Back in 1925, the average American could expect to live just 58 years — yet some scientists dared to imagine a future where humans might live to 1,000. Fueled by breakthroughs like Frederick Banting’s discovery of insulin, medical pioneers believed science might someday conquer aging itself. Writer John E. Lodge even speculated that humans might replace worn-out organs and enzymes to match Methuselah’s mythical lifespan.
Fast forward 100 years and immortality remains out of reach — but our lifespan has climbed by two decades. Today, Americans live an average of 78.4 years, thanks to vaccines, antibiotics, and countless medical advances that turned once-fatal conditions into manageable ones.
Modern researchers continue to pursue longevity, but their methods have undergone significant evolution. Instead of goat’s rue and early insulin experiments, we have gene editing, stem cell reprogramming, and immunotherapies. Scientists in Singapore, for example, have extended mice’s lives by blocking proteins like interleukin-11, while others have transferred a “longevity gene” from naked mole rats to mice, adding years to their rodent lives.
Ironically, goat’s rue has made a comeback, too — its modern derivative, metformin, is a leading diabetes drug that shows promise for slowing cellular aging. Meanwhile, breakthroughs like Dr. Shinya Yamanaka’s Nobel Prize-winning work in cellular reprogramming hint at ways to regenerate aging tissues.
But living centuries isn’t just a lab hurdle — it raises tough questions. Who gets access? What happens to economies and families if people live to 200? The big dream of living forever hasn’t faded, but the last century reminds us that progress comes in humble, incremental steps. For now, adding healthy years — not centuries — is humanity’s real win.
