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This is a short story I read online maybe 5-7 years ago, though I'm unsure if it was a republishing of a printed story. I believe it was a more modern short story, but I could be wrong, and I cannot remember the name for my life. I think it was some anthropologist context.

It is very short, but the gist is that the formula is written on an artifact of a fallen civilization. He asks an onboard AI to synthesize it, but the AI immediately gives a warning to stop him with no explanation. He ignores it and the computer produces a small pill. He takes it, and we realize the pill induces a permanent high of happiness, not wanting to do anything else, or needing to, and its implied he will waste away as food or drink is unwanted.

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    He consumed a pill made from a completely unknown formula that he just found lying around in some ruins?
    – Adamant
    Commented Dec 12 at 4:53
  • Hi, welcome to SF&F. Did you read this online or in a book or magazine?
    – DavidW
    Commented Dec 12 at 5:00
  • @DavidW It was online. Though I'm unsure if it was a republishing of a printed story.
    – minus0
    Commented Dec 12 at 6:55
  • @Adamant He found the chemical formula in some ruins and synthesized it on his ship. I think it was some anthropologist context.
    – minus0
    Commented Dec 12 at 6:56
  • 2
    sounds like a darwin award winner.
    – ths
    Commented 2 days ago

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