{
  "id": 18859008,
  "title": "Saul Newman: ‘If you’re Elon Musk and you’ve bought everything, the only thing left to sell is a way to escape death’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/saul-newman-if-youre-elon-musk-and-youve-bought-everything-the-only",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "El Pais English",
    "slug": "el-pais-english",
    "url": "https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-11-08/saul-newman-if-youre-elon-musk-and-youve-bought-everything-the-only-thing-left-to-sell-is-a-way-to-escape-death.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australian researcher Saul Justin Newman, 41, has published a book that challenges the scientific understanding of human longevity and the concept of \"blue zones,\" regions where people are said to live significantly longer than the global average. In his book, titled Morbid: Debunking Modern Longevity Science (2026), Newman argues that many of the claims surrounding these longevity studies are based on myths and statistical errors rather than genuine scientific evidence.\n\nOne of Newman's key points is that the so-called longevity of individuals like Jiroemon Kimura, who lived to be 116 years old, may not be as extraordinary as often claimed. He suggests that the exceptional cases of centenarians are more likely influenced by statistical anomalies and the lack of reliable birth records rather than superior genetics or diet. Newman's research, which earned him an Ig Nobel Prize in Demography in 2024, emphasizes that the focus on the limit of human lifespan is more of a fascination than a scientific reality.\n\nNewman points out that the concept of blue zones is problematic due to the lack of rigorous scientific investigation and the existence of conflicts of interest among researchers. He cites the discovery of a blue zone in Loma Linda, California, as an example of how seemingly significant findings can arise from mere curiosity rather than solid evidence. Furthermore, he highlights the issue of birth certificates, which are the primary means of verifying a person's age, as unreliable, leading to potential misrepresentation of longevity data.\n\nNewman argues that the statistical problems associated with blue zones are significant. He explains that even minor measurement errors in data can drastically skew results, especially when analyzing large populations. For instance, if a group of 100 individuals aged 40 knowingly falsifies their ages to appear 50, the survival rate of this group would increase simply because they are younger on average. As time progresses, the impact of these errors becomes more pronounced, potentially distorting the data to the point where a few individuals' misrepresentation could make an entire population appear to have a longer lifespan than it truly does.\n\nTo illustrate the challenges in validating the data, Newman discusses several instances where individuals listed as centenarians have been discovered to have died, yet their families continued to receive pension benefits, indicating that the individuals were not alive. He also notes a similar situation in Greece, where numerous centenarians were found to be deceased, but their families were still receiving pension payments. These discrepancies suggest a widespread issue of misinformation and data manipulation in the study of longevity.\n\nOne of the more controversial aspects of Newman's research is the commercialization of the blue zone concept. He reveals that the organization known as Blue Zones, which certifies regions as blue zones, offers expensive designations that can cost between $3 million to $40 million. This commercialization raises questions about the integrity of the designation process and the potential for bias in the selection of blue zones.\n\nNewman concludes that while the idea of blue zones is intriguing, the scientific evidence supporting it is weak, and the data quality is often poor. He advocates for a shift in focus from the quest to identify the maximum lifespan to improving average lifespan and quality of life, which is the primary goal of medical science. By emphasizing statistical accuracy and rigorous validation, Newman hopes to provide a more realistic understanding of human longevity and the limitations of current research methodologies.",
  "summary": "The Australian researcher questions the reliability of longevity data and argues that conflicts of interest underpin the so-called ‘blue zones,’ where people are believed to live longer than anywhere else in the world",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}