Check out my latest AI newsletter: ε Pulse: Issue #18
Watch my latest short video essay: Culinary Secrets of Nation States
[Talking Points]
👴🏻The world’s oldest living jazz drummer
🚗Where Americans moved to, and from, the most in 2023.
🍟Food expenditure per person in the United States.
📱Facebook paid content creators more than $2 billion.
🎶Viral street music performances.
🐍The Cobra Effect.
♋World-First ovarian cancer vaccine.
👶Fertility rate in the United States.
👴🏻Are Blue Zones a lie?
[Longer Reads/Watch]
[I]: 📚The Case Against Education.
In general the case against education as a means of sustained livelihood is at its strongest:
(If you can’t see the linked article, here is the title “A millennial with a Ph.D. and over $250k in student-loan debt says she's been looking for a job for 4 years. She wishes she prioritized work experience over education.”)
The aim of education has shifted dramatically from ancient periods, when education was often reserved for elites and focused on philosophy, rhetoric, and civic duty, to the Middle Ages, when universities like Bologna and Oxford emerged, centering on theology and the liberal arts. In those times, practical skills were learned through apprenticeships, while universities were dedicated more to intellectual exploration. Today, these two paths have largely merged, with students being encouraged to take on significant debt, especially in the U.S. And look at where that’s led. Perhaps there is a debate to be had about the burden of responsibilities universities should bear if their graduates struggle to find jobs. After all, they are essentially in the business of “selling” career prospects. And here is one line of argument: if universities aren’t delivering on that promise, they should be held accountable, as capitalism dictates, but instead, they are largely insulated from such repercussions for all I know, maybe I am wrong. Anyways, those who are clever wouldn’t rely on universities for job security. The world has changed too much, and it’s about to get even stranger with the rise of AI agents and the reconfiguration of the knowledge economy that is upon us.
In other news: Everyone Wants to Go to College in the United States South Now.
“A growing number of high-school seniors in the North are making an unexpected choice for college: They are heading to Clemson, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Alabama and other universities in the South … Their parents cite lower tuition and less debt, and warmer weather. College counselors also say many teens are eager to trade the political polarization ripping apart campuses in New England and New York for the sense of community epitomized by the South’s football Saturdays…”
[II]: 🧓🏽The Death of Immortality Dreams
This paper “Implausibility of Radical Life Extension in Humans in the Twenty-First Century” examines whether significant increases in human lifespan are feasible within this century. The analysis leverages demographic data from 1990 to 2019, focusing on high-income nations and regions with the highest life expectancy, including Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland. Despite advances in medicine and public health, the study finds that improvements in life expectancy have slowed across these populations, with few signs of radical life extension on the horizon. The authors argue that unless breakthroughs occur in slowing biological aging, achieving widespread survival to extreme ages—such as 100 or beyond—remains unlikely. They project that only a small fraction of the population (up to 15% of women and 5% of men) will reach 100 years. This deceleration signals that the “longevity revolution” observed in the 20th century has plateaued, and future efforts to increase lifespan must focus on modulating the biological processes of aging such as cellular senescence, epigenetic reprogramming, chronic inflammation, etc.
For more context on the history and biology of aging, see my video essay, “Why We Age”
In the final analysis, I think the paper’s finding is supported by the revelation that progress in science is actually slowing down, and that we have just been distracted by our shiny phones, and air conditioners.
[III]: 🏥US Healthcare and the Health of Americans
In this video, Steve Balmer's presentation provides a stark look at the state of health and healthcare in the U.S. using government data. He paints a concerning picture of mortality trends, revealing that accidental deaths, largely driven by a surge in drug overdoses, are now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 1 to 44. Overdose deaths, primarily from fentanyl and meth, have skyrocketed from 3,000 in 2010 to a staggering 74,000 in 2022. The data also shows that cancer becomes the primary killer after 45, with heart disease a close second, ultimately taking the lead in those 85 and older.
The presentation further highlights the growing threat of Alzheimer's disease, with 6.7 million Americans over 65 diagnosed in 2023. Firearm related deaths also present a significant concern, reaching 48,000 in 2022, with suicides accounting for 55% and homicides 79% of these deaths. The obesity epidemic is something that is hard to skip, with rates more than doubling from 15.8% in 1995 to a worrying 33.6% in 2022. This rise contributes to increased risks of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. There is also the mental health crisis, particularly among young adults (34% for those aged 18-25). Balmer’s presentation ended with health insurance coverage, healthcare spending, and the sources of this funding, including private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid; and the distribution of healthcare costs.
[IV]: 🪜On Status Hierarchies.
I enjoyed reading this short essay on status hierarchies, and being deliberate on which ladder you are climbing.
“Cowen's point is critical and most overlooked. It's not just about the kind of job you want to do, or the city you think you'd enjoy living in. You need to think strategically about the right status hierarchies to climb. And explicitly consider what state hierarchy you are putting yourself in through your life choices.”
“There's an old saying, "Without awareness, there is no choice." You are going to be working to climb some status hierarchies. The question is whether you actually made a conscious choice or just drifted into it by default.”
[Books/Papers 📚]
What I am currently reading:
Slow Productivity by Cal NewPort
Empowering Biomedical Discovery with AI Agents Gao et al 2024.