The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

The Sequence Chat: Can AI Solve The Riemann Hypothesis? Some Ideas About the Progress and Limitations of AI in Science

TheSequence • 70 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🔬 Science Mathematics Artificial Intelligence Physics Chemistry Technology
  1. AI has made impressive strides in scientific fields, helping tackle complex problems across various disciplines like chemistry and physics. This progress shows that AI can be a powerful tool in advancing our understanding of science.
  2. The Riemann Hypothesis is a famous unsolved math problem that could significantly enhance our knowledge of prime numbers. Its simplicity in concept and complexity in proof makes it a unique challenge for both humans and AI.
  3. While AI has potential in scientific research, there are limitations to what it can achieve, especially in tackling deeply complex problems like the Riemann Hypothesis. The unique nature of such challenges may be beyond AI's current capabilities.

(Ad-free Video) Jennifer Doudna: Scientist and World Changer

Critical Mass • 5 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🔬 Science Genetics Biochemistry Research Technology Ethics
  1. Jennifer Doudna played a key role in developing CRISPR, a powerful genetic tool that could greatly impact human health and genetics.
  2. Her work highlights the importance of fundamental research in science, which can lead to unexpected and significant advancements.
  3. Discussions around scientific discoveries like CRISPR are crucial as society must consider the ethical responsibilities that come with such powerful tools.

Erratic Behavior

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 299 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🔬 Science Geology Paleontology Natural History Earth Science
  1. Erratic rocks are large stones left behind by glaciers when the ice melts. They can be quite big, even the size of a school bus.
  2. Some famous erratics, like the Wedgwood Rock in Seattle, have interesting histories and have been popular spots for locals for many years.
  3. The study of these erratics helped scientists like Goethe understand the Ice Age and how rocks traveled long distances due to ice.

What if you just bought everyone air purifiers?

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 296 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environmental health Philanthropy Public Health Cost Analysis
  1. Buying air purifiers for everyone could extend life expectancy, but at a high cost compared to other health interventions.
  2. The cost of buying air purifiers for random Americans to extend life expectancy is $32,899 per DALY, which is not as efficient as other healthcare interventions.
  3. Air purifiers may be a good health investment for individuals, but philanthropically, they are not as cost-effective as other interventions like malaria drugs.

1.4 What’s the Benefit of This New Model?

Fields & Energy • 199 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🔬 Science Physics Quantum Mechanics Electromagnetism Mathematics
  1. This new model helps us understand how antennas and electromagnetic radiation work better. It shows how waves and fields can create visible effects, like standing waves, which we see in everyday life.
  2. The theory offers answers to old physics puzzles like wave-particle duality. Instead of seeing particles and waves as opposites, they work together as two different things.
  3. It provides solutions to tricky problems in electromagnetism, like radiation reaction and vacuum energy. The model suggests that radiation comes from the applied fields, not just from accelerating charges.
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Biomimicry versus Top-Down Engineering

Risk Musings • 573 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🔬 Science Genetics Biology Innovation Systems
  1. Nature builds from the bottom up through evolution and mutations, unlike top-down engineering in human systems.
  2. Biomimicry offers inspiration across various fields by learning from nature's efficient and resilient systems.
  3. Bottom-up building, like in the human brain, involves countless interactions that lead to emergent solutions, unlike enforced top-down strategies.

The Bird with the Silent P

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 219 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🔬 Science Zoology Ecology Conservation Natural History Ornithology
  1. White-tailed ptarmigan are unique birds that live in cold, high-altitude areas. They change color from brown in summer to white in winter, helping them blend into their snowy environment.
  2. These birds have feathered feet that act like snowshoes, making it easier for them to walk on snow rather than fly. This adaptation helps them conserve energy in their harsh habitat.
  3. Indigenous knowledge about wildlife, like the ptarmigan's snowshoe ability, is being recognized as valuable by scientists. There's so much to learn from traditional understanding of nature.

Making the Micropipette

Asimov Press • 322 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🔬 Science Biology Innovation Technology Research History
  1. The development of the micropipette was driven by the hazards and limitations of mouth pipetting.
  2. Innovators from different parts of the world each contributed to the modern micropipette's design and features.
  3. The history of the micropipette highlights the importance of simple tools and incremental improvements in scientific breakthroughs.

Friday Links

Niko McCarty • 39 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Technology Health Environment
  1. Forever chemicals are really tough to break down because of their chemical structure. Researchers are looking for ways to engineer microbes that can help eliminate these harmful substances.
  2. SGLT2 inhibitors can help the immune system clear out old cells, which could be important for health. There’s growing interest in how these inhibitors can benefit kidney treatment.
  3. Advances in cotton plant genomes could make it easier to breed better plants in the future. This could lead to improvements in cotton production and farming.

Orbital stations: the past and the future

Space Ambition • 639 implied HN points • 24 Nov 22
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astronomy Technology development Research
  1. The International Space Station (ISS) has been in operation for around 25 years, but it will eventually become too costly to maintain. New space stations will be needed in the future.
  2. China has successfully built its own orbital station, Tiangong-3, which is currently inhabited. This adds to the growing presence of international space stations.
  3. Private companies are starting to develop their own space stations. NASA is supporting this trend with partnerships and funding, aiming to make space research more accessible.

The Man Who Discovered a Quarter of the Universe From the Finchley Road

Londonist: Time Machine • 239 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🔬 Science Discovery Heritage City
  1. London has a rich scientific heritage that is often overlooked due to its focus on cultural activities like arts, theatre, literature, fashion, and sport.
  2. The article discusses exploring the scientific contributions of London more thoroughly in future newsletters.
  3. The Londonist newsletter offers a 7-day free trial to access full post archives.

Blasting off soon...

Brain Blast • 39 implied HN points • 30 May 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience Psychology
  1. Brain Blast is a newsletter that covers brain-related news, research papers, and deep dives into various brain and mind topics.
  2. The newsletter is authored by a veteran brain research academic.
  3. Subscribing to Brain Blast gives access to weekly updates on the latest in neuroscience and psychology.

Artificial Intelligence and the Noosphere

Nonzero Newsletter • 609 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🔬 Science Artificial Intelligence Evolution Philosophy Technology
  1. Artificial intelligence is seen as the crystallization of the noosphere, evolving from the biosphere.
  2. AI viewed from a noospheric perspective can help orient us, define our mission, and provide a philosophical framework for our moral evolution.
  3. The convergence of AI and the noosphere connects to a vision of a unified global community through political justice and universal love.

Wednesday Links

Niko McCarty • 39 implied HN points • 29 May 24
🔬 Science Biology Health Innovation Vaccines Research
  1. Joseph Lister invented the first micropipette in the 1850s, but it wasn't popular like Heinrich Schnitger's design in 1957. It's interesting how some inventions don’t get the recognition they deserve until later.
  2. A new vaccine strategy uses tiny particles to target specific cells with mRNA vaccines. This could make immunizations more effective and targeted.
  3. The FDA sometimes takes too long to approve products like sunscreens, which can affect public health. It's a reminder that safety can sometimes slow down progress.

Something Up At Oxford Nanopore?

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology Research Innovation Investments Corporate News
  1. There are rumors that Clive Brown might have left Oxford Nanopore, but it's not confirmed. It's important to check and verify such news before spreading it.
  2. Investment opportunities for Oxford Nanopore were discussed earlier, suggesting potential growth for the company. Keeping an eye on funding can indicate how the company might progress.
  3. The information shared is meant for paid subscribers, highlighting the value of the insights provided. Paid content often offers deeper analysis and exclusive news.

Supply AND Demand

Knowledge Problem • 235 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🔬 Science Energy Technology Economics Environment Digital
  1. Market value is determined by the interaction of supply and demand, allowing for price discovery.
  2. The traditional assumption in the electricity industry of fixed supply catering to demand is becoming obsolete due to digital technologies enabling flexible demand.
  3. Digital technologies and dynamic pricing are empowering consumers to have more control over their electricity bills and contribute to a greener future.

Sabine Hossenfelder promoting fossil fuels over electric vehicles

aukehoekstra • 59 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🔬 Science Environment Electric Vehicles Climate change Physics Energy
  1. Sabine Hossenfelder, a popular figure known for her physics background, has been criticized for promoting gasoline cars over electric vehicles.
  2. Electric vehicles can help solve grid issues and contribute positively to the energy system by offering flexibility and potential cost savings.
  3. The sales of electric vehicles continue to rise, with advancements in technology making them more environmentally friendly and cost-effective compared to fossil fuel cars.

Current Status and Purpose of Exoplanet Exploration

Space Ambition • 119 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🔬 Science Astronomy Space Exploration Exoplanets Astrobiology Cosmology
  1. Over 5,500 exoplanets have been discovered, and some even have known atmospheric compositions. This exploration is about more than science; it's about understanding our universe.
  2. Different methods are used to find exoplanets, including the transit method and radial velocity method. Each has its own strengths and helps us learn more about these distant worlds.
  3. The research into exoplanets can inspire people and improve technology, benefiting various industries. It also boosts public interest in science, making people more aware of issues like climate change.

Industry Impact, Predictive Tech, and Financial Prospects of Solar Storms Forecasting

Space Ambition • 199 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🔬 Science Astrophysics Technology Engineering Environmental Science
  1. Solar storms can disrupt important systems like GPS, communications, and power grids. Understanding these storms helps us protect our technology and infrastructure.
  2. Predictive technology now allows us to forecast solar storms 20 hours in advance. This gives us time to prepare and possibly avoid some of the negative impacts.
  3. As satellite technology grows, so does the risk from solar storms. We're learning to adjust satellite operations to minimize damage and keep them functioning better in space.

Genopore - Nanopore Protein Detection

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Research Health Innovation Diagnostics
  1. Genopore is an Israeli company focused on a new way to detect proteins. They are more interested in detection methods rather than just fingerprinting or sequencing proteins.
  2. The technology they are developing is considered novel, suggesting it could bring new advancements to protein detection.
  3. Their patents and website indicate they have a clear direction towards enhancing protein detection capabilities.

Searching for Posthumanist AI

Cybernetic Forests • 259 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🔬 Science AI Technology Ethics Philosophy Environment
  1. Large Language Models are anthropocentric and pose challenges to moving beyond human-centric ideologies
  2. Post-humanism emphasizes decentering humanity and focusing on the health of the planet and interconnected natural systems
  3. AI's current state reflects human biases and design decisions, and a posthumanist approach would require a shift towards technologies that facilitate listening and understanding the world outside ourselves

Uncertainty beyond the model

Mindful Modeler • 239 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🔬 Science Machine Learning
  1. Data uncertainty is prevalent in real-world data and should not be overlooked, including variables, errors in measurements, and missing data.
  2. Deployment uncertainty arises when machine learning models encounter new data, leading to potential performance issues due to distribution shifts.
  3. Consider beyond aleatoric and epistemic uncertainties and also address data and deployment uncertainties to improve model robustness.

Machine learning eats up science

Mindful Modeler • 219 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🔬 Science Machine Learning Research Technology Book Writing Data Analysis
  1. Research papers increasingly focus on AI and ML, indicating a growing trend in the scientific community.
  2. AI and ML offer significant benefits in terms of saving time, automating tasks, and enabling research.
  3. Challenges like bias, fraud, and lack of reproducibility persist, with a major concern being the reliance on pattern recognition over understanding in ML and AI.

Difference-in-Differences: No Anticipation with Parallel Trends (with a simulation and equations)

Scott's Substack • 117 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🔬 Science Causal Inference Statistics Simulation Equations Data Analysis
  1. No anticipation means the baseline period is equal to Y(0) not Y(1)
  2. Difference-in-differences coefficient equals ATT in the post period for the treatment group plus parallel trends bias minus ATT in the incorrectly specified baseline period
  3. Difference-in-differences always requires three assumptions to point identify the ATT: SUTVA, Parallel trends, and No Anticipation

Is Earth A Computational Process?

Surfing the Future • 119 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🔬 Science Computing AI Sustainability Chemistry
  1. Stephen Wolfram's TED talk on computational thinking explores AI, the universe, and more, opening up new possibilities for the future.
  2. Earth being a computing process is a fascinating concept with implications for sustainability and AI.
  3. The work of James Lovelock, especially his Gaia theory, holds significance and influences the thinking of many individuals.

Xenobots: Self-Replicating Biobots

Solve Cancer in 365 days • 2 HN points • 14 Sep 24
🔬 Science Biology Technology Engineering Health Robotics
  1. Xenobots are made from frog cells and can swim, heal, and move in groups. They are different from regular robots because they are living organisms created by scientists.
  2. Researchers design Xenobots by separating skin and heart cells and using computer algorithms to find the best ways to make them move. This combines biology with engineering.
  3. Xenobots can self-replicate by using loose stem cells to create new Xenobots. They could help with pollution cleanup and even serve purposes in medicine, like repairing organs.

Utilizing Cosmic Expansion: Innovative Solutions to Earth's Challenges

Space Ambition • 239 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🔬 Science Space Exploration Ecology Technology Innovation Economics International cooperation
  1. Space exploration could help solve major problems on Earth, including politics, economics, and ecology. By looking to colonize other planets, we can innovate and create better technologies.
  2. Trade between Earth and colonies on Mars could lead to peaceful relationships. Instead of fighting over resources, countries might cooperate to improve their economies.
  3. Moving some industries to space can benefit the Earth's environment. This shift could create new jobs and help us manage resources better, supporting sustainability goals.

German Newspaper Forces Correction at Science Magazine, While Americans Ignore Study That Undermines Market Theory for Pandemic Origin

The DisInformation Chronicle • 375 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🔬 Science Research Statistics Virology Journalism
  1. A German newspaper forced Science Magazine to correct a study about the pandemic origin, while American science writers ignored new research questioning the study's validity.
  2. The Science Magazine study, claiming the pandemic began in a wet market, was criticized for its statistical methodology by experts from Germany and Hong Kong, raising doubts about its conclusions.
  3. Independent experts confirmed the criticism of the study, highlighting flaws in the statistical analysis and describing Science Magazine's handling of the methodology as careless and unprofessional.

Evolving Beyond Determinism

Holodoxa • 199 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🔬 Science Consciousness Evolution Free will Neuroscience Philosophy
  1. Consciousness and free will are gaining scholarly attention, moving beyond being considered intellectual backwaters.
  2. There is a growing interest in naturalistic explanations of the human mind, relying on science rather than mystical or religious beliefs.
  3. The book 'Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will' by Kevin J. Mitchell offers a scientific defense of free will against determinism, emphasizing the role of conscious experience in guiding human behavior.

The NextSeq 2000 Optical System

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🔬 Science Biology Physics Chemistry Technology Engineering
  1. The NextSeq 2000 utilizes structured illumination to improve imaging quality. This technology allows for clearer images of very small features that were hard to see before.
  2. This updated information aims to reach a broader audience, moving from a previous platform to this one.
  3. The content is exclusive for paid subscribers, highlighting the value in subscribing for more detailed insights.

Will Progressives Defend In Vitro Gametogenesis?

Parrhesia • 685 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🔬 Science Genetics Ethics Health Media Technology
  1. In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) could revolutionize reproduction by providing more eggs for embryo creation.
  2. Increased availability of eggs through IVG can lead to significant gains in selecting embryos for desirable traits.
  3. Critics of genetic enhancement technologies should make fair comparisons with existing methods and consider the overall benefits.

Can the Vaccines Write the Spike Protein Into the Human Genome?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 998 implied HN points • 01 Mar 22
🔬 Science Vaccines mRNA
  1. A recent study presented the first evidence that vaccine spike protein mRNA can be reverse transcribed into DNA within human cells, although further validation is necessary.
  2. Integration into chromosomes is not required to consider something 'written into the genome'; extrachromosomal circular DNA can also lead to gene expression and phenotypic changes.
  3. The unexpectedly long persistence of mRNA and spike protein after vaccination raises concerns and suggests the need to investigate reverse transcription as a mechanism for this durability.