We hear about medical miracles. Bionic eyes are restoring sight to the blind. Mini robots are helping doctors cure diseases inside our body. Scientists are producing vaccines from genetically engineered tobacco plants. And women are even being saved by their breast implants.

We read remarkable stories of survival. "Pepper" the pet turtle spent 10 minutes in a golden retriever's stomach. Life is being nurtured from this 2,000 year old seed. And this Mexican tree frog was perfectly preserved in amber for around 25 million years. A company is even making diamonds out of DNA taken from Beethoven's hair.

Unfortunately, we're still facing an uphill battle. 18,000 children die of hunger every day, while pharmaceutical companies sell "sickness" to raise profits and Hollywood beams a generation of anorexics to the world.

Thankfully, there are many forward-looking people out there. Some are redesigning our culture. Others are planning to deflect Earth-bound asteroids. Meanwhile, we're all learning about global emissions trading and sustainable aquaculture development, especially now that they're planning to bury greenhouse gases at sea.

As for us, our path to immortality may be woven into the fabric of our online network now that MySpace has become a place for friends to remember you when you are gone. Does virtual life after death make you immortal?