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Tim Winton Explores Dystopia: Is the Term Becoming an Opiate for Society?

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Tim Winton: “Some areas on our planet may overlook the reality of a world on fire, but Australia is not one of them.”

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<p>My grandparents were born at the close of the 19th century, during the age of horse-drawn carriages, while my parents experienced the rise of mass-produced machines, and I grew up in the space age.</p>

<p>Despite the challenges posed by world wars and the looming threat of nuclear annihilation, this period was marked by a steady increase in prosperity, security, and mobility—a liberating experience that reinforced our belief in human progress. With each generation, the prospects seemed to improve, making life better for my family.</p>

<p>However, that trajectory of improvement seems to have halted with my children, signifying not just the end of a dream, but the reality of a shared illusion collapsing.</p>

<p>The world I was born into is starkly different from the one I will leave for my grandchildren. They will not inherit the same sense of security that I had. This is a deeply troubling fact for me.</p>

<p>The reasons behind this decline in prospects are well-documented. The world suffers due to the energy practices we adopted to fuel prosperity. The advancement we once praised came with the cost of exploitation and environmental degradation, with progress often built on a bed of destruction.</p>

<p>Currently, our planet is already 1.5 degrees warmer since my grandparents’ time. If we continue on our current path, we risk doubling that temperature increase. A world as hot as ours is already chaotic, threatening ecosystems and the myriad species that depend on them. We must prevent the catastrophic scenario of the planet heating another 1.5 degrees, as this will render many regions nearly uninhabitable, resulting in the tragic loss of millions of lives and dire conditions for billions.</p>

<p>Among the many affected will be my descendants, which deeply resonates with me—the thought that the comfort and freedom I enjoyed were attained at the expense of their suffering is unbearable. <em>Juice</em> This is a nightmare for my family.</p>

<p>While there may be parts of our world where the reality of climate change can be evaded, Australia is not one of those places.</p>

<p>In my home in northwestern Australia, the climate is intensifying. Just yesterday, temperatures reached 50℃, and due to growing storm severity, many homes lack insurance.</p>

<p>When queried about why I chose to publish a dystopian novel at this point in my career, my irritation is tempered. They wonder why I shifted genres; in truth, I haven't changed directions—rather, the world around me has. The real question is, why should I not write about this moment in history? What kind of artist would I be if I ignored the pressing issues of our times?</p>

<p>A dystopian narrative? You may call it that, but it suggests something fantastical or exaggerated, which I do not perceive. The millions already enduring dystopian realities would disagree—across the globe, individuals face hunger and displacement due to conflict and extreme weather. The horrors they encounter are often remnants of fossil fuel capitalism. Sometimes, the term ‘dystopia’ serves as an opiate, a term that buffers us and distances us from reality. I believe we can no longer afford such distance.</p>

<p>The story unfolds in northwest Australia, generations into the future. The collective efforts made to circumvent the worst impacts of climate change seem futile, leaving us trapped in a cycle of increasing temperatures by 3°C or more. The nation-state structure has eroded, and communities have retreated from equatorial zones, with those remaining in this climate often forced to seek refuge underground for extended periods annually. Thus, the adaptation has become a daunting yet necessary skill.</p>

<p>Much like my previous works, this narrative revolves around family—exploring themes of loyalty, freedom, geography, and history. It's an examination of what it means to endure in an increasingly hostile environment. Although speculative, its nature is not solely scientific or climatic; it is also moral and profoundly personal. I felt compelled to envision the future my grandchildren's children might face, set in a landscape I cherish and have defended throughout my life.</p>

<p>For me, this narrative extends logically, emotionally, and imaginatively from the world I inhabit. Enhanced by scientific insights and climate modeling, it mirrors my experiences in a region historically known for its climatic extremes, now facing the brink of uninhabitability.</p>

<p><em>Juice</em> presents a stark reality—a resilient populace grappling with harsh conditions. Out of tradition and determination, they cling to what remains inhabitably viable. However, as conditions worsen, families are compelled to migrate to safer, cooler regions.</p>

<p>This is not mere speculation; it is already occurring in northern Australia. The most vulnerable citizens, much like the Oakies from Steinbeck's narratives, make these transitions. The dial merely needs to shift slightly.</p>

<p>Yet, the foremost struggle my characters encounter is not purely one of climate but of humanity. As the protagonist learns, the most precious resource is not shelter, food, or water, but civility. This is the essence of the narrative.</p>

<p>What sustains life is a shared commitment to the common good. The forces of fossil capitalism thrive on the dispensation of that ethic. To survive, my character must revive and cherish it. We must embrace that ethos as well. Ultimately, whether this is feasible lies in the realm of speculation.</p>

<p><em>© Tim Winton</em></p>
<p><strong>Tim Winton is the author of <em>Juice</em> (Picador), featured as the New Scientist Book Club's selection for February 2026. You can purchase a copy </strong><a href="https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/tim-winton/juice/9781035050826"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>. Join the reading community </strong><strong>here</strong>.</p>

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Enshittification: Cory Doctorow’s 2022 Term Explaining How Tech Companies Have Deteriorated Our Lives

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Does your phone feel less capable than it used to? Enshittification might be the culprit

Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

Enshifted
Cory Doctorow (MCD Books)

“Enshittification,” much like “shrinkflation” and “greenwashing,” is a newly coined term that feels familiar, perfectly expressing a widespread yet subtle issue.

We’re acutely aware that websites and apps often deteriorate or become worse over time as their owners exploit users for profit. This is visible everywhere, from Instagram swapping your chronological feed for a mashup of influencer content to Apple compelling users to upgrade by limiting repair options.

Cory Doctorow introduced the term in 2022 and elaborated on it in his recent book. More information: Why everything suddenly went bad and what to do about it serves as both an analysis and a call to action.

The strategy behind enshittification is for platforms like Facebook to establish and provide excellent services. Users flock to them for convenience and enjoyment. The company then waits until we are deeply connected—friends, local groups, schools, etc.—making it cumbersome to leave.

Once the user base becomes substantial, advertisers get locked in as well. The company then shifts focus to profits, inundating services with ads and algorithms, leading to a decline in user experience. This creates pressure on advertisers. The platform then becomes toxic, primarily benefitting shareholders, and users find it difficult to quit. As Doctorow states, we are trapped in a decaying entity.

In the past, poor businesses would have faced market consequences. If a café serves bad coffee, we’d simply find another. Today, however, tech companies have formed monopolies, making substantial profits that allow them to sustain their dominance. They purchase competitors merely to shut them down, lobby for lenient regulations, and secure exclusive contracts. (For instance, Google pays Apple $20 billion annually to remain the default search engine in Apple’s Safari browser.)

Enshifted Companies that seemingly harvest excessive personal data expose industry secrets, knowing they’ll charge more for goods during paydays since consumers are less likely to negotiate. Or companies deploy algorithms to suppress gig economy wages or implement keystroke monitoring systems that alert supervisors when we pause typing.

Although these negative aspects aren’t entirely new to readers, consuming them in large quantities can leave a sour taste. They can even lead intelligent individuals to resent themselves for being misunderstood in various ways.

Indeed, the goal is simply to do what the company was designed to do: maximize profit. However, with advances in computers, algorithms, and the Internet, things have spiraled out of control, allowing for techniques far more sophisticated than those available just a decade ago.

Doctorow cautions that regulators meant to protect us are often outmatched by the companies they monitor. Yet, he firmly believes they are part of the solution.

While there have been favorable developments in the European Union and under President Joe Biden in the U.S., substantial work remains to be done, as tech companies may innovate ways to harm us more quickly than can be counteracted. We can demand more accountability from politicians, and well-crafted legislation supported by effective regulators can help.

However, the potential power of boycotts remains largely unaddressed—tech companies need us more than we need them. It’s feasible to abandon social media, favor local businesses, and utilize ethical search engines. The more individuals take such actions, the likelier others will follow.

Whether it pertains to travel, clothing, or food, many of us attempt to “vote” with our wallets. Perhaps it’s time we extend this practice to our online choices.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Elon Musk could become wealthier under Trump’s potential second term: ‘There will be some retribution’, says Elon Musk

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DDonald Trump’s resounding victory in the 2024 presidential election can be largely attributed to the unwavering support of the richest man in the world. Elon Musk, in the leading months to the election, fully embraced the MAGA movement, stood up for Trump on a significant podcast, and utilized his influence through X to shape political conversations. A staggering amount of around $120 million was injected into the former president’s campaign by Musk. Now, Trump is expressing his gratitude, mentioning that he intends to appoint Mr. Musk as the “cost reduction secretary.” Musk humorously suggested his interest in leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to slash government spending by $2 trillion. This move could potentially impact Musk’s companies like Tesla, SpaceX, X, and Neuralink directly through deregulation and policy alterations.

Experts foresee a reciprocal relationship where the Trump administration might ease regulations and redirect federal resources in a manner that favors Musk. This transparent and transactional exchange sets a unique precedent in recent U.S. political history, as noted by Gita Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School. The possibility of quid pro quo benefits for Musk has raised concerns about conflicts of interest.

President Trump: “Bad for electric cars, good for Elon”

Although President Trump has been vocal in his criticism of electric vehicles, Tesla’s fortunes surged under his administration. Tesla’s stock price soared by 13% to reach a 52-week high following the announcement of Trump’s endorsement by the Associated Press. This bolstered Musk’s personal wealth by $26 billion, despite Trump’s public skepticism towards environmentally friendly cars and his plans to revoke Biden’s electric vehicle-related mandates.

However, Trump’s stance on EVs softened after Musk extended his support to him, displaying a shift in policy alignment. The potential reduction in tax credits for EV buyers under the Trump administration could adversely affect emerging EV startups and traditional automakers but benefit Tesla, which heavily relies on these incentives.

President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and son Barron give their victory speech on Tuesday night. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush, highlights Tesla’s advantageous position due to its scale and scope in the EV market, which could provide a competitive edge amidst changing regulatory landscapes. However, the potential implications of Trump’s tariffs on Tesla’s supply chain from China pose significant challenges, especially concerning the production costs and materials sourcing for Tesla’s vehicles.

The Trump administration’s policies could reshape the environment for Musk’s autonomous vehicle ambitions, namely Tesla’s self-driving car rollout, by potentially streamlining regulations and federal approval processes. This could accelerate Tesla’s progress in catching up with more advanced competitors in the autonomous vehicle space.

SpaceX, Musk’s private space company, stands to benefit substantially from potential government partnerships under the Trump administration. Musk’s alignment with Trump could strengthen SpaceX’s position in securing space contracts, especially with the intensifying competition from other space ventures. The relationship between Musk and Trump could pave the way for SpaceX to capitalize on government contracts for projects like Starlink deployment and Mars missions.

Furthermore, Musk’s engagement with the Trump administration could influence policies favoring SpaceX’s interests, such as with regards to space exploration and satellite internet services. Republican-led initiatives may open doors for SpaceX to expand its services like Starlink, offering new opportunities for government collaboration and funding.

Musk’s push for Mars colonization aligns with Trump’s vision of space exploration and could lead to lucrative government contracts for SpaceX in the realm of interplanetary missions. The collaboration between Musk and Trump on space ventures could mark a new era of space exploration and government partnerships.

Preparing the ground for Musk’s self-driving cars

Musk’s involvement in shaping regulations for self-driving cars, particularly Tesla’s autonomous vehicles, could greatly impact the future of transportation. Trump’s administration may play a pivotal role in streamlining regulations and approval processes for advanced autonomous vehicles, potentially benefiting Tesla’s efforts in the space of self-driving technology.

Experts highlight the importance of regulatory decisions under the Trump administration that could influence Tesla’s autonomous vehicle roadmap, as well as the broader implications for the transportation industry.

Aside from Tesla and SpaceX, Trump’s presidency could affect other Musk-owned ventures like Neuralink and X. Regulatory changes under the Trump administration, particularly at the FDA, could potentially reduce oversight on Neuralink’s brain-computer interface experiments and X’s operations.

Despite concerns about conflicts of interest, Musk’s influence in the Trump administration could shape policies in ways that benefit his businesses. The dynamics of this relationship raise ethical questions about the intersection of business interests and governance in the political landscape.

“The conflict of interest seems pretty strange.”

Elon Musk’s expanding role in American politics and the Trump administration poses unique challenges and opportunities. Musk’s deep pockets and close ties to Trump signal a shift in the traditional power dynamics of politics and business. The potential conflicts of interest inherent in Musk’s involvement in policy decisions underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in government and corporate relations.

The uncertain future of Musk and Trump’s alliance raises questions about the ethical implications of such relationships and the broader impact on governance and public trust. As Musk continues to navigate the political landscape, his influence and actions will undoubtedly shape the future of technology, business, and politics.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kashmir Funk: The Scientist Behind the Term “Vitamin”

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Kashmir Funk in the Laboratory, 1954

Associated Press/Alamy

Casimir Funk, the Polish biochemist who coined the term “vitamin” to describe a group of important molecules that help keep us alive, is the subject of today’s Google Doodle.

There have been theories for thousands of years about how food affects health. In ancient Greece and Rome, early physicians invented the “humoral” theory. This theory states that food must have the right balance of wetness, dryness, hotness, and coldness to keep the four essential humors of the body in check (fire, earth, blood, and phlegm). Much later, doctors made clearer connections, such as the observation that consuming citrus fruits like lemons helped prevent scurvy in sailors during long voyages.

In the late 19th century, scientists were trying to understand the cause of beriberi. Beriberi can affect a person’s nervous and cardiovascular systems and is now known as vitamin B1 deficiency. In 1897, Christian Eikman published a study based on experiments with chickens, proposing that a diet containing brown rice was more effective in preventing beriberi than a diet consisting only of white rice.

Casimir Funk read Aikman’s paper and set himself the challenge of finding a compound that confers protective properties on brown rice. In 1912, Funk was able to isolate the chemical believed to be responsible, and discovered that it contained characteristic nitrogen compounds called amines, which he identified as important amines, or vitamins. I named it. Eventually, scientists realized that vitamins don’t necessarily have to contain an amine group, so they dropped the final “e.”

Funk suggests that similar compounds may be present in many other “deficiencies,” as he calls them, “talking about the beriberi and scurvy vitamins. It means a substance that prevents disease.” Funk also correctly suggested that there are vitamins that prevent pellagra and rickets.

The compound Funk isolated and named “anti-beriberi factor,” now called vitamin B3, or niacin, does not actually prevent beriberi. Two years ago, Japanese scientist Umetaro Suzuki isolated vitamin B1 from brown rice and pinpointed its role in preventing beriberi. However, his research was published in a Japanese magazine, and the first Western translation, written in German, did not describe it as a new discovery.

Thirty-five years after Funk’s initial discovery, scientists have discovered a total of 13 remaining vitamins, including eight B vitamins and vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. Funk continued his research into vitamins and continued his research into pharmaceuticals. For the rest of his career, he remained with the company. He produced the first widely used vitamin concentrate in the United States called his OSCODAL, which contained liquid vitamins A and D.

Although vitamins are recognized to help prevent certain diseases, the use of vitamins as supplements is still debated among scientists. A recent meta-analysis found that there is not enough evidence that supplements and vitamins prevent cancer or heart disease for most people.

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Source: www.newscientist.com