Scientific Wondering

68 In a county filled with smart people (at least we think so), Novato’s Buck Institute — which was established in 1999 as the nation’s first independent, nonprofit scientific institute dedicated solely to understanding the connection between aging and chronic disease — is an I.M. Pei–designed local icon. Groundbreaking research comes out of these shiny white halls, such as a recent finding that a dye, Thioflavin T, used in laboratories to detect Alzheimer’s disease, extended the life span of nematode worms by more than 50 percent and slowed the disease process in worms bred to have aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. One of our favorite findings (and much easier to understand) was back in 2008, when a study concluded that people who volunteer live longer. Keep it coming, Buck! buckinstitute.org

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