A groundbreaking exploration of the science of longevity from Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan
'Enthralling and packed with insights.' - BILL BRYSON
'A must-read.' - STEPHEN FRY
'Spectacular. Changed my perspective on the whole living world but most of all myself.' - CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN
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How can science help us live better and longer?
We are living through an exciting revolution in biology. Giant strides are being made in our understanding of why we age, and why some species live longer than others. Will we soon be able to cheat disease and death and live for a very long time, possibly many times our current lifespan?
In Why We Die, Ramakrishnan takes us on a riveting journey to the frontiers of biology. He explains the latest scientific understanding of exactly why we age and how we might prevent it. He examines the cutting-edge efforts to extend lifespan by altering our natural biology and raises profound questions. Might death serve a necessary biological purpose? As science advances, what will it mean for us all if people start living longer? And how can we increase our chances of living long, healthy and fulfilled lives?
Why We Die is a narrative of uncommon insight and beauty from one of our leading public intellectuals.
'An incredible journey.' - SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE
'Joyfully alive' - STEVE BRUSATTE
'Scientists do not come much more eminent than Venki Ramakrishnan... wonderfully readable... fascinating.' FINANCIAL TIMES
*As heard on BBC Radio 4 Start the Week*
'I have so enjoyed reading this spectacular book - it's full of hope and fun and extraordinary research. It
beautifully answers the question at the core of every life. Understanding why we must die helps us understand how we must live. It
changed my perspective on the whole living world but most of all myself and the time I have left.' Chris van Tulleken, bestselling author of Ultra-Processed People
Venki Ramakrishnan won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for uncovering the structure of the ribosome. He runs the Ramakrishnan Lab at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK. From 2015 to 2020, he served as president of the Royal Society in London. He is the author of the scientific memoir
Gene Machine.
Über den Autor
Venki Ramakrishnan won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for uncovering the structure of the ribosome. He runs the Ramakrishnan Lab at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK. From 2015 to 2020, he served as president of the Royal Society in London. He is the author of the scientific memoir Gene Machine.
Klappentext
'Spectacular. Beautifully answers the question at the core of every life. It changed my perspective on the whole living world but most of all myself and the time I have left.' - CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN
'Utterly fascinating. Clear, enthralling and packed with insights.' - BILL BRYSON
'A thrilling ride through the science of ageing and death. A must-read.' - STEPHEN FRY
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Would you want to live forever?
Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan transforms our understanding of why we age and die - and whether there's anything we can do about it.
We are living through a revolution in biology. Giant strides are being made in our understanding of why we age and die, and why some species live longer than others. Immortality, once a faint hope, has never been more within our grasp.
Examining recent scientific breakthroughs, Ramakrishnan shows how cutting-edge efforts to extend lifespan by altering our natural biology raise profound questions. Although we might not like it, does death serve a necessary biological purpose? And how can we increase our chances of living long, healthy and fulfilled lives? As science advances, we have much to gain. But might we also have much to lose?