From Sci-Fi to Science: The Future of Life Extension
In Return to the Galaxy, Ewan Scott is 77 years old, dying of cancer, and days from death. Then, he is given a second chance. Reborn in a strong, youthful twenty-year-old body, he becomes faster, sharper, and healthier than he ever was in his prime. It feels like pure fantasy.
But what if I told you that real-world scientists are now exploring ways to make that kind of transformation, or at least parts of it, possible?
This week's newsletter takes a look at the frontier of life extension science, and how close we are to turning back the biological clock.
Who Wants To Live Forever?
In the past, aging was treated as inevitable. Something you endured, managed, and eventually succumbed to. But today, researchers increasingly view aging as a condition. One that can be delayed, treated, or even reversed.
They are not promising miracles, but step by step, lab by lab, the dream of a longer, healthier life is beginning to take shape.
One of the most promising discoveries comes from a place that already feels like science fiction. Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, the island of the giant heads, is where scientists found a compound called rapamycin.
Originally developed as an immunosuppressant, it was later found to extend the lives of mice by up to 30 percent. And more than just adding years, it added quality. The mice stayed healthier, stronger, and mentally sharper as they aged.
Human trials are now underway. Low-dose rapamycin is being explored as a way to delay age-related decline and possibly push back the biological clock.
At the same time, researchers are developing senolytic drugs. These target and eliminate senescent cells, the so-called zombie cells that linger in our bodies, causing inflammation and damage. Clearing them out in mice led to improved strength, better organ function, and longer lives.
Gene therapy is also entering the conversation. Tools like CRISPR are being tested to correct genetic errors and may one day be used to reprogram aging cells to behave like younger versions of themselves.
And then there is nanomedicine. In Return to the Galaxy, Ewan’s transformation begins when nanites, microscopic machines, are injected into his body to repair damage, rebuild tissue, and enhance his natural functions. That might sound far-fetched, but early versions of this already exist. We now use nanoparticles to deliver cancer drugs, repair arteries, and even detect diseases at the molecular level.
Scientists at MIT and other universities are actively developing programmable nanobots that may one day roam our bloodstream, repairing damage as they go. It is not quite Jera’s tech, but it is a start.
Meanwhile, researchers at Harvard have shown that aging in mice can be partially reversed by introducing special genes called Yamanaka factors. Treated mice regained lost muscle, skin elasticity, and even vision. The results are not permanent, and the science is still young, but the implications are extraordinary.
So where does that leave us, today?
There are no miracle pills yet. But some lifestyle practices may have been proven to slow aging and extend healthspan:
- Intermittent fasting and calorie control
- Regular exercise, especially strength training
- Prioritising sleep and reducing chronic stress
- Avoiding processed food and stabilising blood sugar
- Staying curious, engaged, and socially connected
These habits do not offer eternal youth, but they can keep your body and brain running well into old age.
In the novel, Ewan accepts Jera’s offer not out of vanity, but because he wants to make a difference. He wants a second chance to build something meaningful, to protect the people he loves, and to take part in a mission that matters.
That, at its heart, is what the real science of longevity is about too. It is not about cheating death. It is about giving people more time to live fully. Time to love, learn, build, and contribute. Time to watch your grandchildren grow. Time to pursue second careers, or third. Time to dream bigger.
Aging is not yet optional. But it may soon be manageable.
And as we wait for the science to catch up with the stories, we will keep imagining the future together. On the page. In the lab. And in our lives.
Thanks for reading.
Warm wishes,
Brian
Author of Return to the Galaxy
P.S. If you enjoyed this week’s topic and haven’t yet started Ewan’s story, you can find Return to the Galaxy on Amazon. And if you have read it, a quick review would mean a lot. Every single one helps.
Before I go, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you.
Five days before launch, Return to the Galaxy was mistakenly deleted by Amazon due to a software glitch. The entire preorder was cancelled. Nearly 100 preorders gone.
To say I was devastated would be an understatement. But then something extraordinary happened.
You rallied.
You opened my emails, shared the news, downloaded the book again, posted reviews, and helped spread the word. And because of you, not only did the book survive—
It soared.
In just two weeks:
- Return to the Galaxy became the #1 free book in both Space Fleet, Space Marines, Alien Invasion AND Space Opera.
- Over 7,000 readers downloaded the book
- And most incredibly, it’s sitting at a 4.8-star average from 39 reviews, almost all of them five stars
As a debut sci-fi author, that’s beyond anything I imagined. And I want you to know; I will never forget it was you who made it happen.
To say thank you I have uploaded Wild Prince at the Star Fighter Academy to BookFunnel and StoryOrigin for free. It is a 120-page novella about Beryn and his friends and what happened to them over their first two years at the Academy before disaster struck. It overlaps Book 1 and 2, so make sure you have read Book 1 before you read it!
If you haven’t yet had a chance to leave a short review on Amazon, I’d be incredibly grateful. A sentence or two goes a long way toward helping new readers take a chance on an unknown author. Please also follow me on Amazon if you haven’t already.
And if you’re wondering what happens next for Ewan, Jera, and the Orion Federation, Book 2 is coming July 29, and the preorder is live now.
I have also been contacted by Spotify asking to record my short stories for their new short form audiobooks. Most of the stories would be one to two hours long. I haven’t recorded an audio book before now. Do you think it is a good idea? If you do, please hit reply to this email and just say – “Yes to audio!”
We’re just getting started.
With all my thanks,
Brian
Author of Return to the Galaxy and Reach for the Galaxy.
P.S. Seriously. Thank you. I owe this launch to you.