Superorganism. Does the body have limits?

Superorganism. Do you see it looking in the mirror? Or do you instead associate it with record-breaking athletes or fictional superheroes? There can be many answers and interpretations. That’s why we decided to make the superorganism the theme of this year’s Przemiany Festival.      

An example of a superorganism is a colony of social insects (ants, bees) in which representatives of the same species jointly care for the well-being of their community. It’s the same with people. Although we are not born as workers or soldiers, we do work that our society benefits from. Our bodies can also be called superorganisms. Not only because they are perfectly functioning machines but also because they are home to about 10,000 different species of bacteria that form a unique microbiome that helps us function properly. We know more and more about ourselves. Thanks to progress in science and technology, we continue to learn more about the human body, study it, and discover new therapies and methods of removing its “defects”. That, however, seems to be insufficient. We want to live longer and stay in perfect shape. We want to become healthier, stronger, and more resilient – the best version of ourselves. Is that a bad thing? Are there any limits not to be crossed? What kind of future will we create for ourselves? Let’s talk about it at the Przemiany Festival!