The Progress Conference 2025, held in Berkeley, brought together a diverse group of thinkers focused on innovation and progress. Unlike typical conferences, this event featured a vibrant environment at Lighthaven, encouraging meaningful interactions among attendees from various fields. The sessions ranged from rethinking agriculture to health policy, with a notable highlight being an interview with Michael Kratsios, Trump’s former science advisor. The atmosphere was characterized by a “big tent” approach, fostering discussions about the direction and goals of the progress movement, allowing for differing opinions to coexist and stimulate conversation. A significant portion of the conference centered on longevity and health, emphasizing the need for increased funding in aging research. Speakers highlighted the distinction between aging as a disease and the impact of specific ailments on lifespan. They pointed out that while life expectancy has dramatically increased due to disease prevention, aging itself remains underfunded in scientific research. The talks oscillated between addressing specific diseases and exploring biological markers of aging, such as genomic instability and cellular senescence. Experts argued that improving longevity could have profound implications for society and the economy, with even a single additional productive year of life translating to trillions in economic benefits. Economics played a key role in the discussions. Estimates suggest that 25% of Medicare spending goes toward the last year of life. Extending productive years could alleviate some of this burden. Data analyst John Burn-Murdoch discussed how contemporary issues like drug use and suicide threaten historical trends of increasing lifespans, especially among young people. The consensus among economists was clear: longer, healthier lives are beneficial not only for individuals but also for the economy as a whole. This interconnectedness of longevity science and economic stability underscores the urgency of addressing both biological aging and the societal factors that impact lifespan.