Humanity has long accepted death as inevitable, but advances in cryogenics and biopreservation are challenging that idea. Once confined to science fiction, the prospect of preserving life—or even intelligence—is becoming a serious scientific pursuit. Few are actively pushing the boundaries of this field. Kyrylo is one of them.

Listen to our conversation with Kyrylo, who is working on freezing himself for centuries.

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Born in a Ukrainian mining city to a family of engineers, Kyrylo's journey started when his father made him learn to code—not because it was special, but because it was as fundamental as learning to read. After moving to Canada at 13, he turned that foundation into a series of ambitious projects: from leading robotics competitions to developing self-assembling micro-robots for satellite repair. Now, he's working on technology to preserve human tissue for centuries.

Together, we explore his journey—from navigating a new country to tackling some of the biggest challenges in science. He shares powerful insights for young builders: why putting all your eggs in one basket sometimes pays off, how to turn being "the outsider" into your advantage, and why the best opportunities often come from asking "what would make me proud?" rather than "what's practical?"

His story shows that early technical skills, combined with the courage to think bigger, can open doors you never knew existed. Enjoy the conversation.

(00:00) - Engineering roots in Ukraine's coal country

(10:23) - Finding your place in a new culture

(21:44) - From coding fears to robotics wins

(31:37) - Building micro-robots for space

(37:36) - The power of dedicated thinking time

(42:07) - How to discover your true interests

(45:05) - Landing roles at ambitious companies

(52:04) - The science of human preservation

(1:03:18) - Breaking ground in cryonics technology

Find Kyrylo on the internet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrylo27/

Twitter: https://x.com/kyrylok95

Substack: https://substack.com/@kyrylok

Merge is a club for microgrant recipients working on big ideas. Meet new builder friends and make progress on your project: https://merge.club/

Are you looking to apply to grant and fellowship programs? Use our Grant Guide: https://merge.club/guide

Hosts:

Julian Weisser: https://x.com/julianweisser

Ari Dutilh: https://x.com/aridutilh

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mergeclub.substack.com

Episode ID: 1000703083704

GUID: substack:post:160730707

Release Date: 11/04/2025, 03:17:17