Distillations | Science History Institute Chasing Immortality
Aug 17, 2021
Megan Allen, a medieval science researcher, outlines Roger Bacon’s alchemical plans for longer life. Chip Walter, science journalist and author, traces Silicon Valley’s modern push to treat aging as an engineering problem. They compare ancient elixirs, dangerous cures, medieval longevity recipes, and contemporary biotech, cryonics, and genetics. Short, curious, and wide-ranging perspectives on humanity’s timeless chase of longer life.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Immortality Is A Persistent Cross-Cultural Quest
- Humans have long sought physical immortality across cultures, from Taoist elixirs in China to medieval European alchemy.
- The modern quest echoes these roots but adds wealth, engineering, and molecular biology as new tools and motivations.
Emperors Poisoned Themselves Chasing Elixirs
- Ancient Chinese emperors drank mercury-containing elixirs sold by alchemists seeking eternal life.
- Many emperors died prematurely from poisoning, yet believers framed these deaths as steps toward immortality.
Medieval Alchemy Recast As Medicine For Humans
- Roger Bacon reframed alchemy's metal transmutation into a medical project: make humans 'incorruptible' like gold.
- He believed balancing elemental humors could slow corruption and extend life.