Wanna Hibernate?

[HarmNone]

I found this to be an interesting article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4469793.stm

[Hulkein]

Awesome.

How long do you think kids born today are going to be able to live with technology improving like it is?

[HarmNone]

That's a pretty scary thought, Hulkein. We've already got enough problems with the pressure our overpopulation is placing on natural resources as it is. If we come to the point where people are living 100 years or more, on an average, we're going to have to find someplace to put 'em all.

[Hulkein]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

[Atlanteax]

Originally posted by HarmNone
That's a pretty scary thought, Hulkein. We've already got enough problems with the pressure our overpopulation is placing on natural resources as it is. If we come to the point where people are living 100 years or more, on an average, we're going to have to find someplace to put 'em all.

Euthanasia will probably (hopefully) become socially acceptable by then,

Just because you can live to 100, does not mean that the quality of life will be at all good 80-100.

If you're just sitting around with full-blown alheizmers (or some significant physical impairments), it's probably time to pass onto the next life.

[HarmNone]

I think what we're anticipating here, Atlanteax, is the possibility of those with medical conditions that would normally result in death being put into hibernative states for treatment over months, or even years. Also, if the body goes into hibernation, a person who would normally die of COPD or CHF could be saved, since the stress on the heart and lungs would be much less. Now, we have a hibernating person who would, otherwise, be dead. How long will we be able to keep them in hibernation? Until a cure is found, perhaps? Who knows where this could lead?

[Atlanteax]

Originally posted by HarmNone
How long will we be able to keep them in hibernation? Until a cure is found, perhaps? Who knows where this could lead?

NASA will get its "deep space" exploration program going for one.

[HarmNone]

That's certainly one of the possible positive aspects of the application of hibernation for humans. :)

This is what Aids is for

[Vixen]

My gram passed away last year from complications related to.. including.. whatever.. COPD. I don't think I'd want a "locker" full of people just waiting on the off hope that we might eventually find a cure for something. The thought is nice. But its things like that that worry me. I keep thinking eventually man is gonna figure out how to do something that either rebels on us and kicks our ass, or makes humans completely obsolete in general.
I will say the thought of deep space exploration is intriguing, but you know we'd think of something else thats not so great to do with hibernation....

[Snapp]

That's amazing and a bit scary at the same time. As for the over population issue, we're gonna have to end up limiting the number of kids people can have or something.

[Back]

I’d hibernate with Harmnone. Oh wait, that wasn’t an offer?

[HarmNone]

I'll start seeking the proper cave immediately, Backlash. :D

[Back]

Harmnone, you are why men like women!

[HarmNone]

Why, thank ya ever so much, kind sir! Apparently, you're fond of caves? :lol:

[Back]

Sure. As long as there is a fire going. We can write on the walls for fun!

[HarmNone]

It's been done, silly. We'll have to come up with something new to do for fun... :whistle:

[Killer Kitten]

Originally posted by HarmNone
It's been done, silly. We'll have to come up with something new to do for fun... :whistle:

Hmmmm, which brings us back to that population issue...
(Sorry, couldn't resist)

[Artha]

I, for one, can't wait to turn 200.

[Showal]

I think living to extreme ages would eventually just turn into a battle to fight off different cancers, over and over and over. Your cells just replicating and mutating along with more exposures to mutagens and carcinogens would just cause you to break out into another bout of cancer time after time. You could probably live to 200 but you'd probably be put into hybernation to fight off cancer about 30 times during that life span. I think it would suck.

Hybernation might be a help, but I dont think it's a cure all. Besides, humans dont naturally hybernate. I know the hormones and substances used to induce the state are naturally found in our body, but there's most likely some consequence to the human body for being in the state for any prolonged period of time. More research would be needed.

I heard about this article on NPR last night. Made for some very interesting radio, nonetheless.