The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Gain of Function.

News Items • 471 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🔬 Science AI Mathematics Reasoning Data generation Training
  1. AlphaGeometry AI system solves complex geometry problems as well as a human Olympiad gold-medalist.
  2. AlphaGeometry combines neural language model with a rule-bound deduction engine for reasoning.
  3. Development of AlphaGeometry highlights AI's logic reasoning progress and ability to discover and verify new knowledge.

How The Modern World Lost & Found Its Newest Continent

Everything Is Amazing • 1398 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🔬 Science Geology Geography Cultural Studies History Oceanography
  1. Zealandia is a potential new continent, mapped in 2023, with its status still debated.
  2. Continents are typically identified by convention rather than strict criteria, leading to inconsistencies in definitions.
  3. There are millions of islands around the world, with many being uninhabited despite significant populations on some continents.

Eve Theory of Consciousness (v2)

Vectors of Mind • 825 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🔬 Science Human Evolution Psychology Genetics Cultural anthropology Neuroscience
  1. Women may have evolved recursion before men, based on prehistoric myths and societal structures.
  2. The downsides and challenges of recursion may have led to unique pathways for human development.
  3. Gendered differences in genetic, cognitive, and cultural factors could have influenced the evolution of self-awareness and recursion in humans.
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A polynomial with Rubik’s cube symmetry

A Piece of the Pi: mathematics explained • 78 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🔬 Science Mathematics Symmetry Group Theory
  1. Rubik’s Cube has a huge number of ways it can be scrambled, around 43 quintillion, which shows its interesting symmetry in math. It can be thought of as not just a puzzle, but a complex mathematical object.
  2. There are specific rules about how the pieces of the Rubik’s Cube can be rearranged, which creates a lot of interesting patterns and symmetries. This helps mathematicians understand how groups of movements relate to each other.
  3. Recent research has shown that it's possible to find polynomials that have the same symmetries as the Rubik’s Cube. This connects the world of puzzles to deeper mathematical concepts, making it a fun area to explore.

Lungs

Microanimism • 139 implied HN points • 24 May 24
🔬 Science Biology Microbiology Evolution Health
  1. Biological systems like lungs demonstrate asymmetry and imperfection, showcasing the complexity of biology over mathematical perfection.
  2. Microbial worlds in our lungs and in the atmosphere interact in complex ways, affecting our health and environment.
  3. The evolution and existence of lungs are deeply intertwined with microbial life, showcasing a long history of collaboration for the sustenance of life.

Why the NT in SNT?

Gordian Knot News • 95 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🔬 Science Radiation Medicine Health Risk Assessment Nuclear policy
  1. The term 'No Threshold' in radiation discussions is important because it highlights that there is always some risk from radiation exposure, even at low levels. It's a reminder that we can't completely eliminate risk, just like every time we leave our homes.
  2. The current thinking on radiation risk, called Linear No Threshold (LNT), suggests that even small doses are harmful. However, real-life examples, like workers who handled radium, challenge this belief and show that low doses may not cause significant harm.
  3. Critics of LNT often focus on proving a specific threshold for safety, but this can weaken their argument. The idea that there’s a threshold is seen as a tactic that allows LNT to persist, even though it might not hold up against real evidence.

Natural selection: what's the effect size?

Wyclif's Dust • 2414 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🔬 Science Genetics Evolution Statistics
  1. Many polygenic scores are significantly correlated with the number of children a person has, indicating a link between genetics and fertility.
  2. The effect sizes of these correlations can be influenced by the accuracy of the polygenic scores, with noise potentially underestimating the true effects.
  3. Improving polygenic scores and considering the impact of rare genetic variants are important for better understanding the relationship between genetics, fertility, and education.

The unlit space between the stars

lifeboat • 530 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Physics
  1. Darkness can reveal different kinds of understanding and truths that are often hidden in the light.
  2. The universe is much wilder and darker than we once thought, with most matter invisible and elusive like dark matter.
  3. Dark matter, although invisible, plays a crucial role in creating stars and light, showing that the source of substance and energy is found in the unlit spaces between things.

Who is a scientist?

Science Forever • 338 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🔬 Science Diversity Philosophy Collaboration Policy Education
  1. Recognizing and valuing collaboration between Western and indigenous scientists is essential in making groundbreaking discoveries.
  2. The definition of a scientist can vary from narrow to broad, but ultimately, anyone contributing to the scientific enterprise is considered a scientist.
  3. Being a scientist is not limited to just lab work; it encompasses various roles like science policy, communication, illustration, and education.

The Narrative Rules

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1511 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🔬 Science Climate change
  1. When framing research findings, consider how to emphasize certain conclusions over others for press releases.
  2. Acknowledge and address the gap between climate change headlines and climate reality.
  3. Be mindful of how narrative rules can shape the presentation of research to increase publication chances in high-profile journals.

Malcolm in the middle (well, at the beginning)

Logging the World • 299 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🔬 Science Communication Mathematics Education
  1. Using interesting anecdotes or 'Malcolms' at the beginning can engage a wider audience and make complex topics more appealing.
  2. Balancing academic style writing with engaging storytelling can make science communication more effective and impactful.
  3. Integrating rhetorical tricks and interesting facts can drive curiosity and encourage broader audiences to explore complex subjects.

Macbeth

Microanimism • 119 implied HN points • 30 May 24
🔬 Science Biology Virology Health
  1. Viruses are ancient, existing before cellular life and influencing the history of biology and life today.
  2. The presence of viruses is widespread, from biblical references to everyday life, emotions, and biological processes.
  3. The text explores themes of guilt, perfection, and the intertwining of life and death through a poetic and philosophical lens.

The Fukushima Workers, Part 2

Gordian Knot News • 95 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🔬 Science Radiation Nuclear Health Research Environmental
  1. The Fukushima workers faced very high radiation levels, especially near the damaged reactors, sometimes exceeding 100 mSv/h. Despite this, they showed remarkable bravery to manage the crisis.
  2. Research on the health of over 5,000 Fukushima workers found no significant health issues by the end of 2019. This suggests that the body's systems are good at repairing damage from radiation exposure.
  3. Distance from a radiation source is crucial for safety. Being more than 2 kilometers away from a nuclear release greatly reduces the risk of harm, similar to how staying a safe distance from fire keeps you safe.

Are experts useless?

Samstack • 1422 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🔬 Science Research Replication Experts Predictions Academia
  1. Experts may not be as reliable as we think, with evidence showing they often fare poorly compared to ordinary individuals in making predictions.
  2. There's a growing concern about fraud and publication bias in scientific journals, undermining the credibility of experts' work.
  3. While skepticism towards expertise is warranted, there are strategies for the average person to evaluate research validity and experts can still provide valuable insights.

Monthly Archaeology Round-Up: April

Grey Goose Chronicles • 727 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🔬 Science Archaeology Genetics Forensics
  1. Native Americans were using horses over a hundred years before previously thought, shaping a new view of early Plains societies.
  2. Genetic analysis confirms migration and intermixing with Persians on Africa's Swahili coast, challenging long-held theories.
  3. Bronze Age Menorca revealed evidence of the use of powerful drugs, shedding light on ancient rituals and practices.

But Seriously, Why The F*ck Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?

Insight Axis • 612 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🔬 Science Biology Genetics Evolution Knowledge Environment
  1. Giraffes have long necks to better reach food on tall trees, increasing their chances of survival and passing on their genes.
  2. In the true story of giraffes' evolution, genes are the main characters that hold knowledge for survival in their environment.
  3. Humans, unlike giraffes, can create their own knowledge using their minds, allowing them to survive in diverse environments and even outer space.

What if We Just Stop Oil?

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1737 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
🔬 Science Energy Environment Activism Policy Climate
  1. The world still needs new sources of oil supply to meet demand, even with efforts to phase out oil consumption by 2050.
  2. Natural gas is expected to play a central role in future global energy consumption, with significant investment needed to meet demand.
  3. There are no scenarios suggesting it is possible to eliminate fossil fuel use within the next 8 years, leading to a global energy crisis if oil and gas were abruptly stopped.

The longer I live, the wronger I get to be

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 674 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🔬 Science Genetics Evolution Data Analysis
  1. In the field of human population genetics, interesting times can lead to significant advancements and significant shifts in understanding.
  2. The concept of intelligence as influenced by single 'IQ genes' has been refuted in favor of the understanding that intelligence involves thousands of genes with small effects.
  3. Historical inaccuracies regarding the ancestry of European Jews, the dynamics of human evolution out of Africa, and the role of natural selection in human evolution have been corrected with new scientific discoveries and insights.

Kat Kitay: The Origin of Cyborgs

Do Not Research • 499 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🔬 Science Technology Biology Evolution Genetics Social Impact
  1. Donna Haraway introduced the concept of 'cyborg' in 1985 as a response to the rising technological world order
  2. Human evolution has been driven by technological advancements since ancient times, shaping our species' survival and success
  3. The modern digital revolution is pushing us towards a new kind of evolution where gene-editing technologies and digital pressures play crucial roles

Fight the Anti-Narrative with Pro-Science

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 42 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🔬 Science Biology Vaccines Public Health Research Methods Technology
  1. Using 'anti' labels in discussions can over-simplify and misrepresent people's true beliefs. It makes conversations harder and ignores important details.
  2. Questioning vaccines or other technologies doesn't mean being against them; it can be a way to improve them. Critics should be heard instead of labeled negatively.
  3. Curiosity and open-mindedness in science can lead to better understanding and advancements. Engaging with skepticism might help scientists and the public work together more effectively.

3.3 Potentials, Energy, & Fields

Fields & Energy • 239 implied HN points • 20 Mar 24
🔬 Science Physics Mathematics Theory Electricity Energy
  1. There's a debate in science about how we understand forces, like whether they act at a distance or through fields in space. Two main theories exist: one says forces happen instantly, while the other suggests they spread out gradually.
  2. George Green, a self-taught baker turned mathematician, made important contributions to the math behind electromagnetism. His work, which included ideas about electric potential and field theory, changed how we study these forces.
  3. Fields and potentials are two simple ways to describe how electricity and magnetism work. They help us understand how energy moves and behaves in different situations, like around charges or between capacitor plates.

German scientific paternalism

More is Different • 7 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🔬 Science History Philosophy Education Research Technology
  1. German science saw a golden age from 1880 to 1930, promoting rigorous standards and collaboration in research. This created a structured environment where many talented scientists could thrive.
  2. The German academic system was hierarchical and paternalistic, emphasizing careful mentorship but also pressuring scientists to publish frequently, leading to a focus on quantity over quality in some cases.
  3. Balancing high scientific standards with the ability to embrace new ideas is challenging. A rigid system can slow progress, while a more relaxed system might let in too many fleeting trends.

Analyze Brain Regions, not Neurons

John Ball inside AI • 59 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience AI Cognitive Science Brain function Human behavior
  1. It's better to study brain regions rather than just neurons because brain regions are responsible for specific functions, and damage to these regions leads to predictable problems.
  2. AI development has focused too much on the workings of individual neurons instead of understanding how brain regions connect and work together as a system.
  3. Understanding meaning is crucial for AI to function like human brains, as language and thought come from the brain's ability to store and connect experiences.

3.0 The Birth of Electromagnetism

Fields & Energy • 279 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🔬 Science Physics Electromagnetism History Measurement Innovation
  1. Coulomb created the torsion balance, a tool that helped him measure tiny forces between electrically charged objects. This was a big step in understanding electricity and magnetism.
  2. His findings showed that electric forces follow a similar pattern to gravitational forces, which Newton discovered. This means both types of forces can be explained using related mathematical laws.
  3. Coulomb's work laid the foundation for modern electromagnetism, even though he faced challenges during the French Revolution. His contributions are still recognized today, as the unit of electric charge is named after him.