The Brevity of Human Life

  “The Brevity of Human Life in the Vastness of Cosmic Time.”

A friend of mine sent me this in a WhatsApp chat (in dark blue) 

 

*In the End, We Are All Stardust* 

 

 Every generation asks the same questions: Where did we come from? How did life begin? What is our place in the vast Universe?

Today, science gives us answers that are not only rational but unexpectedly beautiful.

The Universe began in a moment of unimaginable energy, the *Big Bang,* nearly 14 billion years ago. From that first expansion, came galaxies, stars, and eventually building blocks of everything we see. 

When a star died in a brilliant explosion, it scattered the elements that one day would form our Sun, our Earth, and every living being. It is a humbling thought: the iron flowing through our blood was forged in the heart of a long-vanished star.

Approximately, 4.6 billion years ago, Earth emerged from a swirling cloud of cosmic dust, cooling into oceans that would nurture the earliest forms of life. From the silent chemistry of those ancient waters, life gained a foothold; and through the slow, steady  power of evolution, the planet blossomed into the astonishing diversity we witness today. This narrative is not just science; it is a reminder of our profound connection to the Universe, and to one another. In an age where division seems easier than understanding the knowledge that we all share the same cosmic origin, should bring us closer, not drive us apart.

When we say we are children of stardust, it is not a metaphor; it is a scientific truth, and a philosophical awakening. It tells us that *no race, religion, caste, or background makes one human superior to another.* We all began in the same cosmic fire, and we all depend on the same fragile planet to survive. Recognizing this shared heritage is more important than ever. 

 

As we face climate change, conflict, and rising social fragmentation, we must remember that Earth is the only home stardust has ever known to become conscious. Protecting it is not an option, it is an obligation.

 

Our common story of born in light, shaped by Earth, and carried forward by humanity should be a source of unity. It reminds us that we are part of something far greater, yet equally responsible for the small world we inhabit. In the end, we come from the stars, and if we choose wisely, our future can shine just as brightly.

 

 As we measure the age of the Universe, we are measuring the limits of our own understanding, for the cosmos is older or younger than we think, the true mystery lies not in its years, but in the endless wonder it awakens in us.

 *Raju* 

 ---------------------------------

Here is my answer to Raju

 

Thank you for this article. I have alright mentioned we are made from stardust.  I wrote that on Saturday, December 28, 2024. 

Read the details in this paragraph 

 

"The Stardust Connection and the Formation of Life" in this link here written by me. 

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=Stardust+&m=1

 

We are actually made of star dusts from another world through a supernova explosion of a star, its dusts that landed up as the soil of this earth from which God made us.

Whether or not we originated  through a supernova explosion of a distant star, our brevity of existence here in this world is humbling.

Both the Bible and the works of William Shakespeare frequently use evocative metaphors such as shadows, mist, and theatrical stages to describe the fleeting nature of human existence.

Biblical Verses on the Brevity of Life

The Bible often emphasizes life's transience to encourage spiritual wisdom and reliance on God. Key verses include:

James 4:14: "What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes".

Psalm 144:4: "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow".

Psalm 90:10: "The years of our life are seventy... they are soon gone, and we fly away".

Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom".

Other verses using imagery like grass, flowers, or a weaver's shuttle also highlight the brevity of life.

Shakespearean Quotes on the Brevity of Life

Shakespeare’s characters often reflect on the short, "dream-like" quality of life, particularly in his tragedies and later plays. Notable quotes include:

Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5): "Out, out, brief candle! / Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more".

The Tempest (Act 4, Scene 1): "We are such stuff / As dreams are made on; and our little life / Is rounded with a sleep".

Henry IV Part 1 (Act 5, Scene 2): "O gentlemen, the time of life is short! / To spend that shortness basely were too long".

Several other plays contain lines emphasizing life's shortness or comparing it to a stage performance.

Other Notable Literary Quotes

Seneca observed that life is not inherently short but is made so by our choices and wastefulness.

John Green suggested that lives are made up of a finite set of moments.

Marcus Aurelius emphasized the importance of focusing on one's inner state rather than external events, often interpreted in the context of life's brevity  

Let me illustrate this in another way: 

If 1,000 years, 10,000 years, 1 million, 1 billion, and 1 trillion years were each represented as one day, then how many seconds would 100 years of our life last in each of these scales?

Here’s the answer through a calculation. We simply treat:

100 years (scaled seconds) = (100 ÷ X) × 86400 seconds

where X is the number of real years represented by one day.

 

Results are: 

If a100 years is scaled down  to one  day, then 100 years of our lives last only for 8,640 seconds 

	1,000 years is 2 hours 24 minutes
	10,000 years is 864 seconds (14 minutes 24 seconds)
	1,000,000 years is 8.64 seconds
	1,000,000,000 years (1 billion) is 0.00864 seconds (8.64 milliseconds)
	1,000,000,000,000 years (1 trillion) is 0.00000 864 seconds (8.64 milliseconds)

This beautifully shows how tiny 100 years becomes when we place it against vast cosmic timescales

On a 1-billion-year-per-day scale, all of human history is a fraction of a blink.

On a trillion-year-per-day scale, an entire human lifetime is just 8.64 microseconds, far shorter than the time it takes to snap our fingers.

That realization  how incredibly short our earthly life is when contrasted with cosmic time is both humbling, heartfelt  and profound to me.

1. A human life to me is a breath in cosmic time. Even if a person lives a full 100 years, on the scale of Earth’s age (4.54 billion years), the universe’s age (13.8 billion years), or the trillion-year future predicted for the cosmos our entire lifetime becomes a flicker of light, a moment so brief it can hardly be measured.

2. Yet that short life can change the world. Paradoxically, even though our lifespan is tiny, a single human being can transform millions of lives, a single discovery can shape centuries, and a single act of compassion, love and charity can echo far beyond our death. This, to me  is the mystery and beauty of human existence. Our time is short, but our influence can be eternal.

3. Spiritual perspective (with the tone of spiritual thinking I like)

When I see  a 100 years

of life becomes 8.64 milliseconds on a cosmic scale, it reminds me of verses like:

“For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by.”

(Psalm 90:4)

Let me illustrate the brevity of life in another way. 

Image a calendar with leaves of each day on it. Consider how the leaves of days become less and less on the calendar as each leaf is torn away from it with each passing day. This is the same as the leaves of our lives being shortened with each passing day till nothing is left on the calendar of our lives. 

As I write this we have now less than 5  hours left towards another New Year - 2026. This evening is the last  leaf in this present calendar,  soon being torn away, similar to the life of  everybody in this world into a new calendar of their lives after midnight. 

Human life is brief, but in that briefness, something precious is given to us:

Purpose, love, curiosity, the ability to create, discover, heal, and think, and to share our thoughts  with others - things no other creature on Earth can do. Would you share your thoughts  with me? 

In 1 Corinthians 13:13 it tells us:

" And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. But the greatest of

these is love (charity)" 

4. Why does this thought moves me?

It is because it awakens me into two deep truths:

1. Humility:
We are tiny compared to the universe.

2. Sacredness:
Despite our smallness, our lives matter immensely. 

This thought touches countless patients, students, and friends, the impact remains long after the seconds of our life have passed.

It is a beautiful thought for me at least that I may share with anyone, whether he or she are highly learned and intellectual research scientists, university professors, teachers, or are medical specialists, ordinary medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, theologians, students, or just simple lay, but gentle readers here in my blog, provided they understand what I write, accept truths, be appreciative and be thankful.

For further reading please click to this link on:

"Seventy: The Narrow Bridge Between Time and Eternity"

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2025/12/seventy-narrow-bridge-between-time-and.html

Remembering a Time When We Were Simply Malaysians

 

 

I received a letter written by Admad Shauki through WhatsApp group. Here is what he wrote:  

 WHAT DO MALAYS THINK ABOUT THEIR PRIVILEGES OVER OTHER MALAYSIANS IN MALAYSIA?

by Ahmad Shauki

 "I am a Malay and a Muslim. My father was Malay. His fore parents were Malays. My mother was a Malay and her fore parents were Malays. I was born in January 1955 in a village in rural Kedah. The only economic activity within the village was related to farming and rubber-tapping. I began schooling when I was 7 in 1962. At that time there were 4 mediums of teaching in Malaya - Malay, English, Chinese or Tamil. In my hometown, there were Malay Primary Schools and Chinese Primary Schools. There was no Tamil Primary School in my hometown Yan Kedah. At that time there was no Secondary School in Yan Kedah. We went to a Primary School for 6 years. After Primary 6 we would enter Secondary 1 for 5 years. At the end of Form 5 we would sit for Senior Cambridge exams. Upon passing the Exams we would enter Form 6 for 2 years. We would sit for the Higher School Certificate Exam, something equivalent to the British A-Level. Passing the Higher School Certificate we would be able to enter the one and only university around, the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. At this University at that time the only medium of instruction was English. I can proudly tell everyone at that time our Standards of Education was truly very high. At that time almost everyone who sat for the Senior Cambridge Exams were fluent in English. When I was growing up we (the Malays) never considered ourselves ‘Bumiputra’ and we never considered the others (Chinese or Indians) as Non-Bumiputraa. At that time we considered everyone human beings. We were equals! My family was poor. Our house was next to a thick tropical jungle at the foothills of Gunung Jerai, which was known as Kedah Peak. Our neighbour was a Chinese family. My parents were rubber-tappers and our neighbours Ah Theik and his wife and children were farmers. They grew vegetables and sold their produce to vegetable-sellers in the small town. Ah Theik had a son, Ah Seng. He was a year older than I was. Everyday we walked about 1.5 km to town, our Primary Schools were adjacent to each other. At that time everyone walked. A bicycle was a luxury. A motorbike was a trophy. A car was more than a luxury. There were no Indians in Yan (my hometown) because there were no rubber estates. There were not so many Chinese in Yan because there was no tin mine in Yan. There were no ‘True Malays' in Yan or the whole country at the time when I was a small boy. I never knew I was a ‘Bumiputra' at that time. My father's family was immigrants from Thailand. His foreparents were immigrants from Yemen. My mother’s family were immigrants from Aceh, Indonesia. We (Malaysians) are all immigrants. Dr Mahathir who is the ‘Mostest Purest Malay Racist’ is an Indian-Muslim. His father was an immigrant from Kerala, India. Most Chinese in Malaysia have their parents who were immigrants from China. Majority of the Chinese in Melaka were immigrants from China. Their foreparents migrated to Melaka even before Mahathir’s great-greater-greatest- greatest plus grandparents were born in Kerala. Mahathir was born in Kedah, his father was an Indian immigrant and he is the ‘Mostest Purest Ultra’est’ Malay but a Chinese from Melaka whose first foreparents were born in Melaka before 1511 AD (the Portuguese attacked and conquered Melaka in 1511) are not Bumiputra ? Why ? Vernacular Colonisation. Malaysians were divided into ‘Bumiputra' and ‘Non-Bumiptra’ in order for Malaysia to be recolonise by a tiny group of mentally retarded inbred ‘Bumiputra'’ to colonise Malaysia. For me Malaysia would be the Richest Country in this World without the New Economic Policy. UiTM should be opened to all Malaysians. Beginning 1980 when Ka-Tun Mahashit was elected the Prime Minister of Malaysia the NEW ECONOMIC POLICY WAS USED TO LEGALISE CORRUPTIONS AND ROBBERIES OF NATIONAL ASSETS. CONSTRUCTION WORKS WERE AWARDED TO MALAY MILLIONAIRES AT GROSSLY INSULTING PRICES IN THE NAME OF ‘NEW ECONOMIC POLICY’ In 1970 the NEW ECONOMIC POLICY was formulated to ‘distribute the Wealth of our Country more evenly and to abolish extreme poverty within THE BUMIPUTRA GROUP. AWARDING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AT SKYROCKETTED PRICES TO MALAY MULTI-MILLIONAIRES DO NOTHING TO THE POOR MALAYS.

UMNO TALK ABOUT ‘BUMIPUTRA’ THE SENOI, JAKUNS, AND ALL THE ORANG ASLI ARE BUMIPUTRAS. HAVE THESE GROUPS OF MALAYSIANS BEEN GIVEN ANYTHING ? WHAT I KNOW IS - ‘RICH MULTI-MILLIONAIRES FROM UMNO WERE GIVEN LICENCES TO CUT LOGS IN THE FORESTS AND AS USUAL THE RICH UMNO MULTI-MILLIONAIRES SOLD HIS LICENCES TO SOME RICHER/POORER CHINESE LOGGERS. THE NEW ECONOMIC POLICY WAS USED BY CORRUPTED GREEDY UMNO POLITICIANS TO ROB THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY. UITM WAS USED TO BREED MEDIOCRITY AND PUNISH EXCELLENCE.

The downfall of this beautiful country is by Malays' themselves". 

 

Below the dotted line is my comment and reply in blue to Admad Shauki. I share my united Malaysians experience when I was in school. 

 

 ---------------------

Remembering a Time When We Were Simply Malaysians

by J. B. Lim

I write this as a personal reflection shaped by memory rather than ideology. Having read the views expressed by Ahmad Shauki, I find many of his observations are the same as mine  with my own lived experience growing up in Malaysia during the 1950s and 1960s.

I was born and raised in Batu Pahat, Johor, and attended High School Batu Pahat before continuing my studies in Singapore for my A-Levels, and later in India and England for university. During my secondary school years, English was the medium of instruction, as it was in many institutions at the time. Yet beyond language, what stood out most was the spirit in which students related to one another. The only language we used irrespective of our races  was  English - the universal language of education and media of instruction that also united us.

In school, my Malay, Chinese, and Indian classmates did not see themselves primarily through racial or religious identities. We regarded one another simply as classmates and friends, - as Malaysians. Our Malay classmates were Ahmad, Abu Bakar or Ali, our Chinese friends were Ah Seng, Ah Bah and Ah Leng, and our Indian classmates were usually Muttu, Doraisamy or Arumugam.  Differences in background were acknowledged naturally, but they did not define relationships or limit friendships. There was no sense of separation or hierarchy, only a shared sense of belonging.

Our lives were richly intertwined. We studied, played, and celebrated together. Festive seasons like  Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and Christmas  were occasions for visiting one another’s homes in mixed groups, sharing food, conversation, and laughter. During each other festivals we would dressed in new clothes and came in mixed groups of all races - Malays, Chinese and Indians to visit each of our classmate homes where we would eat and drink freely with joy  with happiness and laughter.  Sensitivities were respected instinctively, but there was no anxiety or awkwardness. These gatherings were expressions of genuine friendship rather than deliberate acts of “inter-racial harmony”.

School sports days reflected the same spirit. Loyalty was directed towards house colours — Raffles (red), Ibrahim (brown), Abu Bakar (green), Gallimard (blue), and Monteiro (yellow)  — not ethnicity. We cheered one another on irrespective of race enthusiastically, valuing effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship above all else.

Outside school, life was equally communal. In those days, Johor observed Fridays and Saturdays as weekends, with schooling on Sundays. On free days, groups of friends — Malays, Chinese, and Indians  would cycle together to Minyak Beku 6 miles away  by the sea. We swam, shared simple meals such as nasi lemak that was only 10 cents per packet and  F&N soft drinks, and returned home cycling together in groups, tired but happy. These were uncomplicated joys, rooted in friendship and mutual trust.

As the years passed, Malaysian society evolved, shaped by complex historical, political, and social forces. Gradually, race and religion became more visible markers in public life, and some of the easy social mixing that once felt natural became less common. Places that were once shared by all communities began to reflect more segmented patterns of interaction.

Even so, personal relationships often continued to transcend these broader changes. Over the decades, I have shared meals and celebrations with friends of different races and reglious backgrounds, always marked by respect and goodwill. These moments affirmed my belief that at the personal level, Malaysians remain capable of deep mutual understanding when guided by friendship rather than fear.

This reflection is not written in criticism, nor as a longing for the past at the expense of the present. Rather, it is a quiet remembrance of a time when unity was lived rather than discussed, and trust was assumed rather than negotiated. If there is a lesson to be drawn, it may simply be this: the bonds that once connected us were formed through daily human interaction — through shared experiences, kindness, and respect.

Such bonds are not relics of history.  They are values that can still be nurtured, patiently and sincerely, for the generations to come.

The Birth of Christ: Beyond Dates and Into Divine Purpose

Today is Christmas Day 2025.

Thank you to all who have wished me their common and usual “Merry Christmas” since last evening - on Christmas Eve.

 As I said in my poem, every day is Christmas for me here: 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=poem+for+christmas

However, in exchange for their common greetings, let me give them my rare and unique Christmas gift - something far more solid, and mindfully tangible for them to ponder over  than mere “Merry Christmas” - and I do not think it is very merry after reading it. It is mindful and sobering instead.

But before that, on Friday, June 3, 2022 I penned my thoughts on the Mystery of the Star in the East here:

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=Star+in+the+East+&m=1

Here is my present for them, they may share with others. It is quite  a lengthy that took me almost three days of thinking and researching. Fortunately, research has been my lifelong university training and profession. 

 

Christmas is traditionally celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December as the day of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world. Although the Bible does not record the exact date of Jesus’ birth, the Church has, for centuries, set aside this day to commemorate the moment when God entered human history in flesh and humility. Christmas, therefore, is not primarily a claim of historical precision, but a celebration of profound theological truth and spiritual meaning.

The Gospel narratives themselves reflect this emphasis. Matthew and Luke, the only evangelists who describe the birth of Jesus, do not mention a specific date or even a clear season. Instead, their accounts focus on the significance of the incarnation: the fulfillment of prophecy, the humility of Christ’s birth, the angelic announcement, and the arrival of the Savior for all people. Luke records that shepherds were watching over their flocks by night, a detail that has led many scholars to suggest a warmer season, possibly spring during the lambing period, since sheep were commonly sheltered during the colder winter months. This observation, while informative, remains suggestive rather than conclusive.

Historical considerations further support the uncertainty of the exact date. Based on the reign of King Herod the Great, who died around 4 B.C., and the events surrounding Jesus’ early life, historians generally place His birth between 6 and 4 B.C. This indicates that Jesus was born several years before the starting point of the Christian calendar and confirms that Scripture does not intend to anchor His birth to a precise day. The Bible remains silent on the matter, directing attention instead to the meaning of His coming rather than its timing.

Despite this lack of historical specificity, the early Christian Church eventually settled on December 25th as the day to celebrate Christ’s birth. This choice, made most clearly in the fourth century, was neither accidental nor arbitrary. It reflected both pastoral wisdom and theological symbolism. December 25th coincided with popular Roman festivals associated with the winter solstice, particularly celebrations of the “Unconquered Sun.” At the darkest time of the year, when daylight begins to increase, early Christians proclaimed a powerful alternative message: that Jesus Christ is the true Light of the world, surpassing all cosmic symbols and earthly powers.

This symbolism I can say harmonizes deeply with biblical theology. Scripture repeatedly presents Christ as the Light who overcomes darkness. His birth, celebrated at the turning point of the year from diminishing to increasing light, serves as a vivid reminder that God’s light enters the world precisely when darkness seems strongest. In this way, December 25th became a fitting day to proclaim the spiritual reality of the incarnation, regardless of the historical season in which it occurred.

Another ancient tradition connects the date of Jesus’ birth to the date of His conception. Some early Christians believed that Jesus was conceived on March 25th, the day commemorating the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear the Son of God. This date was also associated in early Christian thought with the creation of the world and, later, with the crucifixion. Counting nine months from March 25th leads naturally to December 25th. While this reasoning is theological rather than historical, it reflects a belief in divine order and sacred symmetry, affirming that Christ’s life unfolded according to God’s perfect timing.

 

In light of these considerations, Christmas is best understood not as a historical assertion about an exact date, but as a sacred tradition that expresses eternal truth. The Church does not claim absolute certainty about the day of Jesus’ birth; instead, it invites believers to remember and rejoice in the reality that God became human. As the Apostle Paul writes, it was in the “fullness of time” that God sent His Son, emphasizing divine purpose rather than calendar precision.

Ultimately, the enduring significance of Christmas does not depend on whether Jesus was born in winter, spring, or autumn. What matters is that He was born, that God drew near to humanity, and that salvation entered the world. Christmas calls believers to look beyond dates and debates and to contemplate the mystery of the incarnation: the eternal Word taking on flesh, the Creator entering His creation, and divine love revealed in the humility of a manger.

December 25th, then, stands as a chosen and meaningful day, rich in symbolism and spiritual wisdom. It unites believers across centuries in celebrating not a date, but a Person. In remembering Christ’s birth on Christmas Day, the Church proclaims a truth that transcends time itself, that the Light has come into the world, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

On a final note, the date of Jesus birth is as mysterious as His missing 18 years of His life when He suddenly reappeared again on Earth with awfully horrendous supernatural powers here:

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=missing+years+of+jesus

-   ju-boo lim 

Seventy: The Narrow Bridge Between Time and Eternity

 

Seventy: The Narrow Bridge Between Time and Eternity

Seventy is a profound milestone in human life. From almost every perspective , biological, medical, social, and philosophical, crossing the age of seventy marks entry into what humanity has long called “old age.” It is not merely a number, but a threshold. Like a magnificent sunset approaching the horizon, life at seventy glows with memory, colour, and meaning, while quietly reminding us that daylight is finite.

Public demographic data tell us that only about four in ten people will pass their seventieth birthday and live on toward eighty. To reach seventy is already an achievement; to advance beyond it is to walk a narrowing ridge where resilience, wisdom, and fortune intertwine.

The Difficult Decade: Seventy to Eighty

The decade between seventy and eighty is often the most demanding period of later life. Aging accelerates. Every organ system, whether cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, or immune system will  continues an irreversible process of wear, not unlike a well-used machine that still runs, but more slowly and with increasing fragility.

During this time, chronic illnesses emerge or worsen, and the immune system becomes less responsive and more erratic. Minor infections linger longer; major illnesses may appear suddenly. This is not personal failure, but  it is the biology of ageing.

Neurologically and physically, reaction times slow, balance weakens, and coordination declines. Falls, choking, dizziness, and simple household accidents become serious threats. A single misstep can alter the trajectory of life permanently.

Equally profound, and often more painful, is the emotional aging that accompanies the physical. Friends, classmates, colleagues, comrades, and siblings of the same generation begin to disappear, one by one. The social circle contracts. Conversations become fewer. Loneliness quietly grows, even in the presence of family.

For some, hearing fades, memory fragments, and independence weakens. The fear of becoming a burden weighs heavily on the elderly, often more than illness itself. Prolonged bed rest, dependency, and loss of dignity are among the most deeply human anxieties of this stage of life.

Indeed, old age is not a peaceful meadow for everyone. For many, it is a storm, sometimes silent, sometimes violent. To acknowledge this truth is not pessimism; it is realism tempered with compassion.

Redefining Victory in Old Age

Yet perspective matters. If a person reaches seventy and steps onto the road toward eighty, that person is already fortunate. If one reaches seventy-five, one has crossed halfway through the most difficult decade of life and has essentially achieved the average life expectancy of many nations.

To complete the journey to eighty is a remarkable human victory. It is like reaching a base camp after a long and treacherous climb. From there, one may choose to rest, to reminisce, or even to continue upward,  but without illusion or pressure.

The pursuit of ninety or a hundred years need not be an obsession. Longevity without quality is not triumph. What matters is not how long we live, but how consciously, meaningfully, and peacefully we inhabit the days that remain.

What We Still Can Control

Time does not return. The future cannot be guaranteed. But there remains one sovereign domain that even old age cannot steal from us: how we live today.

Do not regret yesterday.
Do not gamble recklessly with tomorrow.
Cherish today,  fully, deliberately, gratefully.

If today you can still eat and walk, then eat food you enjoy in moderation. Walk where beauty still exists, even slowly. Say what was left unsaid. Fulfill the small wishes postponed for decades. Presence matters more than plans.

Hold firmly to life, but do not cling fearfully. Leave as few regrets as possible. Encourage one another. Walk together through this final stretch with dignity, courage, and kindness.

Caloric Restriction, Longevity, and Ageing: What Science Tells Us. 

Modern science has provided intriguing insights into ageing, particularly through studies on caloric restriction (CR), the practice of reducing calorie intake without malnutrition.

Across multiple species,  yeast, worms, flies, rodents, and primates,  caloric restriction has consistently been shown to extend lifespan and delay age-related diseases. In humans, long-term CR does not yet conclusively prove lifespan extension, but strong evidence suggests improvements in health span, including:

Reduced cardiovascular risk, improved insulin sensitivity, lower inflammation, improved lipid profiles, slower metabolic ageing

Mechanistically, caloric restriction influences key biological pathways such as:

mTOR inhibition, AMPK activation, improved mitochondrial efficiency, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced autophagy.

Importantly for the elderly, aggressive caloric restriction is not advisable. Instead, the evidence supports gentle, intelligent moderation:

Avoid overeating

Reduce refined sugars and ultra-processed foods

Maintain adequate protein to prevent sarcopenia

Focus on nutrient density rather than calorie counting

In short, eat less, but better , and never at the expense of strength, immunity, or joy.

Finally, my feeling is, old age is not a failure of life; it is life revealed without illusion. To reach seventy is to earn the right to speak honesty about life and our life span in this world, its fragility and the meaning of our existence here. To walk towards eighty is an act of quite heroism.  
On this note let me tell you about my late and only son - Benjamin Lim Chong Minn who was born on Christmas eve this day - 24 December, 1979  (today is Christmas Eve), and left this world this year (2025) in June at the age of 46. On the eve of Christmas he was born, the skies  were very clear, and was  lighted with stars and constellations like the Orion. It was a Christmas gift for us. But he didn't even managed to reach seventy. He complained of chest pain on February 25 or 26 this year.  He rang his uncle Professor Dr Lim Yew Cheng who is my youngest brother - a Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon about his chest pain. His uncle called him to come immediately to see him, but he did not. Months passed from neglect, and he probably suffered a cardiac arrest while cycling up a hill with his team of cyclist friends, and collapsed. Cycling was his only hobby he enjoyed to reduce stress working as a computer controller for Maybank in its headquarters. He was extremely lucky to pass away peacefully while enjoying his only hobby. 

If the age of Earth in creation at 4.54 billion years old (4.54 x 10^9), is scaled down to a day (24 hours, or 86,400 seconds), then 46 years of my son's life lasted only approximately 0.000875 seconds in the 24-hour creative day timeline. This teeny-tiny flash in time of our lifespans  holds true for everyone reading this. There is no escape for anyone, and yet we invest in a lot of properties here in this world hoping to carry them into eternity. 

Let us remind ourselves this verse;

"For what is a man profited, if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

(Matthew 16:26) 

It is very doubtful if people understands this verse, and appreciate what I am trying to tell them here. 

Finally, do you think that exercise, cycling and jogging is good for health" Think again. I have answered that on Wednesday, July 19, 2024 here:   

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2024/07/do-you-think-exercise-and-jogging-are.html

My massage to everyone is:   

1. Encourage one another.
2. Walk slowly, but walk.
3. Eat simply, but enjoy.
4. Remember deeply.
5. Love gently.
6. Leave peacefully.

 

Further Reading

1. Fontana L, Partridge L, Longo VD. Extending healthy life span—from yeast to humans. Science, 2010.

2. Mattison JA et al. Caloric restriction improves health and survival of rhesus monkeys. Nature Communications, 2017.

3. Longo VD, Anderson RM. Nutrition, longevity and disease. Cell, 2022.

4. Sinclair DA, LaPlante MD. Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don’t Have To. HarperCollins, 2019.

5. López-Otín C et al. The hallmarks of aging. Cell, 2013.