Reversing aging may sound like science fiction, but scientists have already found a way to do it—at least, theoretically. Based on a 2012 Nobel-prize winning discovery, researchers are testing whether they can revert diseased cells in the eye back to young and healthy ones. They gave people a drug this year. If it works, it’ll open the door to curing and possibly preventing other age-related diseases. And that led producer Berly McCoy to wonder: Could all this research eventually extend our human lifespans?
If you liked this episode, check out our episodes on zombie cells, why our hair turns gray and why we die.
Interested in more science on aging? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.
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This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez and Lauren Gonzalez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez.
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