Mitochondria lose their ability to produce sufficient energy (ATP) along with other critical functions throughout the aging process. In a recent study of C. elegans, scientists set out to see if this decline could be slowed using optogenetic rejuvenation. ⁠ ⁠ They found that shining light on the worms activated protons that traveled across the inner membrane of mitochondria and were converted into ATP. Astonishingly, their lifespan had been extended by as much as 30%, indicated by increased movement. ⁠ ⁠ This research in the nascent optogenetics field offers deeper insight into the mitochondrial relationship with aging while encouraging the development of new light-harvesting technologies that could potentially hack the aging process. ⁠ ⁠ Red light therapy similarly heals the body with this theory. If you’ve tried it, describe your experience below.⁠ ⁠ Source: https://medium.com/predict/harvesting-the-energy-of-light-to-extend-life-af2933a615de⁠ ⁠ https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.11.491574v1