Original version

BBC World Service Online

One Planet

Documentaries

News

The biggest issues in global development and the environment.

One Planet: 24/06/2010

Factual: Science & Nature

24/06/2010

BBC World Service - One Planet, 24/06/2010

Mike considers living forever. We hear from elderly and young. Plus we debate food miles

"Who wants to live forever?" sang Freddy Mercury. Fair question, though from the discussions on our Facebook site, few people actually do. Forever seems like, well, such a long time. One Planet's considering the question thanks to a conference taking place in Barcelona entitled the "Congress on controversies in longevity, health and aging". In short, scientists will debate age prevention.

In this week's show we catch up with Dr Aubrey de Grey, one of the world's leading thinkers in the field of gerontology (the study of aging). Before heading off to that conference, Dr Aubrey debates with Mike the ethics and practicalities of age prevention.

Also in the show, Mike pops into an elderly day centre to find out whether your views of death change as you enter your golden years. Plus we have an exclusive short story from bestselling author Professor David Eagleman, the American neuroscientists famous for his book "Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives".

Elsewhere in the show, we hear the second part of our Open University big questions series. This week we examine whether food miles are bad. As ever, do tune in and let us know what you think - you can contact the team on oneplanet@bbc.com, or join in the conversation on our Facebook page, the link's below. If you'd prefer to write, our address is One Planet, BBC World Service, Bush House, London, UK - always nice to get a postcard or letter.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

One Planet

24/06/2010

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service