The ancient world is full of stories about quests for immortality. We’ve never managed to transcend death, but we have developed various means of postponing it.
Modern technology (especially indoor plumbing) has made strides toward allowing more of us to live longer. At the dawn of the 20th century, the average U.S. lifespan was less than 50 years old. Today, the average is close to 80, with a growing number of Americans living into their 90s and beyond.
