Deep in the heart of Berlin, a group of visionary scientists, daring entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors are coming together for a collaboration of unprecedented potential. Their goal is not to launch a new startup or unveil the latest tech gadget. It’s far more audacious: to make death optional.
Welcome to Zelar City, a six-week pop-up community that’s part scientific conference, part futurist social experiment. From October 5th to November 17th, 2024, this temporary autonomous zone will host some of the world’s leading minds in longevity research, all united by a shared mission to wage war on aging, disease, and the concept of mortality itself.
But Zelar City is just the latest manifestation of a revolution that’s been gaining momentum for years.
The Longevity Movement Is In Full Swing
The longevity industry has exploded into a multi-billion dollar behemoth in the blink of an eye. Market experts project the global longevity market will reach a staggering $610 billion next year, a clear sign of the intense interest and rapid growth in extending human lifespans.
As Forbes aptly puts it, “Forget luxury cars and beachfront properties – the hottest obsession of the 21st century is time itself. Not just any time, but the quest for more of it in our lives.”
This boom is manifesting in many forms across the globe. Luxurious longevity clinics charge premium prices for state-of-the-art anti-aging treatments, while so-called longevity vacations offer guests the chance to lounge in the sun with IV drips and undergo therapeutic plasma exchanges.
Longevity has now officially even become a competitive sport; with the introduction of the “Rejuvenation Olympics” by Bryan Johnson, tech millionaire turned “longevity bro.” The challenge? Avoid death better and longer than any of your competitors.
Meanwhile, the very emergence of the term “longevity bro” signifies the movement has gone mainstream. This new archetype descended from the infamous finance and tech “bros,” is characterized by enthusiastic and confident individuals pushing the boundaries of life extension. The intensifying scale of investment and industry potential justifies their fervor as a new generation of scientifically-minded entrepreneurs tests the limits of human lifespan.
Life Extension By the Numbers
In 2022 alone, nearly $5.2 billion was poured into businesses focused on extending human lifespans. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Some economists have come to a startling conclusion: adding just one year to the average human lifespan could be worth $38 trillion in economic value. Extend that to a decade of extra life, and we are looking at a figure surpassing most nations’ GDP: $367 trillion.
With stakes this high, it’s no wonder the pursuit of longevity has transcended the traditional scientific laboratory and entered public consciousness. And it’s no surprise everyone wants to get involved.
Enter the Fourth Brother: “Crypto Bro”
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the cryptocurrency Ethereum, emerges from an unexpected quarter as a potential game-changer in the longevity movement. In recent years, Buterin has become increasingly vocal about his mission to “make humans immortal,” leveraging the power of decentralized science (DeSci) to do so.
Decentralized Science: The New Frontier of Research
Decentralized science (DeSci) is revolutionizing the traditional research model at this very moment. Harnessing blockchain technology aims to enhance transparency, accessibility, and community involvement in scientific collaborations.
DeSci addresses core challenges plaguing conventional scientific practices:
Funding Distribution: In the DeSci paradigm, funds are distributed through transparent mechanisms like quadratic donations and DAOs, starkly contrasting traditional institutions’ closed centralized funding models.
Global Collaboration: DeSci fosters international, dynamic research teams that transcend geographical and institutional silos.
Resource Sharing: Utilizing Web3 technologies, DeSci facilitates a more efficient sharing of laboratory resources and services, increasing accessibility.
Bridging the “Valley of Death”: The model aims to narrow the gap between basic research and clinical applications, a persistent challenge in biomedical research known as the “Valley of Death,” which has long stymied breakthrough therapies.
DAOs: Scientific Patrons Reimagined
One of the core components of the blockchain landscape and emerging research paradigm are Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). Put simply, they are member-owned communities without centralized leadership – instead, voting and finances are handled through blockchain technology.
The use cases of DAOs have extended far beyond their original purpose of raising capital for digital projects. In the DeSci environment, they have become integral to research funding, and none are more influential than VitaDAO.
Spotlight on VitaDAO
VitaDAO is a community-owned collective dedicated to funding early-stage longevity research that traditional entities might shy away from due to perceived risk or lack of profit potential. With a star-studded scientific advisory board featuring experts from Pfizer, Ichor Life Sciences, and Novartis, VitaDAO is bridging the gap between crypto enthusiasts and serious scientific endeavors.
Their ultimate goal? To “improve the human life span.”
A simple cryptocurrency transaction pays the entry fee for those interested in becoming a part of their digitized longevity revolution. All it takes to gain a stake in the organization is the purchase of VITA tokens, currently hovering around $1.03. Per the DAO’s website, “VITA holders choose what research we support, contribute to governance decisions, and advance the fight against age-related disease.”
Notably, VitaDAO has played a central role in bringing Buterin’s longevity aspirations to reality, funding projects and research initiatives, most notably, Buterin’s pioneering longevity experiment turned full-scale recurring initiative of network states, Zuzalu.
Network States: Online Communities Go Offline
Buterin’s growing influence signals a new phase in the longevity revolution, where cryptocurrency, decentralized governance, and cutting-edge biotechnology converge. It’s an unprecedented fusion paving the way for entirely new concepts like longevity network states –communities dedicated to pushing the boundaries of human lifespan, operating under their own rules and regulations. A ‘network state’ is envisioned as a highly aligned online community capable of collective action, which can crowdfund territory globally and may ultimately achieve diplomatic recognition from existing states.
The potential of network states to support various initiatives, such as longevity enhancement, is significant. Some suggest that starting a new country (network state) could be more feasible than reforming existing institutions when aiming to advance areas like biomedicine significantly.
Zelar City: Back To Berlin’s Fountain of Youth
The concept of longevity network states, or special economic zones designed to accelerate aging research and therapies, is materializing with the launch of Zelar City in Berlin on October 5th. For six weeks, scientists, entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking individuals will co-live, work, and conduct studies that accelerate aging therapies under relaxed regulations to foster rapid biotech innovation and attract investment.
Zelar City is another extension of the Zuzalu ecosystem – a radically new approach to medical research initiated by Vitalik Buterin. The development of “longevity network states” could dramatically accelerate the development of life-extending therapeutics, especially in light of the industry stakeholders they welcome.
On the faculty panel, none other than “longevity bro” Bryan Johnson takes center stage. He’s accompanied by key thought leaders like Aubrey de Grey, known for his work on rejuvenation biotechnologies, Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, CEO of Insilico Medicine, and Leo Nissola, MD, a recognized immunology expert. Such an assemblage of luminaries adds gravitas and credibility to the pop-up hub, highlighting the serious scientific pursuit underpinning Zelar City’s futuristic vision.
From Pop-Up to Permanent: The Evolution of Longevity States
Zelar City is just one example of this bold new approach. It’s part of a larger ecosystem that includes initiatives like Zuzalu, a pop-up city in Montenegro that hosted 200 residents for two months in 2023, and Vitalia, a project aiming to establish a lasting longevity-focused community on a Honduran island.
Vitalia represents the next step in the evolution of longevity states as it attempts to transition from an ephemeral community-based event to a permanent fixture of the death-defying culture. It aims to create a haven for “renegade life scientists, artists, biotechnology engineers, and an entrepreneurially driven community of people that love life and want to see the future.”
Its tagline? “Come build a new city to make death optional.”
Not So Fast: Challenges and Considerations
While the potential of these decentralized longevity initiatives is tantalizing, numerous challenges and concerns must be addressed before such avant-garde visions can be clarified:
Regulatory Oversight: Relaxed regulations in these zones, while potentially accelerating innovation, raise concerns about safety and ethical standards.
Scientific Rigor: Ensuring the quality and reproducibility of research conducted outside traditional institutional frameworks is a significant challenge.
Equity and Access: Such siloed initiatives could exacerbate healthcare disparities, creating a two-tiered system of longevity access.
Ethical Implications: Pursuing radical life extension raises profound ethical questions that require careful consideration.
Hype vs. Reality: Distinguishing between genuine breakthroughs and overhyped claims will be an ongoing challenge for both researchers and the public.
Buterin himself has noted that pop-up cities are a unique platform for innovation, but they require collaboration between network states to avoid “unproductive tribalism.”
This glimpse into decentralized science and its efforts to accelerate innovation in longevity reveals its immense potential and the hurdles it must overcome.
What Does This Mean For Anti-Aging Medicine?
As experimental initiatives in the field increase and evolve, they will likely catalyze significant changes in the healthcare landscape.
New Frontiers in Research: The decentralized approach could accelerate the development of new therapies and interventions. Healthcare professionals should stay informed about these developments, as they may reshape medical practice sooner than anticipated.
Changing Patient Expectations: As public awareness of longevity research grows, patients may have access to experimental treatments and therapies. Providers need to be prepared to discuss and navigate these emerging options with their patients.
Ethical Considerations: Relaxed regulatory environments of network states raise critical ethical questions. Healthcare professionals must be involved in balancing innovation with patient safety.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Breaking down barriers between disciplines, these initiatives allow collaboration with experts from fields like blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and bioengineering to advance longevity research.
Investment Opportunities: For those interested in the business side of healthcare, these decentralized initiatives could represent new investment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the longevity space.
From DeSci to DeLong? What’s Next?
While challenges abound, some of the world’s brightest minds actively work to overcome them. Novel solutions, yet to be conceptualized, may prove foundational to the next leap forward in longevity science. Decentralized longevity (DeLong) as a concept has taken shape, even if the term itself hasn’t been officially coined yet.
This development runs parallel to traditional, evidence-based longevity research, offering a complementary, albeit more radical, approach. The vision proposed by figures like Buterin – a future where death is optional – pushes the boundaries of what conventional anti-aging research considers possible.
The roads to longevity are plentiful, but most are still unpaved. Whether they converge, diverge, or reach dead ends remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the landscape of longevity research is evolving beyond our comprehension.
As initiatives like Zuzalu, Zelar, and beyond wage their war on aging, disease, and scientific norms, they question the very foundations of human existence and society writ large – challenging life, death, and everything in between.