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Do We Have To Die? With Venki Ramakrishnan

2025-07-19 Science & Technology
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StarTalk
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Why do we die? Do we have to? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly explore the paradox of death, the science of aging, and the search for immortality with Nobel Prize-winning structural biologist Venki Ramakrishnan, author of the new book Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality. What do we mean by death? We discuss the paradox within death: that an organism's cells can be alive, but the organism itself could be dead. Is death a lack of brainwaves, a stopped heart, or the irreversible loss of biological coherence? You’ll learn how cells die to keep you alive, how the boundaries between life and death are fuzzier than you think, and why aging might be more like a slow unraveling than a clear biological switch. We then dive into the cellular machinery of how proteins deteriorate, how DNA and mitochondria accumulate errors, and how senescent cells, meant to prevent cancer, can fuel inflammation and disease. Could reprogramming these cells help us reverse aging? You’ll hear about the latest in anti-aging research, from fasting and caloric restriction to rapamycin and regenerative medicine. Why don’t humans live as long as Greenland sharks, which live 500 years? We look at species that live far longer than humans, and ask: are we biologically programmed to die, or is it just a side effect of evolution focusing on reproduction over repair? Does evolution care if we die? As we close, we explore the social consequences of longer lives. Would a world with little generational turnover be more stable or more stagnant? Can we separate what’s good for the individual from what’s good for society? And finally, from a cosmic perspective: does knowing we die give life its meaning? Thanks to our Patrons Erick Schnell, Joey T, Nick Fortin, Karen Harbert, Jacob Kirkpatrick, Gunther Hammel, Frankie Blooding, Cynthia Maloy, Davlat Sirojitdinov, Abram Pousada, Adam Wyler, Greg Anderson, Soleful, Vlad lucha, Arvind Sridhar, thomas maigler, Morgan Wireman, Robey Neeley, Isaiah Fox, Volodymyr, BB, Eric Hilgendorf, Gabe B., Josh Emery, Devon Hen, Tiffany Alisa Boggs, Carmine Ciccone, Armstrong Manhães, Chris Sedunary, Chihiro, Roberto Medeiros, Sanaz Mitchell, Greg Wilson, Robert, Matthew Synco Sr., Meiby Yeras, Juraj Belanji, Katherine Yarbrough, Pedro, Sarah Lippert, Conor Doherty, Evgeny Semiletov, Ranjana Ranjana, Umar Cheema, ashwin patti, Grant Norman, Starry-eyed mama, Bob Rueter, Andrew, Peter Rhomberg, Brent Linford, and Dominic Consiglio for supporting us this week. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Venki Ramakrishnan 05:30 - What is Death? 11:29 - Aging at a Molecular Level & Mitochondria 18:11 - Senescent Cells & Aging at the Cell Level 20:47 - Cellular Reprogramming & Regenerative Medicine 29:38 - Lifespan in the Animal Kingdom 37:17 - Young Blood Transfusions 39:33 - Rapomycin & Caloric Restriction 43:44 - Slowing Aging Using Time Dialation 44:49 - Does Entropy Cause Death? 49:00 - Are We Programmed to Die? 53:46 - What Does Immortal Society Look Like? 58:35 - Can You Stay Healthy All Your Life? 1:01:07 - A Cosmic Perspective Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PL0NFn Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Top Comments (10)

@AmberCanvas7 2025-08-03

This dude is 73yrs old...is so sharp and fit! He is a Noble laureate in chemistry.

459 14 replies
@BhaswarupaBanerjee-d9p 2025-07-19

The way this man explained complex biological processes and jargon in simple ways so that every layman can understand biology is truly commendable.

966 13 replies
@GregSr 2025-10-04

My father lived with my wife and me in his final years. He lived to be 88 years old. He was on hospice care and he was well aware of his situation. He tried to maintain a sense of humor throughout his final time. He said things like, "it was a good run". He also said, "I'm not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens". As his son, I struggled with having to watch him deteriorate. He eventually stopped breathing in the middle of the night. Very peaceful. No drama.

319 27 replies
@user-yz7ds7rn9b 2025-07-19

Pls have Dr. Venki Ramakrushnan back!!! Loved the video.

504 2 replies
@JoshGresham-x8y 2025-07-20

I don't comment... ever. But sir, that was inspiring. I'm homeless, living in Omaha. You, guys keep me going. Dr. Tyson, Chuck, Mr O'Riley, Thank you.

2.3k 228 replies
@lotus_leo23 2025-08-24

I love the way he says anyways and brings the rest of nonsense talk back to things that was actually required to be discussed..I wish he was less interrupted..

96 8 replies
@mehmetkoyuncu2829 2025-07-20

“Death is nothing to us, for when we exist, death is not present, and when death is present, we do not exist.” Epicurus

246 16 replies
@iamthestog 2025-08-15

My grandmother lived to 94. In the last few years of her life she was very vocal that she was ready to die. She felt that she had lived a good life, but the world was now so different and her body so limited that her mind had made peace that her time here had come to an end. I'm now 50 years old and I can already see the world is changing so fast it's becoming easy to understand how when you no longer recognise the world you lived in is something you can relate to that your time here has come to an end. Now my mother is approaching 80 she is also coming to the realisation that her life here is also coming to a natural conclusion and she feels more and more alienated from the world she has known. I think us "youngsters" feel that we want to live forever because we feel connected to the world and want to stay within it because we are forging our life the way we want it to be. The older you get the harder it seems it is to be able to maintain that desire and energy to keep evolving. Love your life, live your life but value the finitely of life so the next generation can carve out their own life in the way you have.

99 15 replies
@laheart1957 2025-10-26

My mom passed away in 2024, at 93, just 3 months short of her 94th birthday. Always full of life at all times she could tell anyone what happened anywhere in the world an hour back. An avid reader, she coukd talk about science, religion, food.., about almost anything. At the hospital though, she started “seing” my late dad, figures etc. She asked us to “draw curtains” because the light was bothering her. She would start reciting “Slokas” in Sanskrit praying to Hindu Gods. Looking back, so much if they can hardly be explained. I think much of that was beyond human understanding.

9
@RadHobbies 2025-07-19

This is one of the most elegant and articulate person I’ve heard on this podcast. Most people when explaining something speak too fast, and don’t let their audience catch up. Great job!

1.5k 31 replies

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