Hydrogen sulfide offers clue to how reducing calories lengthens lives

Caloric restriction increases production of the gas in cells, promoting resilience

Tapping into an ancient cellular energy source may help stave off the rigors of surgery and the ravages of age.

Hydrogen sulfide, a foul-smelling poisonous gas that microbes have been munching for eons, may be responsible for the health benefits and life-extending effects of reduced-calorie diets, scientists propose December 23 in Cell.