Now that Google has redefined search engines and a few other things, the company wants to make sure that users stay long enough on planet Earth to play with its creations.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google, are not the only ones interested in human life extension. Some Russian moguls are also paying hard cash to bring us (or rather them) closer to immortality. Besides stopping our cells from dying, other possible options could include the transfer of memories, cloning and one that is on the gruesome side of things: head transplant. Obviously, many of these are considered unethical, mostly by religious figures. Back to Google and its approach on life extension, though, as this is the topic of this post. It would take quite some time to enumerate all of Google’s products and services, but eternal life wasn’t one of them until now.
Of course, not all of Google’s products have been usual. The driverless-car and the wish to provide Internet access to remote areas via high-altitude balloons might be among the less common, yet possible ideas that Google came up with. The two founders like to call these moon shots, as the result does not always meet the expectations. Human life extension, on the other hand, might require a lot of time and a lot of brilliant minds put together. The founders of the company realize that this venture won’t be an easy one.
In an exclusive interview for TIME Magazine, Larry Page mentions that “In some industries it takes 10 or 20 years to go from an idea to something being real. Health care is certainly one of those areas. We should shoot for the things that are really, really important, so 10 or 20 years from now we have those things done.”
Calico, as the new company will be called, will focus on health in general, and on aging in particular. It will be interesting to see who will support this company, which scientists will join Google in the battle against death, and what other companies will appear with the same goal. The idea behind Calico is exceptional, but I’m afraid that the world’s greatest nations prefer to focus on useless wars than on how to make us immortals or even simpler, how to put an end to famine in Africa. I appreciate Google’s initiative and hope that our leaders will start realizing soon what our priorities really are.
If you liked this post, please check the early years of Google and the story of Google Doodles.
