The New York Times

How Humanity Gave Itself an Extra Life

Between 1920 and 2020, the average human life span doubled. How did we do it? Science mattered — but so did activism.

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Takeaways

The period from 1916 to 1920 marked the last point in which a major reversal in global life expectancy would be recorded.

In effect, during the century since the end of the Great Influenza outbreak, the average human life span has doubled. There are few measures of human progress more astonishing than this.

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Takeaways
The most vital societal challenge is to extend the longevity of humanity.
Broadly speaking, society funds science, and scientists should reciprocate by attending to the public’s interests.

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