We've all heard of the impressive Vulcan lifespan of 200+ years, and Ferengi like Zek can live at least 140 themselves. Hell even a Klingon warrior can last to 150 if they survive as many battles as Kor did. So what about humans?
I think humans must live to at least 150 by the time of the TNG universe if not longer. There are many real world theories of aging thrown around, like DNA determining a set time limit for the human body, to the build up of toxins in the organs and cells which cause them to break down and so forth. But there have also been many advancements in the last 500 years that have seen the human lifespan double.
In ancient Egypt, one was considered to be ready for the grave at 30. In Medieval times, getting to 60 showed you had a very respectable constitution - most English monarchs never reached it. Queen Elizabeth the 1st reached the champion age of 70 at the time of her death. Now the world's oldest people live beyond 120 years, though most of us should get to 90 or so if we stay healthy and out of trouble. Our own science has taken an animal with a lifespan little better than a housecat and extended it 3-4 times what it once was.
But in the 24th century, nobody gets sick very much anymore unless they leave earth to colonize other worlds or join starfleet and then run the risk of being exposed to exotic diseases that federation science can't treat. Even headaches are said to be rare. So human medicine is at its peak and still constantly improving in terms of keeping people healthy and free of disease and injury. Even transporter bio-filters cleanse the human body of any dangerous germs or toxins that might have built up.
We could assume the human diet is now satisfied by the healthiest foods with the highest nutritional value and least unecessary fat, salt and other undesirable elements.
Leonard McCoy is the best example I can think of for human longevity in trek. Even at 137 he was up and walking, cantankerous as ever (What's so troubling about not having died?). But even so, I think it's possible that since he was born in the early 23rd century, McCoy may not have benefited from the level of technology in medicine and lifestyle that the TNG characters have enjoyed all their lives and that he may have been much more decrepit than they will all be in advanced age.
So my point is I think humans may live as long as Vulcans in the TNG era, and maybe both races can live longer than 200+. Spock still looked pretty solid for a man approaching Sarek's TNG age. We have no real canon evidence to disprove the notion so it's all academic.. but I'd like to see what other opinions are on the idea.
And if real life technology can proceed at such a quick pace that it becomes comparable to sci-fi technology in some distant fictional future, I think we'll eventually have Vulcan lifespans too.
I think humans must live to at least 150 by the time of the TNG universe if not longer. There are many real world theories of aging thrown around, like DNA determining a set time limit for the human body, to the build up of toxins in the organs and cells which cause them to break down and so forth. But there have also been many advancements in the last 500 years that have seen the human lifespan double.
In ancient Egypt, one was considered to be ready for the grave at 30. In Medieval times, getting to 60 showed you had a very respectable constitution - most English monarchs never reached it. Queen Elizabeth the 1st reached the champion age of 70 at the time of her death. Now the world's oldest people live beyond 120 years, though most of us should get to 90 or so if we stay healthy and out of trouble. Our own science has taken an animal with a lifespan little better than a housecat and extended it 3-4 times what it once was.
But in the 24th century, nobody gets sick very much anymore unless they leave earth to colonize other worlds or join starfleet and then run the risk of being exposed to exotic diseases that federation science can't treat. Even headaches are said to be rare. So human medicine is at its peak and still constantly improving in terms of keeping people healthy and free of disease and injury. Even transporter bio-filters cleanse the human body of any dangerous germs or toxins that might have built up.
We could assume the human diet is now satisfied by the healthiest foods with the highest nutritional value and least unecessary fat, salt and other undesirable elements.
Leonard McCoy is the best example I can think of for human longevity in trek. Even at 137 he was up and walking, cantankerous as ever (What's so troubling about not having died?). But even so, I think it's possible that since he was born in the early 23rd century, McCoy may not have benefited from the level of technology in medicine and lifestyle that the TNG characters have enjoyed all their lives and that he may have been much more decrepit than they will all be in advanced age.
So my point is I think humans may live as long as Vulcans in the TNG era, and maybe both races can live longer than 200+. Spock still looked pretty solid for a man approaching Sarek's TNG age. We have no real canon evidence to disprove the notion so it's all academic.. but I'd like to see what other opinions are on the idea.
And if real life technology can proceed at such a quick pace that it becomes comparable to sci-fi technology in some distant fictional future, I think we'll eventually have Vulcan lifespans too.
