The Intelligence: searching for the elixir of life

<p>Scientists are making considerable progress in the race to <a href="https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2023/09/25/slowing-human-ageing-is-now-the-subject-of-serious-research?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">slow the ageing process</a> of our cells, and in turn, our bodies. But what would living for longer actually mean for the world? How government legislation and impatient consumers are forcing the <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2023/12/11/welcome-to-the-ad-free-internet?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">advertising industry</a> to adapt (13:19). And, the story behind a famous, 200-year-old <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/12/20/twas-the-night-before-christmas-turns-200-this-year?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christmas poem</a> (21:29).&nbsp;</p><br><p>For a limited time, visit <a href="http://www.economist.com/gift" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economist.com/gift</a> to redeem 30% off gift subscriptions to our print and digital editions</p><br><p><em>Sign up for a </em><a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastsplus-intelligence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>free trial</em></a><em> of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" re