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Two leading contributors to cybernetics have recently died. This communication records matters that arose in correspondence with each of them. Professor Pesi Masani was much concerned with the adverse social consequences of modem technology, and a particular aspect of this affecting his native India is discussed. Dr Charles Musès believed that insight into basic aspects of biology would stem from study of cross‐kingdom (animal and plant) parasitism, though unfortunately he did not elaborate the basis of this. An example of human infection by a fungus that usually infests plants is quoted, and also findings from the literature on insect‐transmitted plant viruses. The latter suggest that viruses are truly able to span distinct kingdoms in ways that would certainly have interested Dr Musès.