Technology has immortality, cures for the worlds devastating diseases, quantum computing and a host of other science fiction notions in its grasp. Current trends in a number of areas indicate that over the next 10 years many of these technologies will come to fruition. "The Next 10 Years" tracks the trends that will transform our everyday lives in almost unimaginable ways.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Eating heavy to live up to 30% longer.

In a back room of New Scientist's offices in London, I sit
down at a table with the Russian biochemist Mikhail Shchepinov. In
front of us are two teaspoons and a brown glass bottle. Shchepinov
opens the bottle, pours out a teaspoon of clear liquid and drinks it
down. He smiles. It's my turn.

I put a spoonful of the liquid in my mouth and swallow. It tastes
slightly sweet, which is a surprise. I was expecting it to be exactly
like water since that, in fact, is what it is - heavy water to be
precise, chemical formula D2O. The D stands for deuterium,
an isotope of hydrogen with an atomic mass of 2 instead of 1. Deuterium
is what puts the heavy in heavy water. An ice cube made out of it would
sink in normal water.


http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026841.800-would-eating-heavy-atoms-lengthen-our-lives.html?page=1


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