic gap. In view of this, Anti-ageing technology would be deemed inconsequential if it only caters to the needs of the wealthy 2%. It would be an all too glaring reminder of the middle ages when nobles lived longer than commoners because they had better living conditions.
Certain religious sects frown upon what they perceive as “tampering with the natural order of things”. These sects revere aging as a divine process, one that shouldn’t be interfered with. The natural resentment towards drastic technological advancements, such as in the middle ages, is considered by some, as an underlying factor for the outright rejection of longevity technology. Not much can be done to bring this group of people into the fold; we can only hope that they join in as soon as they see the benefits of this technology.
Population scientists claim that an increase in the average life expectancy without a corresponding reduction in natality would not only increase, but also accelerate the chances of overpopulation on earth. This implies that if longevity technology becomes a reality, up until we succeed in finding, colonizing, and establishing a second home in the stars, enforcing birth control would be of paramount importance. You might be thinking “why extend our lifespan if it’s only going to cause further problems?” Well, earth’s overpopulation is an unavoidable eventuality, and if we do not take risks to ensure that we never have to deal with the complications of overpopulation while we can, our perpetuity might be jeopardized.
In a world where social distancing and self quarantining would be greater luxuries than they already are, in a world where pandemics like the Bubonic plague and Covid-19 would be more devastating than they already are, the radical decisions we took, the giant discoveries we made, may be all that will stand between our specie and decimation. While we hope for a better future, stay safe, stay at home, and stay hydrated. What are your thoughts on longevity technology and space exploration?
