Scientist Ray Kurzweil claims humans could become immortal in as little as 20 years' time through nanotechnology and an increased understanding of how the body works.

The 61-year-old American, who has predicted new technologies arriving before, says our understanding of genes and computer technology is accelerating at an incredible rate.

He says theoretically, at the rate our understanding is increasing, nanotechnologies capable of replacing many of our vital organs could be available in 20 years time.

Mr Kurzweil adds that although his claims may seem far-fetched, artificial pancreases and neural implants are already available.

Mr Kurzweil calls his theory the Law of Accelerating Returns. Writing in The Sun, Mr Kurzweil said: "I and many other scientists now believe that in around 20 years we will have the means to reprogramme our bodies' stone-age software so we can halt, then reverse, ageing. Then nanotechnology will let us live for ever.

"Ultimately, nanobots will replace blood cells and do their work thousands of times more effectively.

"Within 25 years we will be able to do an Olympic sprint for 15 minutes without taking a breath, or go scuba-diving for four hours without oxygen.

"Heart-attack victims – who haven't taken advantage of widely available bionic hearts – will calmly drive to the doctors for a minor operation as their blood bots keep them alive.

"Nanotechnology will extend our mental capacities to such an extent we will be able to write books within minutes.

"If we want to go into virtual-reality mode, nanobots will shut down brain signals and take us wherever we want to go. Virtual sex will become commonplace. And in our daily lives, hologram like figures will pop in our brain to explain what is happening.

"So we can look forward to a world where humans become cyborgs, with artificial limbs and organs."

Immortality only 20 years away says scientist - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6217676/Immortality-only-20-years-away-says-scientist.html)

think there might be a few ethical questions about that?

think there might be a few ethical questions about that?Like most readers, I say, "To hell with ethics, where do I sign up?"

The point being it is "pie in the sky" just like the concept of cryogenics to revive dead people at that point in the [indeterminate] future when medical knowledge will have progressed enough to make regeneration feasible. This guy's prediction of 20 years is as fantastic as the flying cars for every household which were predicted "within 20 years" back in the popular science magazines issued in the decade before WWII.

(Fantastic is derived from "fantasy")

Like most readers, I say, "To hell with ethics, where do I sign up?"


I don't because I'm still young enough to feel immortal... on most days anyway. ;)

The point being it is "pie in the sky" just like the concept of cryogenics to revive dead people at that point in the [indeterminate] future when medical knowledge will have progressed enough to make regeneration feasible. This guy's prediction of 20 years is as fantastic as the flying cars for every household which were predicted "within 20 years" back in the popular science magazines issued in the decade before WWII.
The technology for flying cars exists today, so that part of the prediction is accurate, but there are other practical issues at work that keep our cars on the ground. While I also question the prediction of immortality within 20 years, I don't necessarily discount it on technical grounds. Forget about ethical issues; it's a matter of practicality, and where to put (and how to feed, etc.) all of the people who keep getting born but never die.

(Fantastic is derived from "fantasy")
No, it's not, although the two words do share a distant root.

Yep - fantastic and fantasy share the same roots - words meaning "not real"
etymology
fantastic (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fantastic) http://www.etymonline.com/graphics/dictionary.gif (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fantastic)c.1387, "existing only in imagination," from O.Fr. fantastique, from L.L. phantasticus "imaginary," from Gk. phantastikos "able to imagine," from phantazein "make visible" (middle voice phantazesthai "picture to oneself"); see fantasy (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fantasy). Trivial sense of "wonderful, marvelous" first recorded 1938.
fantasy (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fantasy) http://www.etymonline.com/graphics/dictionary.gif (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fantasy)c.1325, "illusory appearance," from O.Fr. fantasie, from L. phantasia, from Gk. phantasia "appearance, image, perception, imagination," from phantazesthai "picture to oneself," from phantos "visible," from phainesthai "appear," in late Gk. "to imagine, have visions," related to phaos, phos "light," phainein "to show, to bring to light" (see phantasm (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=phantasm)). Sense of "whimsical notion, illusion" is pre-1400, followed by that of "imagination," which is first attested 1539. Sense of "day-dream based on desires" is from 1926, as is fantasize.

The technology for flying cars exists today, so that part of the prediction is accurate, but there are other practical issues at work that keep our cars on the ground. While I also question the prediction of immortality within 20 years, I don't necessarily discount it on technical grounds. Forget about ethical issues; it's a matter of practicality, and where to put (and how to feed, etc.) all of the people who keep getting born but never die.I'd volunteer to make way for the next generation to eat. Can you imagine how cranky I might get if I had too many years at this game?? Well, maybe you can't because you don't work with me. Well, as much as I would like to be free of infirmity...let's free me of about 65 pounds while we're at it...I definitely do NOT want to live forever.

Scientist Ray Kurzweil claims humans could become immortal in as little as 20 years' time through nanotechnology and an increased understanding of how the body works.

Yeah...but the earth will be dead from too much carbon dioxide in 19 years...so they say.:rolleyes:

From a very personal perspective (and I say this with deep respect to everyone), I believe that the Creator has way before made plans for inmortality for the human kind. I don't think we have to reinvent the wheel.

Good news, you can be immortal. Bad news is you cant retire and will suffer from Dementia, Alzheimers and ED.

I heard they tried this one before using the "ATKHATKM" approach, and it didn't work out....:tg:

Unfortunately, due to the world population increase, you will be hunted down and killed on your 30th birthday, unless you run!
That could be a film script! :notme:

On the other hand, mad cow disease showed the risk of Soylent Green....:tg:

Sheesh Ray K, 20 years, eh? And you're 61? Considering that US life expectancy is 80 years this must suck prickly pears. :lol:

Friends,

Healthcare problem resolved! :applause:

Stijloor

Sheesh Ray K, 20 years, eh? And you're 61? Considering that US life expectancy is 80 years this must suck prickly pears. :lol:

Actually, life expectancy for a male 61 years old is about 20 years (it changes as one gets older), so he's got a good chance. :tg:

Friends,

Healthcare problem resolved! :applause:

Stijloor
Actually, it's health care problem compounded. "Immortal" doesn't mean "never sick."

"Immortal" doesn't mean "never sick."

Yeah, it means staying past your welcome...and probably drinking up all of the beer, too.:tg:

Immortality, no way! I would get so bored, besides, there will always be something that doesn't quite keep up. Have you seen the film 'Death Becomes Her'?

Inmortality = no retirement. :(

No retirement = always work! :mg:

Immortality only 20 years away? I think that sounds a wee bit optimistic. Not that I would mind a few years extra (who would?). I like being here, and I will not leave quietly - kicking and screaming is more likely. However, I am not particularly afraid of death as such. I find the thought of the transition between life and death a much scarier subject.The technology for flying cars exists today, so that part of the prediction is accurateTrue, but they are not exactly widespread, are they? :cool:

Can you imagine how cranky I might get if I had too many years at this game??:lmao: I can see it now... a world populated almost exclusively by cranky old geezers, and I'll be one of them. Oooooh dear :rolleyes:

Actually, it's health care problem compounded. "Immortal" doesn't mean "never sick."Aye, there's the rub... I would need to reach at least 150 in order to have the time to do a reasonable portion of the things I want to do, but if the top floor gets disconnected... ...I will not be doing them anyway.

No retirement = always work! Yes, that would complicate matters...

/Claes