“It is death that gives urgency to life. It pushes us to discover, to cross oceans and reach the void of space,” says Herald Tribune columnist Rich Brooks (Thompson). The thought of being immortal is extremely tempting. To live in an ageless body, have all the time in the world to do just about anything is something every person has thought about. Immortality has always been a myth, but with technology continuing to advance every day at an alarming rate, it may soon be possible. Scientist Ray Kurzweil and many others have even predicted that this goal could be achieved in the next twenty years. However, if in the future scientists discovered a way to allow humans to live forever, behind all the sugar coating, they would discover that immortality is actually a curse. Since the beginning of time, people have been looking for a way to extend their lifespan or regain their youth. In Greek mythology, Aurora, the goddess of dawn, married a mortal Tithonus ("Greek Greece"). He went to Zeus and begged him to grant him immortality. Zeus accepted but did not add eternal youth to the deal because he was jealous. Tithonus aged to the point where he could no longer move, begging to die. Desperate, Aurora transformed him into a grasshopper to free him. It is said that in the year 1513 the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon traveled to Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth (Stibich). Legend stated that anyone who drank from this fountain would never grow old. However he gave up after years of searching. There is also the myth of the Holy Grail. According to medieval legend, Jesus Christ drank from this cup during the Last Supper (Advameg). The Grail is believed to have mystical powers, for example, it brings the eternal... center of the card...mpson, Tamara. “A longer lifespan could make people feel dissatisfied and less human.” Storm. Np, 2009. Web. 5 December 2011. .Moody, Errold. "LIFE EXPECTANCY TABLES". Department of Health and Human Resources. Np, 1996. Web. 5 December 2011. .Magalhaes, Joao. "Cellular senescence". senescence.info. Np, 2008. Web. 5 December 2011. .