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As French citizens protest against the raising of the state pension age, we look at the figures \\u2013 are we really living longer? And if so, why? We take notes from the naked mole rat - it\\u2019s born looking wrinkled but this rodent is apparently ageless. And moving on from mere creatures, we\\u2019re asking if every state, society or civilisation has a lifespan, and if we can prevent it ending on our watch.

Also, as South Africans battle to live their best lives against almost daily power cuts, we look at load shedding \\u2013 why is their power being switched off and is there a light at the end of the tunnel? We continue our quest to find The Coolest Science in the World with a man using tiny microbes for big problems, and the launch of a new BBC World Service drama about Fukushima gets us thinking about the consequences.

All that plus your emails and whatsapps, a team in three different countries and the decadence of Marnie\\u2019s footwear choices.

Presented by Marnie Chesterton\\nProduced by Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Ben Motley