This week we talked with molecular biology student and plant enthusiast Euan McCubbin about what a society would look like without aging, whether old Sci-fi that gets the science wrong is bad, and the challenges that come with writing a superintelligence. All stories (and movie) we cover are listed in the timestamps below and if you wish to avoid spoilers for anything feel free to skip that section. Euan also wrote a story “The Backgammon Player”, which is published on Synthesized Sunsets which you hope you give a read. Hope you enjoy!

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:12 - Disintegration in the context of molecular aging

00:06:16 - Would a cure for cancer be a cure for aging?

00:09:20 - A Society without aging in “The Algebraist” by Iain M. Banks

00:17:10 - The value of children’s lives across cultures and history

00:23:46 - “Genetics and Eugenics in Frank Herbert’s Dune-verse” by Gwern

00:27:20 - Does older Sci-fi that becomes outdated make it worse?

00:32:53 - Does it change how you view the art if a sci-fi writer gets the science wrong because of when they wrote it compared to getting the science wrong because they did bad research?

00:36:00 - Is it possible to write Sci-fi for the Future or is Sci-fi destined to become dated?

00:40:48 - “Understand” by Ted Chiang and the challenges of writing superintelligence

00:50:17 - Dystopian sci-fi juxtaposed with literal babblings of child in “World of Tomorrow” by Don Hertzfeldt

00:57:58 - Collapse in “Mistborn” and “The Kingkiller Chronicle”

01:05:05 - Conclusion and Euan hopes you read his story “The Backgammon Player”

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit synthesizedsunsets.substack.com/subscribe