Putin’s quest for longevity

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 September 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

At a recent ceremony for world leaders in Beijing, a hot mic picked up a surprising exchange between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping about the possibility of living to 150. Putin suggested the secret might lie in repeated organ transplants. But is this the new frontier of anti-ageing research or a fringe and unproven theory? To find out, science editor Ian Sample speaks to Russian affairs reporter Pjotr Sauer and to John S Tregoning, professor of vaccine immunology at Imperial College London and author of Live Forever: A Curious Scientist’s Guide to Wellness, Ageing and Death. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:10.2	Amazon brings the UEFA Champions League.
0:14.1	Unbelievable.
0:16.0	With Tuesday's unmissable match.
0:18.7	Enchontingly wonderful.
0:22.5	World class players.
0:24.3	Zeller!
0:26.3	What a strike!
0:28.0	Incredible drama.
0:29.3	And Harlan!
0:31.7	History in the making.
0:33.7	Rice would take two!
0:35.9	The UEFA Champions League.
0:38.7	It's on prime.
0:40.5	Welcome to Curry's.
0:42.2	Ah, I see you're looking at the A-rated high-sense dishwasher with auto-dose tech that uses just the right amount of detergent.
0:48.7	Wait, I heard that, but your mouth wasn't moving.
0:52.1	Yeah, it's telepathy. Much more efficient than talking.
0:55.3	So were you a wise and powerful magician then?
0:58.6	No, I'm a Curry's employee.
1:01.0	Delivery, installation and recycling for only 35 pounds.
1:04.5	Energy efficient tech made easy.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Guardian, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Guardian and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.