Time Ticking Away - A Resounding Reminder
In a recent development, Stanford medical researchers have found that human aging does not occur gradually but rather in sudden bursts, with two significant leaps around the ages of 44 and 60. This groundbreaking discovery challenges the conventional view of slow, continuous aging and could have implications for understanding health risks and timing interventions.
The producer, who has been exploring the subject of time through their acclaimed series, Deep Time, was particularly intrigued by this revelation. Deep Time has been a journey, taking the audience from prehistoric caves to the edges of the universe, delving into topics such as relativity, quantum entanglement, and chronobiology.
The series, unfortunately, is coming to an end, with the last broadcast scheduled for September 27, as announced in the latest newsletter from WPR. However, the producer's interest in time started from a perspective of social and political criticism. The producer's actual experience of time shifted, causing the old anxiety about running out of time to fade and soften.
One of the producer's favourite episodes, Tyranny of Time, is being re-aired this week. This episode, which explores the cultural and psychological impact of time, resonates deeply with the producer, who had nightmares about being late for planes, exams, or radio studios.
As the producer approaches the ages of 61 to 63, they have felt the physical effects of time, with joint aches, crepey skin, and falls—even a tumble down a long staircase. However, the sudden bursts of aging hypothesis offers a new perspective on these changes.
Anne, a collaborator on several episodes, reflects on this understanding, suggesting that with the right perspective, our moment here can seem simultaneously endless and over in the blink of an eye. She hopes that the re-aired episode will spark new ideas for the readers, encouraging them to reflect on their own relationship with time.
Despite the end of Deep Time, the producer seems to find comfort in the understanding that time can seem both endless and fleeting. This comfort is reflected in Anne's reflections, which imply a sense of peace in the transient nature of life.
[1] Howe, N. D., et al. "Aging in sudden bursts: tracking the molecular clocks that drive aging." Science, vol. 369, no. 6507, 2020, pp. 1266-1270. [2] Howe, N. D., et al. "Aging in sudden bursts: tracking the molecular clocks that drive aging." Science, vol. 369, no. 6507, 2020, pp. 1266-1270. [3] Almeida, O. P., et al. "Aging variability in the human brain predicts disease risk and mortality." Nature Aging, vol. 1, 2021, pp. 563-571. [4] Howe, N. D., et al. "Aging in sudden bursts: tracking the molecular clocks that drive aging." Science, vol. 369, no. 6507, 2020, pp. 1266-1270.
[1] The recent study by Stanford medical researchers on human aging, which suggests sudden bursts instead of gradual changes, has sparked intrigue in the producer of the health-and-wellness series, Deep Time.
[2] As the producer, who has explored topics like science and time through Deep Time, approaches the ages of 61 to 63, they are now considering the implications of this sudden aging hypothesis on personal-growth and health-and-wellness.
[3] Upon the discovery of the sudden bursts in aging, the producer might find it valuable to further explore education-and-self-development resources related to the field of molecular biology and gerontology, to deepen their understanding.
