III: Molecular Aging and the Fullness of Time w/ Euan McCubbin

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 aging00:06:16 - Would a cure for cancer be a cure for aging?00:09:20 - A Society without aging in “The Algebraist” by Iain M. Banks00:17:10 - The value of children’s lives across cultures and history00:23:46 - “Genetics and Eugenics in Frank Herbert’s Dune-verse” by Gwern00:27:20 - Does older Sci-fi that becomes outdated make it worse?00:32:53 - Does it change how you view the art if a sci-fi writer gets the science wrong because of when they wrote it compared to getting the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 superintelligence00:50:17 - 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