Weight Battle

Plenty of people never get over their acceptance of death. A FutureBlogger post here offers some insight into the better half of the deathist position: someone who is happy to step aside and let progress continue, but doesn't quite understand why anyone would want to greatly extend the healthy human life span. "Since being exposed to the idea of extreme life extension, which admittedly was only several months ago, I've found myself reacting in a more skeptical and reactionary manner than I often do when confronted with other radical new futuristic ideas and technologies. When I read about possibilities of faster than light travel, I get excited. Predictions of nano-assemblers make me hopeful. I find designs for colonies on the Moon and Mars fascinating. But when I read about trends in regenerative medicine and nanotechnology that some experts believe will conquer death, I am not enthusiastic. Instead I become very skeptical, nervous and even angry. On one level, I am surprised that I could be anything other than overjoyed that ending death could be a possibility, I very much enjoy life and, as a living organism, I have a strong instinct to stay alive. Yet I find it extremely difficult to wrap my head around the idea of life without death."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.memebox.com/futureblogger/show/823-my-thoughts-on-the-demise-of-death
Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Some thoughts on the decades following the biotechnology revolution from FutureBlogger: once nanotechnology is as far advanced as biotechnology is today, what sorts of capabilites start to look plausible? "By the mid-2030s, we could be replacing brain cells with damage-resistant nanomaterials that process thoughts much faster than today's biological brains. ... The new brain would include our same consciousness, memories and personality that existed before the conversion, but it would run much faster and would increase our memory a thousand-fold. ... a daily pill would supply nanomaterials and instructions for nanobots to format new neurons and position them next to existing biological brain cells to be replaced. These changes would be unnoticeable to us, but within six months, we would be enjoying our new brain. ... Should a person with the new damage-resistant brain die in an accident, their body could be a total loss, but the brain would survive. Biological brains die within minutes after the heart stops; our new brain will simply turn itself off and wait for a new power supply. All memories and consciousness would remain intact after a fatal accident. Rescue workers would remove the brain from the deceased body and reinstall it into a newly-cloned body." A lot of work remains to be accomplished before the golden future becomes a reality - first things first.

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.memebox.com/futureblogger/show/827-our-future-brain-damage-resistant-with-unique-new-abilities
Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

KOHIMA : Australian International Health Institute (AIHI) decided to launch a multi pronged media campaign in Nagaland and Manipur to fight stigma and discrimination toward HIV/AIDS as, despite having high level of awareness, cases of HIV/AIDS has been rising in Nagaland.

This was disclosed by officials of AIHI during a state level dissemination programme on HIV/AIDS here yesterday where officials from Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), police department, DIPR, NGO representatives PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) participated in the deliberation.

Dr Joyce of AIHI informed the participants that the institute, which is part of the Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, had conducted a foundation assessment to understand the knowledge, attitude practices and the media reach and consumption pattern in six districts of Nagaland.

Summing up the programme Project Director NSACS, Dr. Neiphi Kie, stressed on the power of electronic and print media and said that NGOs, implementing agencies media and different departme ts should stick together and move forward with a rational appr ach to fight the menace of HIV/AIDS.

The level of awareness is high yet the epidemic is on the rise so we have a lot of things to do, he mentioned.

Hoardings, posters, radio and TV spots, press-ads and other literature will be used in their media campaign which will be launched in September next in two high prevalence states of the north eastern region.

The Methuselah Foundation volunteers are looking for more signatures in the next five days to help put the "Undergrads Fighting Age Related Disease" project high in the top 25 Amex Members Projects - and thus eligible for some of the $2.5 million in funding offered by American Express. There are five days left to put your name to this project in support: 1200 signatures have been gathered in the past two weeks, putting longevity science solidly in the running. At least that many more votes are needed before voting closes - which is where you and your friends come in. Visit the Methuselah Foundation blog or the project Facebook group to find out how to sign up - or just click through to this project and follow the directions. You don't have to be an American Express member, but you do have to be a US resident. One last thing: it's important to note that of all the projects submitted to date, Undergrads Fighting Age Related Disease has by far the most comments. This counts heavily in the final selection, so jump into the project comments section and tell the world why you support longevity science and the defeat of age-related disease.

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/BVVE2C
Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Mumbai: Advinus Therapeutics, a Bangalore-based research pharma company promoted by the Tata group, has announced a new collaboration with Genzyme and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).

The collaboration seeks to develop new, improved treatments for specific patient groups most at risk for malaria, particularly pregnant women and infants.

Genzyme is a leading biotechnology firm while MMV is a not-for-a-profit virtual R&D organisation. The ongoing MMV/Genzyme partner-ship also includes The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The collaboration will focus on identifying new molecules effective at fighting malaria, from early-stage screening to the first steps of preclinical assessment.

One important aim is to develop therapies to address the danger of emerging drug resistance that current anti-malarial treatments face.

“This collaboration is a powerful example of how industry can partner with others to fight the devastating impact of diseases affecting the de-veloping world,” said Henri A Termeer, chairman and CEO of Genzyme.