Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Nikolay Kukushkin: Slugs Have Memories

Feb 10, 2026
Guest
Nikolay Kukushkin
Nikolay Kukushkin, a neuroscientist who studies memory in single cells and sea slugs, discusses where memory and cognition might hide in unexpected places. Short takes cover sea slugs as minimal models, surprising learning in non-neural cells, language as an evolutionary leap, and what embodiment might mean for future AIs. The conversation weaves evolution, patterns, and the nature of mind.
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Miller–Urey Shows Life's Chemistry Is Natural

  • Miller–Urey shows inorganic chemistry can self-organize into organic molecules without vital forces.
  • It conceptually proves life's building blocks can arise from natural processes given the right conditions.

Language Reached Escape Velocity

  • Human language differs by being effectively infinite: few tokens yield unlimited meanings.
  • Language and brain co-evolved once symbolic systems 'reached escape velocity' and became transmissible.

The Memory Loop LLMs Lack

  • Current LLMs separate training from inference and lack continual self-updating thought loops.
  • Allowing models to update memory from their own thoughts could bridge them toward human-like cognition.
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