[vanniv]

This is the best argument for extensive research into life-span extension.

One of the megatrends of the last 200 years has been a huge increase in the time horizon deemed acceptable for investment payoff.

Generally, humans aren't willing to forgo things today for a payoff more than about half a life-span away. Today, a true long-term investor considers the 30-year return on their investment.

An investment that won't make a return for 50 years or more mostly isn't worth making.

But, if you knew you would still be healthy enough to enjoy the profits in 90 or 100 years, you might be willing to invest for the even-longer term (historical trends suggest this to be true)

Government grants are fun and all, but the way you get thing going big is to get them funded by people who are hoping to profit, not just hoping to make the world better in some way

[MayeulC]

I have also been thinking about this lately.

Imagine for a moment that cryogenization technology became available tomorrow. Would that help? Should we start forcing everyone to spend 3 years in cryo sleep every year, thus extending everyone's lifespan 400%?

This is far-fetched and just sci-fi for now, but interesting to think about nevertheless: should you go into cryo sleep while you are waiting for the right job offer? Should we cryogenize refugees while we are waiting to find them some shelter after a disaster or a war happens? People surely take a lot less resources if you can stack them, and they are not moving, feeding, etc.

Something like this would require us rethinking our ethics and society, yet it would be a very welcome way to start thinking more about the future.

[vanniv]

If you would like to read some sci-fi that plays with the idea of skipping through life via cryosleep, try The Worthing Saga by Orson Scott Card.

It's one of his earliest works, so it isn't as well-produced as some of his later stuff, but it explores some very interesting ideas.

(This story began life as a different novel called Hot Sleep. Having read both, I honestly can't remember which parts are in which version, but Card himself says he considers The Worthing Saga to be the official version)

(hint: in Card's story, cryotech created a dystopian, not utopian society)

[thrax]

Card is a Mormon. Not surprised that his fiction is dystopian.

[DennisP]

Not all his fiction is dystopian.

[pmoriarty]

Considering the suicide rate, if such technology was available, you'd probably get a lot of takers.