Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

Question:  Will humans ever live for two hundred years?
Jim Miks

Answer:
Jim,
It is possible that science will be able to extend our average
life span past one hundred years, but it is clear that even if
science can do that, sooner or later 'accidents' would eventually
do everyone in.  Consider that each person has some statistical chance
of being involved in a fatal accident.  If you lived over one
hundred years, your chances of being in an accident continue, and,
sadly, eventually the accident would catch up with us.  Right
now, human diseases claim most lives by the approximate age of
100 or so, assuming an accident does not strike earlier.
Sorry, this sounds like a somber note, but there are statistics
available from various insurance companies giving anticipated
life span and chance of various diseases and accidents.
Hope this answers your question.
Ric (rickru)
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