If you read this, you will die.

[LordLatch]

An empty threat since 100% of people die at some point.

Why do you think humans die and will we ever conquer it?


Also answer my poll for science:
http://forums.intpcomplex.com/showth...n-you-will-die

[P-O]

Death is an illusion

[LordLatch]

Ok lemme rephrase it for you:
Why do you think humans have a life terminating illusion and will we ever conquer it?

[JollyBard]

Because of entropy? Heat death of the universe?

[LordLatch]

You think you will die from that? I think the heat death happens after the sun swells and consumes all the inner planets so most people won't get to experience the outcome of entropy unless the get on that ship with Wall-e.

[P-O]

Ok lemme rephrase it for you:
Why do you think humans have a life terminating illusion and will we ever conquer it?

Of course we will--- at least in terms of "old age". The only way to conquer it completely is if there's an infinite supply of energy in the universe.

Humans die because their ancestors died. I remember hearing somewhere that cells can split around 50 times at most. I.e. from zygote to death you get around 2^50 cells. So probably has to do with that. It may be that there's an evolutionary reason for it, or it may just be innate to the design of things living on earth. Either way, I think stem cell type things can overcome it and essentially give you a new body every 20 years or something.

[JollyBard]

You think you will die from that? I think the heat death happens after the sun swells and consumes all the inner planets so most people won't get to experience the outcome of entropy unless the get on that ship with Wall-e.

I thought the question was "why do we inevitably die?". If we ever find a cure for aging (which I think we will), then entropy will inevitably get us.

[LordLatch]

My guess is if we could stop ourselves from dying, we could probably stop the universe from dying also.

[JollyBard]

My guess is if we could stop ourselves from dying, we could probably stop the universe from dying also.

I don't know, changing a fondamental law of thermodynamics seems considerably harder than curing all the diseases that cause death from old age. Especially since there is already research being done about immortal cells.

EDIT: Related: http://filer.case.edu/dts8/thelastq.htm the best Asimov short story. I promise you won't be disappointed.

[LordLatch]

Maybe man will learn how to keep the ole butter churn going. There seems to be no limit to how much our brain meat will hold.