Venki Ramakrishnan, a Nobel prize winner and former president of the Royal Society, has warned against the premature commercialization of ideas related to extending human lifespans. He believes that the intense focus on this topic is leading to an unjustified rush to commercialize longevity research before scientists have fully understood its complexities. Despite being in the early stages of studying the biology of ageing, wealthy individuals like Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel are already investing heavily in longevity projects.
In his new book, Why We Die, Ramakrishnan delves into the complexities of ageing and explores the potential for extending human lifespans. However, he cautions against allowing hype and anxiety to drive commercial aspects of longevity research. Instead, he emphasizes the need for patience and thorough scientific inquiry when it comes to studying and potentially extending human lifespans. Ramakrishnan warns that rushing to commercialize these ideas without proper scientific evidence could lead to unintended consequences and even harm to human health.
