Flowers for Algernon
Science-fiction has become science fact yet again.
I know why a lot of writers have stopped trying to write science fiction, at least the good, old, hard science kind of science fiction. We are on such a fast development cycle of science and technology that predicting the future is almost impossible.
Do you remember the classic book, Flowers for Algernon? The book is about a young man who is mentally retarded and, as a result, has a limited life. Then, a scientist makes him the human trial for a drug that corrects his lack and even goes beyond that to make him a genius. Well, it’s quite possible that will be a reality soon, at least for certain kinds of mental retardation. An article over at Scientific American has the details.
So, the future is now and the next time you see a story about advances in medical science, think about this book, and this cure. What will we cure next? Honestly, I’m not sure if I hope more that it’s cancer or the common cold.
See, people think I’m silly for thinking that one day I’ll finally not have a job to do due to advances in medicine, genetics etc. If only!