Reply To: Toshiba's "Micro Nuclear Reactor" – it's not fusion, but it's here now

[Brian H]

I wonder about the progress of science in a world of immortals. The observation has been made that science advances its paradigms one funeral at a time. Entrenched memes and all that. Whether having a “long view”, plus a vigourous and reasonably youthful body, would make “elder scientists” more amenable to new concepts, is hard to say.

In any case, the advent of unlimited cheap energy will alter so many considerations and circumstances and priorities that it’s almost a fool’s errand to try and anticipate the full (or maybe even most significant) consequences. Immortality research is probably something that would benefit, as the inspiration of removal of previously intractable limits will be very inspiring and enticing to many who have dark views of the world. (If you want a fine UK example, check out John Brignell’s site, “http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/number watch.htm” The Number Watch)
Note: copy/paste the link; It contains an embedded space after ‘number’, which seems to confuse the forum software no matter how I format it.