Current Events > 11 year old prodigy plans to make humans immortal

(+) Yeah! (+)

An 11-year-old child prodigy has become one of the youngest ever college graduates after obtaining a bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

Laurent Simons, from the Belgium city of Ostend, got a higher distinction than all other students after graduating with 85 percent.

Simons also completed the course after just one year, rather than the usual three years.

At 11-years-old, Simons is now the world's second youngest graduate behind Michael Kearney, who received his degree in anthropology from the University of South Alabama in 1994 aged 10.

Simons could have graduated even younger, but he dropped out of Eindhoven University in the Netherlands in 2019 when he was 9 years old, after officials refused to let him graduate before his 10th birthday on December 26.

Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Simons said: "I don't really care if I'm the youngest...it's all about getting knowledge for me.

"This is the first puzzle piece in my goal of replacing body parts with mechanical parts," Simons said.

"Immortality, that is my goal. I want to be able to replace as many body parts as possible with mechanical parts. I've mapped out a path to get there. You can see it as a big puzzle. Quantum physicsthe study of the smallest particlesis the first piece of the puzzle," he said.

"Two things are important in such a study: acquiring knowledge and applying that knowledge. To achieve the second, I want to work with the best professors in the world, look inside their brains and find out how they think," Simons added.

The boy's graduation and distinction were confirmed by the University of Antwerp.

"Simons has been studying for his bachelor's degree in physics since March 2020, and he now graduated with 85 percent, which is the highest distinction," an Antwerp University spokesperson said, reported The Brussels Times.

"This year, he also took some courses from the master's program. After the summer, he will officially start his master's degree," the spokesperson added.

After he dropped out of the Eindhoven University, Simons' father, Alexander Simons, accused the college of criticizing him for all the media attention his son was getting at the time showcasing his intelligence.

"If a child can play football well, we all think the media attention is great. My son has a different talent. Why should he not be proud of that?" he told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant.

An Instagram account run by the Simons family, which features the 11-year-old's activities, has more than 51,000 followers.

https://www.newsweek.com/laurent-simons-11-second-youngest-graduate-ever-plans-make-humans-immortal-1607168

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No thanks.
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Reincarnation of Dr. Frankenstein right here. I mean, if he was real.

Replacing body parts with mechanical parts seems like something of a dead end when compared with growing biological body parts. There's already work being put into growing parts from your own DNA. If you desire modifications, you can modify your DNA and grow parts from that. Regardless, best of luck to him.

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1337toothbrush posted...

Replacing body parts with mechanical parts seems like something of a dead end when compared with growing biological body parts. There's already work being put into growing parts from your own DNA. If you desire modifications, you can modify your DNA and grow parts from that. Regardless, best of luck to him.

I guess one idea is that if you got machine based augs you'd be able to make something better than you could using base biology. Maybe this kid will make Deus Ex a reality lol

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I just feel sorry for these kinds of kids when I read stories about them. They'll never have healthy social lives and you just know they're going to burn out before long.

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Also, I'd like to point out that the human brain cannot survive for more than 150 years. So even if you replace your body, you cannot replace or repair your brain.

DEKMStephens posted...

I guess one idea is that if you got machine based augs you'd be able to make something better than you could using base biology. Maybe this kid will make Deus Ex a reality lol

Yeah but that's covered under the "modifications" I mentioned. For example, you can modify the DNA to generate components to perceive ultraviolet light and grow eyes to implant which have that ability. A plus would be that it'd look more natural than a bunch of metallic parts grafted onto you. Like Deus Ex, someone with biological mods will look like JC Denton vs the bucket of bolts of the old mechanical mods. Though in Deus Ex, I believe they used nanomachines for JC Denton's setup.

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1337toothbrush posted...

Replacing body parts with mechanical parts seems like something of a dead end when compared with growing biological body parts. There's already work being put into growing parts from your own DNA. If you desire modifications, you can modify your DNA and grow parts from that. Regardless, best of luck to him.

Even if you replace the parts, core parts of us will still age until it is incapable of functioning any longer.

That said, replacing parts with machines can only go so far as well. Uploaded consciousness is a better direction to go if that's your desire.

So basically uhhhh the kid needs to be stopped before he dooms humanity.

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gunplagirl posted...

Even if you replace the parts, core parts of us will still age until it is incapable of functioning any longer.

There is work being done slowing down, stopping, and even reversing aging.

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UnholyMudcrab posted...

I just feel sorry for these kinds of kids when I read stories about them. They'll never have healthy social lives and you just know they're going to burn out before long.

what usually happens is we never hear from them again

its just media bait


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This shows that despite his intelligence, he's still very....naive. He's 11. He'll learn soon enough that this would be a very bad idea even if it could be done.

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Please don't let the GOP (especially Moscow Mitch) ever get ahold of this technology.

Thaumaturge posted...

Also, I'd like to point out that the human brain cannot survive for more than 150 years. So even if you replace your body, you cannot replace or repair your brain.

What makes you say that? 2000+ years ago people lived for hundreds of years

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Fade2black001 posted...

What makes you say that? 2000+ years ago people lived for hundreds of years

yeah but they were given nano bot technology by ancient aliens

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The thing about child prodigies is that they still peak. They don't have exponential talent. There'll come a point where they might not even be top of their field of study.

Another child prodigy said that he felt worthless for a long time as now one cares how good you are at a field when you're in your 20s.

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These child prodigies are bullshit. I won't share why, but you end up normalising by the time you hit your teens anyway.

And shit like this:

Kearney spoke his first words at four months.[6] At the age of six months, he said to his pediatrician, "I have a left ear infection",[6] and he learned to read at the age of ten months.[6] When Michael was four, he was given multiple-choice diagnostic tests for the Johns Hopkins precocious math program; without having studied specifically for the exam, Michael achieved a perfect score.[7]

Of course he did. Totally believe it, clearly legit.

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SRR Capdown posted...

The thing about child prodigies is that they still peak. They don't have exponential talent. There'll come a point where they might not even be top of their field of study.

Another child prodigy said that he felt worthless for a long time as now one cares how good you are at a field when you're in your 20s.

Child prodigies lose a lot of luster if you grew up in classical music circles. Thats an area chock full of them.

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JACKBUTTMOMMY posted...

wat

I think they're talking about characters from the Bible

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DeadlyNinjaBees posted...

These child prodigies are bullshit. I won't share why, but you end up normalising by the time you hit your teens anyway.

And shit like this:

Kearney spoke his first words at four months.[6] At the age of six months, he said to his pediatrician, "I have a left ear infection",[6] and he learned to read at the age of ten months.[6] When Michael was four, he was given multiple-choice diagnostic tests for the Johns Hopkins precocious math program; without having studied specifically for the exam, Michael achieved a perfect score.[7]

Of course he did. Totally believe it, clearly legit.

Seriously fucked up parents who want a child prodigy dont help. Let kids be kids, Jesus.


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Who wants to live forever ...

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g0ldie posted...

Simons could have graduated even younger, but he dropped out of Eindhoven University in the Netherlands in 2019 when he was 9 years old, after officials refused to let him graduate before his 10th birthday on December 26.

To elaborate on this: Laurent's parents insisted on having him graduate before his 10th birthday so he would break the world record.

The course is normally 3 years, but the university agreed to let him do it in 1 at first. Due to mandatory group projects, papers, etc., it's already impossible to complete it in 1 year without special treatment (regardless of how intelligent the student is). He was already getting fast tracked but his parents wanted him to graduate even faster (in 9 months) to which the university disagreed. The university had also accused him of plagiarism.

I have no doubt that the kid is special but the path he took to graduate is by no means the same as any regular student.

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cjsdowg posted...

Who wants to live forever ...

those who dont know how fucked up the world is or anyone who has so much to lose

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Thaumaturge posted...

Also, I'd like to point out that the human brain cannot survive for more than 150 years. So even if you replace your body, you cannot replace or repair your brain.

Your brain is basically a processor and hard drive. Sure you can.

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Kid's parents are clearly trash.

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Ilishe posted...

Thaumaturge posted...
Also, I'd like to point out that the human brain cannot survive for more than 150 years. So even if you replace your body, you cannot replace or repair your brain.

That's long outdated thinking, mate.

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1337toothbrush posted...

There is work being done slowing down, stopping, and even reversing aging.

No there isn't. Stop watching those makeup commercials my mom watched.

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seems like someone been playing too much Cyberpunk...

So sad that kids like this never end up changing the world and just burn out because of the pressure of expectations.

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Aki_Sora posted...

No thanks.

lol Poor naive Laurent. He still has much to learn about life and the tyranical rule of the government. Even if he somehow did find a way they would never allow 95% of the population access to such a treatment. Only those in power and possibly the rich who aid them will be allowed access. Hell the government would probably forcibly confiscate his research once they feel they have enough and possibly even kill him to keep other governments from finding out.

UnholyMudcrab posted...

I just feel sorry for these kinds of kids when I read stories about them. They'll never have healthy social lives and you just know they're going to burn out before long.

Meanwhile half this board lacks a decent social life but has no smarts or money to make up for it. >_>
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UnholyMudcrab posted...

I just feel sorry for these kinds of kids when I read stories about them. They'll never have healthy social lives and you just know they're going to burn out before long.

I don't see the problem, they got into university and got their degree at such a young age. That sounds like a dream come true.

It is good to see kids these talent, but I do get jealous I wasn't lucky enough to be that talented.

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i never asked for this

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Thaumaturge posted...

Also, I'd like to point out that the human brain cannot survive for more than 150 years. So even if you replace your body, you cannot replace or repair your brain.

Extending the lifespan of just the brain biologically is probably easier than trying to extend the entire bodys lifespan. Theres also the option of basically adding extra storage capabilities, but that gets into the Theseus ship issue with your consciousness and very self.

Xavier_On_High posted...

So sad that kids like this never end up changing the world and just burn out because of the pressure of expectations.

Probs more to do with the fact there are, in fact, no such things as child prodigies.
The parents just force out a narrative and abuse their kids into performing.

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gunplagirl posted...

Uploaded consciousness is a better direction to go if that's your desire.

when you copy someones brain its no longer that person. you're just making copies while the original dies.

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There is no way this will not be abused.

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DeadlyNinjaBees posted...

Probs more to do with the fact there are, in fact, no such things as child prodigies.
The parents just force out a narrative and abuse their kids into performing.

How is that abuse? The kids has gone to University and got his degree, he can get into any good job easy. If he wants to do other degree that is more than possible.

He has a bright future and he has a lot of potential.

Many people would dream to have a life like him.

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Good for him (and humanity)

Just because you're the 2nd youngest to graduate college doesn't mean you are the 2nd smartest person on earth.

Plenty of other smarter minds have already studied and are studying quantum physics all the time.

I wish the kid luck though.

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When I went to college there was a kid like this at the school. Graduated with two BAs at like 14. Occasionally the school paper would interview him and whatever hew knew from his classes, he was incredibly nave about people, relationships and life.

I was like 19 or 20 at the time and people at that age don't really know shit about shit, but I could tell this guy really didn't know shit about shit.

Wanting to make people immortal is really, really nave.

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Irony posted...

No there isn't. Stop watching those makeup commercials my mom watched.

There is research (i.e. work) being done in this. Believe it or not. Has nothing to do with makeup.

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Let's not spend too much time dunking on an 11 year old's ideas guys.

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brestugo posted...

When I went to college there was a kid like this at the school. Graduated with two BAs at like 14. Occasionally the school paper would interview him and whatever hew knew from his classes, he was incredibly nave about people, relationships and life.

I was like 19 or 20 at the time and people at that age don't really know shit about shit, but I could tell this guy really didn't know shit about shit.

Wanting to make people immortal is really, really nave.

I guess there is no surprise in a kid or teenager being naive, they have the knowledge but they lack the experience.

As for immortality that seems impossible, but isn't due to the lack of information and technology? At one point there were deadly diseases and illness that back then there was no cure, but some of those things there are cure.

What may seem impossible can become possible later on.

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M_Live posted...

What's the point of letting young kids attend college and get degrees, regardless of how intelligent they are? They're going to wind up extremely socially stunted for missing out on so many development years of their life, and they're not going to be able to do anything with that degree for a decade at least anyway

Just because they got one degree it doesn't mean they can't go after more degrees. The more degree someone has the better. When the kid is old enough to work, he could potentially have many degree.

How do they miss out on development year, which makes them socially stunted?

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M_Live posted...

What's the point of letting young kids attend college and get degrees, regardless of how intelligent they are? They're going to wind up extremely socially stunted for missing out on so many development years of their life, and they're not going to be able to do anything with that degree for a decade at least anyway

So that the parents can gush about their amazing child and all the records they broke.

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By age 17 he will be an anime/jrpg villian.

Sad thing is he probably never watched anime or played jrpg.