Have We Reached Peak Human Life Span?–The New York Times
After decades of rising life expectancy, the increases appear to be slowing. A new study from the University of Illinois Chicago calls into question how long even the healthiest of populations can live. It analyzed data on life expectancy at birth (from 1990 and 2019), from places where people typically live the longest: Australia, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and also from the US, though the country’s life expectancy is lower. The researchers found that while average life expectancies increased during that time in all locations, the rates at which they rose slowed down. The one exception was Hong Kong. One of the researchers, Professor S. Jay Olshansky, noted that the only way to radically lengthen life expectancy would be for science to develop an intervention to slow the aging process itself—something he’s “optimistic” about.
The Age of Depopulation: Surviving a World Gone Gray–Foreign Affairs
The issue will recast economies, societies and politics, everywhere. As societies shrink and age, a rising number of countries (eventually all of them) will head into an era of pervasive and indefinite depopulation. This new phenomenon, driven by a worldwide reduction in the desire for children, implies that net mortality (i.e., when a country experiences more deaths than births) will become the new norm. The bottom line: societies will have fewer workers, entrepreneurs, and innovators; and more people dependent on care and assistance. But this is not necessarily tantamount to a catastrophe. It is just a difficult new context in which countries can still find ways to thrive. Read on to understand how.
The 2024 State of the Climate Report: Perilous Times on Planet Earth–BioScience
It’s been said (and explained) so many times that it’s a bit like crying wolf. Yet, the scientific evidence is incontrovertible. The 14 prominent academics who wrote this article say it as it is: “We are on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster. This is a global emergency beyond any doubt. Much of the very fabric of life on Earth is imperiled. We are stepping into a critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis.” This doesn’t make for happy reading but is a must-read. Very comprehensive and, if not followed by a collective call-to-action, deeply concerning.
Why People Quit Religion—And how They Find Meaning Again–Greater Good Magazine
All over the world, the landscape of spirituality is changing, with a rising number of people walking away from organized religion and seeking new ways to find meaning and experience a flourishing life. This article is based on a recent book (Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion) that weaves together cutting-edge data from empirical science with practical applications to directly help people who are experiencing religious change. Not always as easy as it may seem.
A Striking Stat:
Ultra-processed foods account for nearly half of calories eaten by UK toddlers, and it’s tied to poor health later in life.
Source: University College London study, October 2024 Read more
