Pint of Science – Hacking Life: From Ancient Anatomy to Modern Longevity
Show Date: May 19, 2026 @ 7 pm
Price: TBA
Show Description:
For centuries, humans have pushed the limits of life—first by uncovering the body’s hidden systems, and now by trying to extend how long we live. From ancient discoveries of the nervous system through bold anatomical experiments to today’s science of diet and longevity drugs, this event explores how our understanding of life and lifespan continues to evolve.
Beyond Aging: Science-Based Insights into Diet, Drugs, and Lifespan Extension
Ryan Marshall (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Wisonsin-Madison)
Human life expectancy soared through the 20th century, thanks to vaccines, clean water, and modern medicine. But recent decades tell a different story. Progress has stalled, and the upper limit of how long we live may be closer than we think. The Lamming Lab here at UW-Madison is exploring whether the key to a longer, healthier life could be found on your plate or in a pill. Join us as we dive into the latest science on diet and drugs for longevity, as we bust a few myths along the way.
Where is My Mind? Vivisection and The Discovery of the Nervous System in Antiquity
Julia Horn (Assistant Professor, University of Wisonsin-Madison)
This talk explores how over 2,200 years ago two physicians discovered the nervous system by means of vivisection. This short-lived and anomalous period of systematic human dissection and vivisection was apparently encouraged by the local ruler who gave the men criminals for their anatomical explorations. The discovery of the nervous system was highly influential, with physicians and philosophers using it to inform their own theories about where the mind is located (in the head or in the heart?), how it functions, and how it interacts with its body.