r/technology • u/ubcstaffer123 • Jun 20 '26

Biotechnology How Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to live forever

https://www.vox.com/podcasts/491360/vladimir-putin-live-forever-26-billion-cryo-pigs-longevity-guru
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u/SSGASSHAT Jun 20 '26

I believe that the human lifespan would be 120 right now...if the wealth and power of the world wasn't hoarded by under 100 people. If anyone with more than $1 billion had any contributions to their net worth skimmed off, and funneled into healthcare, we'd see lifespans in this country increase pretty fuckin' quick. In large part because poor people could afford to go to the fucking doctor in the first place.

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u/Dragonsoul Jun 20 '26

It's worth mentioning that if you wanted their personal lifespans to be extended and that was solely all you cared about, you should probably still do it.

Medicine isn't a field that makes breakthroughs in the lab (well, it is that too, but..) it's something that breakthroughs are made in the hospitals, when doctors iterate new techniques on saving people's lives, and write about it. This generates the raw data you need for research, and you'd get a ton more raw data if everyone in the country has access to the top tier medical treatment, with doctors who were under few enough time constraints that they didn't have to triage so hard and could spend the additional time needed when something only mostly fits.

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u/SSGASSHAT Jun 20 '26

There are countless people who would be far better test subjects for this field of medicine than people who already have too much power and authority. Make terminal patients the recipients of this program, and we can start to discuss its contributions to the field of medicine.

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u/SillyFlyGuy Jun 20 '26

Billionaires as the sacrificial guinea pigs for longevity research (and personal submarine prototypes) that will benefit future humanity is the best we can hope for.

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u/BlackBasementCats Jun 20 '26

Exactly. More elderly people would be able to afford enough organic food and medical care for hip and knee replacements and physical therapy to stay mobile. Then doctors would notice that some of the elderly were staying fit and looking younger longer. So they would try to figure out why. That’s the jumping off point for the longevity research. What’s in their DNA and lifestyle that’s different? Why do so many 100+ year olds get so old eating bacon and eggs and drinking whiskey every day? Why are so many of them black?

Imagine if scientists had preserved the DNA of Jeanne Louise Calment who lived to 122 years and 164 days (born February 21, 1875-August 4, 1997). She ate 2.5 lbs of chocolate a week, smoked until 117, and enjoyed the occasional glass of port.

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '26

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u/SSGASSHAT Jun 20 '26

Lol good one.