Life is chemistry

Life can’t exist without the chemical reactions which are the backbone of metabolism. For a fleeting moment in time called lifespan, such chemical reactions maintain stable internal conditions. We call this homeostasis. Do chemical reactions remain the same with age? According to a new hypothesis of aging – which unfortunately I didn’t get to include…… Continue reading Life is chemistry

Why Sponges Are Potentially Immortal

Who knew that creatures traditionally used by people as natural bath sponges could be the longest-living animals known? One step further from a colony of unicellular animals, an individual sponge is a multicellular and largely immobile animal. These fascinating organisms adopted all sorts of interesting strategies in the fight for survival and they seem to…… Continue reading Why Sponges Are Potentially Immortal

The Older You Are, The Healthier You’ve Been

Supercentenarians are a rare breed. They thrived where others periled. They overcame disasters. And yet they largely kept a smile on their face. They learnt to accept the good and the bad that life throws at them. I spent this year and the last year researching major patterns on how other species age. But at…… Continue reading The Older You Are, The Healthier You’ve Been

Rings of Growth

This week I did the unthinkable: I got married. A very short and spontaneous trip to the seaside followed. So here I was on the shore of the Black Sea on a casual Friday with plenty of research material for the book on comparative gerontology. Yes, I always have good intentions when going on holiday.…… Continue reading Rings of Growth