Lifespan Increased By Ten-fold

Looks like Methuselah's record as the longest-living man in recorded history may be challenged. Well, almost, just short of 169 years.

Researchers from University of Southern California annouced that they can "slow aging and extend life span in organisms ranging from yeast to mice". By tinkering with some genes, researchers are able to increase the life span by 10-fold.

They say can extend the lifetime of yeast to 800 years. Awesome, but erm, who's gonna be the one testing whether yeast can still be used to bake a cake 800 years later?

• Research article
• Summary from io9