Achieving immortality has remained one of the most challenging feats humans are yet to attain. But looking at the technologies of today and comparing it with human technological advancement a century ago, you will realize that we are heading towards the future where today’s impossibilities will be made possible. Death of loved ones has continued to cause sorrow to people. But how can we achieve immortality? To answer this question, scientists have conducted several advanced studies and made new discoveries. The following technologies may move us closer to becoming immortals in the future.
1. Nanobots technologies.
After American physicist laureate Richard Feynman came up with the idea of nanotechnology in 1959, scientists have been working tirelessly to see how they can improve life on earth with this futuristic technology. But are we close to using nanobots to fight complicated health issues and extend life on Earth? The future of nanobots is already looking promising with today’s technologies.
In fact, scientists predicted that humans may likely have nanobots running in their blood stream to advance blood stream replacement in the 2030s. Scientists also estimated that the nanobots will possess advanced abilities to repair body tissue and counter complicated health issue. Nanobots will also have the ability of attacking cancer cells directly. If we can eliminate some complicated health challenges using self-replicating nanobots, we could prolong the life of humans in the future. The assistance of nanobots in resolving complicated health challenges will make our astronauts to feel stronger in deep space and continue to advance their research among the stars.
2. Anti-Aging Genetic Engineering.
The idea of using generating engineering to manipulate and modify an organism’s genes with the aid of technology has been in practice since 1970s. However, this futuristic idea will continue to get better over time. If we hope to achieve immortality through genetic engineering, we must figure out how to achieve anti-aging and improve our overall wellbeing. As we grow old, our immunity systems often lack the ability to fight diseases.
Hence, we will become exposed to complicated diseases that may lead to death. Scientists are attempting to come up with creative means of reversing aging and make us stay young forever. Many experts have worked on this idea. However, a recently published study by Wang and his team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing moved humanity closer to answering the question of achieving immortality through gene modification.
The team of scientists closely studied genes that are more likely to affect cellular senescence. Wang and colleagues analyzed DNA from human cells that regulates aging with the aid of gene-editing tool known as CRISPR. They primary goal for conducting this study is to discover genes whose deficiency can help relieve cellular senescence.
With the aid of the CRISPR, Wang and his team were able to delete small bits of DNA to discover genes affecting aging. In the future, scientists will improve the way we use gene editing to achieve immortality. In fact, some drugs have been created for anti-aging. But we are looking forward to improving this technology before humans become permanent residence on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
3. Digital Immortality.
Scientists are fascinated with the idea of human becoming cybernetically immortals in the future. When can achieve this by uploading copies of ourselves as robotic avatars in the sophisticated future computer. Becoming digital immortals implies that humans will have the ability of installing their digital copies into robotic bodies and live forever in the artificial body. When any part of the robotic body tends to wear off, we can replace them and continue to live.
But how close are we to attaining such a milestone? Many scientists have made predictions about when humanity will achieve mind uploading in the future. Ray Kurzweil, who serves as a director of engineering at Google, has also predicted that humans will possess the technological capabilities to “upload” their brains to computers and become digital immortals by 2045.
A Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Itskov established the 2045 Initiative in 2011 with the common goal of researching about Robotic avatars. With the effort put in place, humanity will achieve digital immortality before the end of this century. Imagine where digital copies of our astronauts are exploring the deep space in search of new discoveries for humanity. We will progress technologically and set a new milestone for mankind.
4. 3D Printing Organs.
3D printing technology will surely revolutionize almost every industry in the future. After 3D printing was first introduced in the 1980s, scientists have played significant role in improving the technology over the years. This fascinating future technology can be used in almost every industry including manufacturing, construction, health and many others. Scientists are already researching how use 3D printing technology to print human organs such as heart, liver and others.
A team of scientists based in UK have succeeded in using the technology to print replacement corneas. The world is fascinated with the progress made so far in using the technology to print human organs. Decades to come, we may be using this technology to print heart, liver, kidney and other human organs both on Earth and in another planetary surface. In fact, the technology will likely be used more often in distant planetary world like Mars. One thing is certain, 3D technology will surely revolutionize body organ replacement in the future.
5. Molecular Manipulation.
The idea of using molecular manipulation to prolong life on Earth inspired some scientists to conduct fascinating experiments using worms. During the experiment, the scientists manipulated the molecules that affect nutrient signals of some worms. The experiment was recorded as a great success as it prolonged the lifespan of these worms.
Scientists revealed that implement such an experiment on humans can make us life up to 500 years. How close are we to replicating this idea on humans? Scientists are currently researching on the field of molecular manipulation to see how humanity can benefit from it in the future. No matter how long it takes, scientists are confidence that molecular manipulation may become possible in the future.
6. Cloning Organs.
Organ cloning can extend our life and make us live much longer in the future. The technology has been around for sometimes now. In November 1998, Advanced Cell Technology created the first hybrid human clone using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Scientists have used today’s technology to grow human body parts such as bone, ear, skin and others using organ cloning technology. In the future when humanity must have mastered how to use these organs effectively, we may use it to make immortality possible.
7. Longevity Genes.
For years, scientists have been researching on identifying Longevity genes that could extend the human lifespan above 100 years. After years of research, a recent study finally discovered some gene variations. Some scientists reveal that we can improve our knowledge on longevity genes in the future to extend the human life up to 25 percent more.
8. Longevity Pills.
Scientists have also explored the possibilities of human prolonging life up to 15% using longevity pills. A Pharmaceutical startup called Elysium is working on creating longevity pills which will likely slow down the aging process. Fountain Therapeutics Inc is another company working on the development of these longevity pills. Although these pharmaceutical companies are yet to begin with human trial of these pills, we are certain that they would help in prolonging life in the future.
9. Metamaterial Bionics.
Metamaterials are artificially modified materials designed to give humans extra abilities that could not be obtained naturally. This implies that metamaterials could make us become superhumans in the future. They can be used to improving existing body organs or create artificial ones to improve our strength and prolong our life.
How close are we to bringing this technology to a reality? Scientists are currently researching on how to use metamaterials to change defective human cochleas. However, researchers will improve their knowledge on the usage of this futuristic technology and use it to improve the lifespan of humans both on Earth and in deep space.
10. Immortality Via Cryonics.
Cryonics is one of the most futuristic technology that have continued to fascinate our scientists. The idea of cryonics revolves around conserving human bodies in a cold chamber and awakes them in the future. The practice of Cryonics has been around for quite sometimes now.
On January 12, 1967, James Hiram Bedford, a former psychology professor at the University of California-Berkeley became the first human to be cryonically preserved. Bedford is frozen indefinitely hoping that future technologies will revive him back some day. People preserved cryonically are frozen at a temperature of -250 degrees and covered in an aluminum foil. Scientists are yet to discover how to relieve cryonically preserved bodies.
But people undergoing the process are hopeful that future civilization will surely invent technologies that will make it possible for them to live again in the future. Currently, about 250 Americans have accepted to undergo this method. One day, humanity will be able to use this technology to extend lifespan of humans in the future. If we figure out how to cryonically relieve the human body, future deep space explorers will deploy this technology to reach distant space worlds that may take centuries to arrive.
Conclusion
Humanity have been fascinated with attaining immortality through the aid of technology. The good news is that many scientists are working to ensure that we achieve some of dreams of becoming immortals before the end of this century. Who knows, humans may have the option of living forever in the future. What do you think about humanity making immortality possible in the near future?
