What causes aging? In a paper published last month, the Harvard biologist David Sinclair reports that he and his co-authors have found the answer. Harnessing this knowledge, he was able to reverse this process, making mice younger, according to the study published in the journal Cell.I talked with Dr. Sinclair about his new study for this episode of Making Sense of Science. He said that turning back the clock on mouse age through what’s called epigenetic reprogramming – and understanding why animals get older in the first place – are key steps toward finding therapies for healthier aging in humans.Show links:Dr. Sinclair's paper, published last month in ​Cell.Dr. Sinclair's book, Lifespan.Recent pre-print paper - not yet peer reviewed - showing that mice treated with Yamanaka factors lived longer than the control group.Previous research on aging and DNA mutations.Dr. Sinclair's podcast.Leaps.org is a not-for-profit initiative that publishes award-winning journalism, popularizes scientific progress on social media, and hosts events about bioethics and the future of humanity. Visit the platform at www.leaps.org. Podcast host Matt Fuchs is editor-in-chief of Leaps.org.