After Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were caught discussing immortality on a hot mic, the question arises - could humans really live to 150?
A recently surfaced moment between the two world leaders, which took place at the 80th-anniversary celebration of the end of World War II, has set social media ablaze.
Putin and Xi, both 72, were walking alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when the Russian leader's translator was heard saying: “Biotechnology is continuously developing...human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality.”
Xi’s translator chimed in, adding: “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old. Earlier, people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 years, you are still a child.”
As the pair speculated about the future of human longevity, the North Korean leader appeared amused, smiling as he looked at the two.
While the audio was brief and occasionally interrupted, the exchange quickly went viral and prompted both intrigue and concern.
Such comments, coming from two of the world's most powerful authoritarian leaders, inevitably raised questions about the symbolic meaning behind their words.
Was this just a casual conversation, or could it hint at anxieties about their own aging processes?
For many observers, these offhand remarks about biotechnology and human longevity felt significant, especially in the context of ongoing scientific discussions surrounding aging.
A recent study on aging biology suggests that while humans may theoretically reach a maximum lifespan of around 120–150 years, this could be an upper limit.
Experts in the field explain that as people age, their bodies experience a gradual decline in resilience, which is the body’s ability to recover from stress and physiological disruptions.
This process, known as “biological aging,” leads to "exponential mortality acceleration," a phenomenon described by the "Gompertz law" of aging.
Essentially, as the body’s recovery ability diminishes, the probability of death increases dramatically.
While some hope for breakthroughs in biotechnology that could extend life beyond these natural limits, current scientific understanding suggests that it is unlikely most people will surpass the 150-year mark.
For many, the Putin-Xi hot-mic moment offers an unsettling glimpse into the personal fears and ambitions of two leaders at the forefront of global power.
Whether their conversation was purely speculative or reflected a deeper interest in overcoming the limitations of aging, the discussion raises important questions.
Could advancements in biotechnology one day allow humans to achieve unprecedented lifespans?
If so, what would it mean for societies, politics, and even individual identity when aging itself becomes a solvable issue?
As science progresses, these are questions that will continue to shape global discussions, making the rare moment between two world leaders more thought-provoking.