Andrew Steele, writer and longevity campaigner

Who we're talking about: Andrew Steele, a scientist, writer, and longevity campaigner. Steele got his PhD in physics at Oxford. He then decided to switch to aging biology and worked at the Francis Crick Institute, predicting when people might die based on their medical records (fun work).

Steele made another career change and became a full-time science writer. He's written a book on longevity science, and now travels the world to promote and popularize longevity research.

And the news is: Steele recently gave an interview in which he made the claim that curing aging is not a matter of time, but a matter of investment. Steele says there are a certain number of "nerd hours" between where we are now and a point when aging comes under medical control. And those "nerd hours" cost money.

Why this is a big deal: You can make the case that every crusader for every cause has claimed that his chosen field is not getting enough money. But Steele has been talking to influential and rich people around the world, and he has a unique and powerful argument.

Steele says that every dollar invested in longevity research today could be saving your life in a few years' time, or maybe your children's lives in a few decades' time. It's a provocative thought. If you'd like to read Steele's argument in more detail, the following article is a good place to start.