Physicist Calls Billionaires’ Immortality Quest a Waste of Time
Physicist Jim Al‑Khalili has criticized tech billionaires’ attempts at immortality, arguing that the pursuit of endless life is a waste of finite time. He emphasizes the importance of enjoying the present and explains how physics views time, including relativity and the arrow of time.
By Felo News Desk · Published
When tech moguls like Bryan Johnson try to inject plasma from a 17‑year‑old son in a bid for immortality, physicist Jim Al‑Khalili says the effort is a waste of time. Johnson, who has spent millions on longevity research, claims the injections gave him no measurable benefit. Al‑Khalili, a professor at the University of Cambridge and the upcoming speaker for the Royal Institution’s Christmas lectures, argues that humanity’s finite existence should be used to savor the present rather than chase endless life.
Immortality Experiments in the Tech World
Tech billionaires are turning to unregulated peptide injections, cold plunges, and experimental supplements to slow aging. Yet the most ambitious projects involve radical interventions: Bryan Johnson has publicly documented his own trials, including a plasma transfusion from his teenage son, Talmage. Although Johnson later admitted the procedure yielded no observable health improvement, the experiment illustrates the lengths to which the ultra‑rich are willing to go to defy death.
Al‑Khalili’s Perspective on Time
Al‑Khalili, who will present the Royal Institution’s Christmas lectures on time, believes that the pursuit of extra minutes is less valuable than living fully within the time already granted. He notes that the universe’s age dwarfs human lifespans; a human life is a blink compared to cosmic time. “If I spend that blink trying to extend it to two blinks, I’m not sure that is a worthwhile thing to be doing,” he said.
His fascination with time began in childhood, when his engineer father explained that “no one really understands what time is.” Al‑Khalili later discovered that everyday intuition about time diverges sharply from the physics of time, especially as described by Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Relativity and the Flow of Time
Einstein showed that time does not tick at the same rate for everyone. A clock in a fast‑moving rocket would appear to run slower than one on Earth, and strong gravity can similarly stretch or compress time. Al‑Khalili illustrates this with a thought experiment: if he were traveling past you in a rocket, his “second” would feel longer to you than to him. Gravity’s effect on time is “spine‑tingling,” he added.
These relativistic effects also provide a scientific backdrop for the classic holiday story, A Christmas Carol. Einstein’s idea that past, present, and future coexist in a single four‑dimensional spacetime suggests that, in theory, a ghost could appear from any era. Al‑Khalili uses this narrative to explain how time travel could be conceptually possible, though practical paradoxes make it unlikely.
Time Travel, Closed Loops, and the Arrow of Time
While mathematically possible, closed timelike curves—paths that loop back in time—pose paradoxes that many physicists consider impossible. Al‑Khalili compares the concept to a rollercoaster loop: you move forward in time but end up at an earlier point. The idea of traveling to the future is easier: by moving close to light speed or orbiting a supermassive black hole, time can dilate, allowing a traveler to age slower than those on Earth.
Al‑Khalili also tackles the enduring mystery of why time seems to flow in one direction. Everyday processes—decay, aging, the tendency of a messy room to become messier—imply a preferred temporal direction, yet the fundamental equations of physics are time‑symmetric. He claims to have found an explanation, which he will reveal in his Christmas lectures.
These insights underscore his broader point: the finite nature of human life should prompt us to focus on the quality of the present moment, rather than on speculative extensions of lifespan.
What’s Next for Al‑Khalili and the Public?
Al‑Khalili’s upcoming lectures, broadcast on BBC and iPlayer, will delve deeper into the physics of time and the philosophical questions it raises. Meanwhile, the tech community continues to invest in longevity research, but the debate over the value of extending life versus enriching the current one remains open.
For now, the message is clear: while science may one day unlock ways to delay aging, the most prudent use of our limited time is to live meaningfully in the now.
Key facts
- Tech billionaires are experimenting with extreme longevity methods, including plasma transfusions.
- Physicist Jim Al‑Khalili argues that extending life is less valuable than enjoying the present.
- Relativity shows time can dilate, offering theoretical possibilities for time travel.
- The arrow of time—why it moves forward—is still a mystery that Al‑Khalili claims to solve.
- Al‑Khalili’s Christmas lectures will explore these concepts for a general audience.
Why it matters
The debate touches on both scientific possibility and ethical priorities, reminding readers that the pursuit of longevity must be weighed against the value of living fully in the present.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jim Al‑Khalili’s main criticism of immortality research?
He believes that spending time on extending life is a waste of the finite time humans have, and that quality of life matters more.
How does Einstein’s theory affect our understanding of time?
It shows that time is relative, running slower in strong gravity or at high speeds, which challenges everyday intuition.
What is a closed timelike curve?
A path in spacetime that loops back on itself, theoretically allowing travel to the past, but it raises paradoxes that many physicists consider impossible.
Will Al‑Khalili reveal his explanation for the arrow of time?
Yes, he plans to discuss it during his Royal Institution Christmas lectures, which will be broadcast on BBC and iPlayer.
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Tech billionaires trying to live for ever? That’s a waste of time, says physicist”
