The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Ultima Genomics...$80 Genome...$0 Genome...

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 26 Feb 25
🔬 Science Genetics Biotechnology Medicine Research Technology
  1. Ultima Genomics has improved its sequencer, allowing more output per run and lowering costs significantly. This means sequencing the genome will cost around $80 now.
  2. The new technology uses larger features which help boost throughput without needing complex techniques. This makes the process simpler and more efficient.
  3. While these changes are great for users, their long-term impact on the company’s survival is uncertain. It’s important that they remain financially viable to continue providing these benefits.

Are Hydrocarbons Really “Fossil” Fuels?

Doomberg • 249 implied HN points • 29 May 25
🔬 Science Energy Geology Environmental Research Innovation
  1. Some scientists think hydrocarbons, which we call fossil fuels, might not actually come from ancient plants and animals. There are theories suggesting they could be formed from other natural processes deep within the Earth.
  2. In 1986, an oil drilling experiment in Sweden found hydrocarbons in an unusual location, challenging the idea that oil only comes from fossilized organic matter. This raises questions about our understanding of how hydrocarbons are formed.
  3. The concept of fossil fuels could be more complex than we thought. It encourages us to explore alternative origins for these energy sources instead of assuming they're all from the remains of past life.

Highlights From The Comments On Lynn And IQ

Astral Codex Ten • 10668 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🔬 Science Psychology Education Sociology Cultural Studies
  1. IQ tests may not accurately reflect a person's real-life intelligence, especially in very under-educated populations. Many factors, like lack of exposure to education, can affect test performance.
  2. Data from reliable and different sources, like World Bank statistics, often support the findings on national IQs. This suggests that there might be underlying patterns in intelligence across different countries.
  3. There's a complex relationship between IQ and practical skills. Just because someone scores low on an IQ test, it doesn't mean they're incapable in practical situations, like farming.

Academic Apocalypse?

Unsafe Science • 146 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🔬 Science Research Grants Policy Academia Funding
  1. The NIH is cutting grant overhead from 50% or more down to 15%, which could deeply impact research funding. This change has caused a lot of concern among scientists about how it might hurt innovation in the U.S.
  2. Many academics fear that these cuts to indirect costs are a threat to vital research programs. Since a lot of university funding relies on these indirect costs, losing them could lead to fewer jobs and less support for important studies.
  3. Despite the worries, there is a possibility that reducing indirect costs could free up more money for actual research projects. This change could lead to a rethinking of spending priorities, focusing more on direct scientific work.

Stop Telling Aliens We’re Here

Yascha Mounk • 1718 implied HN points • 15 Aug 24
🔬 Science Astrobiology Ethics Technology Philosophy Communication
  1. Some scientists are broadcasting messages to possible aliens, but this could be very dangerous for humanity. We don't know if aliens would be friendly or hostile.
  2. If aliens are able to contact us, they would likely be more advanced than us in technology. This raises concerns about their intentions and what could happen if they come here.
  3. Deciding to contact aliens should be a choice made by everyone, not just a few scientists. It's important to consider the potential risks before making such a drastic move.
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We need to talk about astrology

Granted • 18608 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🔬 Science Astrology Personality Traits Genetics Research Findings Cognitive Biases
  1. Astrology does not have scientific backing and can lead to harmful stereotypes and discrimination.
  2. Studies have shown that zodiac signs do not correspond to personality traits, and astrology cannot predict life outcomes.
  3. Belief in astrology may indicate a lack of critical thinking skills and could lead to acceptance of other unfounded beliefs.

You Can’t Write Vague And Censorship-Friendly Editorial Guidelines And Then Pretend They Won’t Apply In The Real World

Singal-Minded • 856 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
🔬 Science Censorship Research Policy Ethics Education
  1. Vague editorial guidelines can lead to serious issues in real-life situations. It's important to have clear and specific rules to avoid confusion and misapplication.
  2. Censorship in the sciences is a topic that many people are discussing. There are different viewpoints on how to balance respect for human dignity with academic freedom.
  3. It's essential to protect published research from being altered or withdrawn unjustly. Making changes for social justice reasons can lead to more harm than good in the scientific community.

Nobel Prize to the Statistical Physics of artificial neural networks

Complexity Thoughts • 379 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🔬 Science Physics Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Computational Models Statistical Methods
  1. John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton won the Nobel Prize for their work on artificial neural networks. Their research helps us understand how machines can learn from data using ideas from physics.
  2. Hopfield's networks use energy minimization to recall memories, similar to how physical systems find stable states. This shows a connection between physics and how machines learn.
  3. Boltzmann machines, developed by Hinton, introduce randomness to help networks explore different configurations. This randomness allows for better learning from data, making these models more effective.

Inverse Problems

arg min • 515 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🔬 Science Mathematics Statistics Physics Engineering Computer Science
  1. Inverse problems help us create images or models from measurements, like how a CT scan builds a picture of our insides using X-rays.
  2. A key part of working with inverse problems is using linear models, which means we can express our measurements and the related image or signal in straightforward mathematical terms.
  3. Choosing the right functions to handle noise and image characteristics is crucial because it guides how the algorithm makes sense of the data we collect.

Roche Nanopore: First Thoughts (Pt 1)

ASeq Newsletter • 51 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🔬 Science Genetics Biotechnology Research Innovation Technology
  1. Roche Nanopore's new sequencing method shows really impressive early results, which builds confidence in its technology.
  2. The accuracy of their duplex sequencing is reportedly better than Illumina's, suggesting it could be useful for many different applications.
  3. More information will be shared soon, as there's ongoing discussion and a second post in the works.

Barcoding Brains

Asimov Press • 225 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience Biotechnology Health Research Technology
  1. Connectomics is a method that maps connections in the brain, helping scientists understand how these connections affect our behavior and brain function. However, it's really slow and expensive to do.
  2. A non-profit called E11 Bio is developing new tools to make brain mapping faster and cheaper. They aim to create a complete map of a mouse's brain in just five years for a fraction of the current cost.
  3. Understanding the brain's connections can improve treatments for various brain diseases and potentially lead to advanced technologies like brain-computer interfaces. This could really change how we approach brain health and artificial intelligence.

Turing's Work on the Riemann Hypothesis

Cantor's Paradise • 379 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🔬 Science Mathematics Computing History Technology
  1. Alan Turing is famous for his work in computer science and cryptography, but he also made important contributions to number theory, specifically the Riemann hypothesis.
  2. The Riemann hypothesis centers on a mathematical function which helps in understanding the distribution of prime numbers, and it remains unproven after over 160 years.
  3. Turing created special computers to help calculate values related to the Riemann hypothesis, showing his deep interest in the question of prime numbers and mathematical truth.

Building a phosphorescence detector

lcamtuf’s thing • 2652 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🔬 Science Physics Engineering Research Technology Materials
  1. There isn't much information available on natural phosphorescence, so creating a detector can help explore its presence in everyday items.
  2. The device design prioritizes speed and sensitivity to detect phosphorescence briefly brought out by UV light, using specific electronics like photodiodes and amplifiers.
  3. Experimenting with common household materials showed that some items, like powdered milk and natural ruby, exhibit weak phosphorescence, although many other items didn't show any notable glow.

Will Oxford Nanopore Sue Roche?

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Intellectual Property Legal issues Genetics Research
  1. Oxford Nanopore has been actively suing companies like BGI without concrete claims of intellectual property infringement. This raises questions about their legal strategy.
  2. Roche might also face issues if they used Oxford's sequencers, especially since there are user agreements involved that they might have overlooked.
  3. Oxford Nanopore has a history of using the hairpin duplex approach, which led to legal disputes in the past. It will be interesting to see if their current patents hold up against previous art from competitors.

Your brain is a washing machine, AGI's job prospects, Americans are alone, the Earth passes "peak child"

The Intrinsic Perspective • 5983 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience Psychology Artificial Intelligence Sociology Child development
  1. Our brains clean themselves while we sleep, which is super important for our health. If we use strong sleep aids, like Ambien, it might mess with this cleaning process.
  2. The world is seeing fewer children being born, which means we might be reaching a point where there are not as many kids in the future. This can affect society in various ways.
  3. There's a common fear that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could take away all jobs. However, it's likely that human jobs will still have value even as technology improves.

UFOs are a soft sci-fi genre

The Intrinsic Perspective • 7615 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🔬 Science Astrophysics Philosophy Sociology Technology Literature
  1. UFOs are often seen as a type of soft sci-fi that mixes imaginative stories with poor evidence. This suggests that many UFO enthusiasts focus more on fantasy than reality.
  2. Real first contact with aliens is more likely to be through indirect evidence over long distances, rather than physical visits. Scientists think we might find signs of alien civilizations from far away.
  3. As science progresses, we might enter a stage of uncertainty about aliens, leading to debates without clear answers for a long time. This means we could be questioning the existence of aliens for hundreds of years.

Mechanisms too simple for humans to design

Telescopic Turnip • 274 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biology Evolution Genetics Technology Artificial Intelligence
  1. Living organisms, like butterflies and bacteria, are incredibly complex, yet humans struggle to replicate them fully because they are surprisingly simple in construction. It's like trying to build a working insect but only using a few basic parts.
  2. The information contained in the genomes of living beings is often much less than what we assume. For example, the human genome contains less useful information than what fits on a CD, showcasing how nature efficiently packs information.
  3. Natural evolution leads to a balance where simpler designs can survive better, while human-made technologies often have complex specifications and high error rates. This means some amazing designs in nature might be too bizarre for humans to create intentionally.

We were selected: tracing what humans were made for

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 783 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🔬 Science Genetics Evolution Anthropology
  1. Ancient DNA research has greatly improved our understanding of human evolution. Scientists can now study our genetic history and how humans have adapted over thousands of years.
  2. New techniques allow researchers to see how natural selection has shaped our traits, like skin color and immune response. This gives insight into why certain characteristics are more common in different populations.
  3. The findings show that our physical traits have changed over time due to varying environmental pressures and lifestyles. This helps explain how humans have managed to survive and thrive in diverse habitats.

☄ What asteroid 2024 YR4 teaches about techno-capitalism and risk

Faster, Please! • 182 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🔬 Science Astrophysics Risk Analysis Space Exploration
  1. Having resources and the ability to act is important for future planning. It allows individuals and societies to tackle big challenges like space threats.
  2. The Earth will eventually encounter dangerous asteroids or comets. This highlights the need for effective planetary defense strategies.
  3. We must focus on long-term safety and preparation to ensure a bright future for humanity. This involves addressing risks from space and other global threats.

The Battle for Better Air

Asimov Press • 264 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🔬 Science Air Quality Health Effects Technology development Public Health
  1. Air quality has improved over time thanks to things like windows and modern HVAC systems. What once were luxury items are now essential for health.
  2. Historically, many homes suffered from poor air quality due to indoor pollutants from burning fuels. This has been a public health issue for centuries.
  3. New technologies, like far-UVC lights, are being explored to enhance air quality and reduce airborne diseases, showing that our understanding of indoor air needs continues to evolve.

The other man: Neanderthal findings test our power of imagination

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 686 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🔬 Science Genetics Anthropology Paleontology Evolution History
  1. Neanderthals were more diverse than previously thought, similar to modern humans. Recent DNA findings show that they had unique social behaviors and were genetically distinct from their neighbors.
  2. The ancient DNA era has rapidly changed our understanding of human prehistory. Discoveries from ancient genomes have revealed new insights into our ancestors and how they interacted with Neanderthals.
  3. A notable finding is the discovery of a Neanderthal named Thorin, who lived in isolation for thousands of years. This suggests that Neanderthals had unique ways of life that are very different from modern humans.

Scientific American’s Purging of Laura Helmuth Is Only A Start

The DisInformation Chronicle • 1410 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🔬 Science Public Trust Health Communication Media Ethics
  1. Leaving behind hate-filled comments can lead to serious consequences, like getting fired or resigning from a job.
  2. Many science writers may share extreme political views that can affect the credibility of their journalism.
  3. To regain trust, media outlets need to clean up their practices and focus on reporting accurately, without political bias.

Complexity Thoughts: Issue #45

Complexity Thoughts • 139 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🔬 Science Evolution Artificial Intelligence Neuroscience Complex Systems
  1. New ideas in network science can help understand complex systems better. This approach looks at how systems behave over time, rather than just focusing on stable points.
  2. The evolution of multicellular organisms has led to many new species and ecosystems. Key innovations in multicellularity help organisms adapt and thrive in different environments.
  3. Research shows that convolutional neural networks (CNNs) face limits in recognizing patterns. This limitation is linked to the complexity of the data they're trained on, raising questions about their reliability.

Counting dimer tilings

A Piece of the Pi: mathematics explained • 36 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🔬 Science Mathematics Combinatorics Physics Statistics Theory
  1. Dimer tilings involve arranging domino-shaped pieces on grids, and how many ways you can arrange them can vary based on the layout. For example, on a 3x3 grid with one space empty, there are 18 different arrangements.
  2. If at least one dimension of a rectangle is even, it's possible to cover it completely with dimers. However, if both dimensions are odd, it's impossible to cover them without leaving gaps.
  3. There are mathematical patterns and theorems, like Gomory's Theorem, that help understand how to tile grids with dimers. These principles can show when tiling is possible based on the arrangement and color of squares.

Yes, scientific progress depends on like a thousand people

The Intrinsic Perspective • 9247 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🔬 Science Mentorship Innovation Research
  1. Scientific progress relies heavily on mentorship and connections within a large academic network. Many successful scientists come from the same elite lineage.
  2. Certain families of scientists are particularly influential, as seen with many Nobel Prize winners tracing back to a small number of academic mentors.
  3. While some critique the system as elitist, having a productive cultural substructure in science can be beneficial, and it's important to support this environment for future breakthroughs.

⚛️🌟 Our fusion future: A Quick Q&A with … nuclear engineer Michael Ford

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🔬 Science Energy Engineering Physics Technology Research
  1. Fusion energy has great potential and is seen as safer than fission because it doesn't have the same risks of catastrophic accidents.
  2. Many companies are investing in fusion technology, which is leading to a quicker development pace than in the past.
  3. Public perception and understanding of fusion will be important for its acceptance and can affect the costs and deployment of fusion power systems.

Antigravity and the Deep State

Tao Lin • 959 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
🔬 Science Physics Technology Engineering Military UFOs
  1. Antigravity is the idea of controlling gravity, but most scientists say it's impossible based on current physics theories.
  2. Some researchers believe that experiments with antigravity technology started over a century ago and involved famous inventors like Nikola Tesla.
  3. In the 1950s, there was much excitement about antigravity and its potential for new aircraft, but after that, discussions stopped, possibly because the technology became classified.

A Search for Sick Animals

Asimov Press • 186 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biology Medical Research Neuroscience Animal studies Genetics
  1. Animal models are really important for studying diseases like Parkinson's because they can show how conditions develop and help test new treatments.
  2. Researchers have looked for animals with naturally occurring Parkinson's, but finding them is hard. A recent study claims to have found a monkey with the disease indicating there may be others we just haven't discovered yet.
  3. If scientists can identify more animals with Parkinson's, it could lead to better understanding and treatment options for humans. It's important to keep searching for these models.

Try The 2025 ACX/Metaculus Forecasting Contest

Astral Codex Ten • 3854 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🔬 Science Forecasting Predictions Technology Research Competition
  1. The 2025 ACX/Metaculus Forecasting Contest is now open for predictions. It's a great opportunity for anyone interested to share their forecasts on various topics.
  2. This year, there are new forecasting bots participating, and it'll be exciting to see how they compare to top human forecasters. The contest wants to explore how well these bots can predict outcomes.
  3. The questions this year are designed to be interesting and relevant, so many people can take part. The contest aims to engage everyone's thoughts on important issues.

Predictions about the future of neurogrifters and neuro-nonsense

Brain Pizza • 728 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience Health Psychology Education Technology
  1. Neuroscience is becoming popular, but this can lead to the rise of people trying to take advantage of it for their own gain. It's important to be wary of those exploiting this trend.
  2. Predictions are hard to make, especially about the future of neuro-related claims and theories. Many ideas about neuroscience may not hold up over time.
  3. The term 'neuro-' is becoming a buzzword, which can lead to confusion and misinformation. It's vital to approach neuro-based claims with a critical eye.

Trò chơi của Diophantus

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 2037 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🔬 Science Mathematics History Physics Astronomy Data science
  1. The game of Diophantus, an ancient Greek mathematician, has had a lasting impact on cryptography and internet security, with the basis of elliptic curve cryptography originating from his mathematical puzzles.
  2. Diophantus's famous book 'Arithmetica' went missing for centuries but resurfaced to contribute to the advancements in mathematics, leading to significant discoveries like Fermat's Last Theorem.
  3. The study of elliptic curves, inspired by concepts like Kepler's study of ellipses, has become a central focus in mathematics, intersecting various branches like number theory, algebra, and geometry, and even impacting modern technology such as Bitcoin security.

The Smoking Gun

Nepetalactone Newsletter • 10633 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research Health Impact
  1. The evidence strongly supports that COVID-19 was made in a lab.
  2. There is a debate within the community on various strategies to address pandemic-related issues.
  3. The focus should shift towards examining the origins of the virus and preventing future lab leaks.

Declining trust in Zeus is a technology

Experimental History • 20553 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research History Technology Innovation Experts
  1. Randomized-controlled trials are a relatively recent method in the history of scientific evidence.
  2. Challenging old beliefs, such as trust in ancient gods like Zeus, can lead to important scientific advancements.
  3. There is a need for more transparency and accessibility in expert knowledge to earn public trust in institutions and experts.

An Apology to the Insiders

Gordian Knot News • 131 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🔬 Science Nuclear Energy Environmental Policy Systems theory Technology Ethics
  1. Some people in the nuclear industry feel offended by criticisms, believing the blame is directed at them rather than the broken system. It's important to clarify that the focus should be on changing the system, not attacking individuals.
  2. The author reflects on their experience in a flawed system, sharing a personal story about a report they wrote that was ignored to protect jobs. This shows how systems can trap people into doing the wrong thing.
  3. The author wants to apologize to those in the industry for any misunderstanding, emphasizing that the real problem lies in the system that has led to negative outcomes, not in the people who worked within it.

The Two Lies that killed Nuclear Power 2.0

Gordian Knot News • 300 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🔬 Science Nuclear power Radiation Energy Policy Environmental Impact Public Health
  1. Nuclear power has been hurt by two major misconceptions: that major accidents are unlikely and any release of radiation would be disastrous. Both ideas oversimplify complex realities.
  2. The belief that all radiation exposure is harmful has led to expensive safety measures in nuclear plants, making them less competitive against cheaper energy sources like oil and coal.
  3. Evidence shows that our bodies can repair some damage from radiation and that low-level exposure doesn't necessarily lead to serious health issues, challenging common fears about nuclear safety.

The reproducibility crisis and what it means for the NIH

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 111 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🔬 Science Research Ethics Scientific Method Data Integrity
  1. Many scientific experiments don't give the same results when repeated. It's like trying to bake a cake and it flops even though the recipe seemed good.
  2. Scientists often face pressure to produce results, which can lead to mistakes or even dishonesty in their work. They tend to focus more on getting results than on finding the truth.
  3. There's a big need for change in how science operates. Even if some discoveries are useful, there's a concern about whether research is really delivering reliable results.

Twin heritability models can tell you whatever you want to hear

The Infinitesimal • 719 implied HN points • 09 Aug 24
🔬 Science Genetics Research Methods Statistical Analysis Heritability Cultural transmission
  1. Twin heritability models can produce different estimates of how much traits are influenced by genetics versus environment. This can lead to confusion about what is truly inherited and what is shaped by upbringing.
  2. Cultural factors along with genetic factors play a significant role in shaping traits. Sometimes, what seems genetic can actually be environmental influences like parenting styles, which complicate our understanding of inheritance.
  3. Recent studies suggest that assumptions made in traditional twin studies might not be entirely accurate. By including more family relationships and considering cultural impacts, researchers can get a clearer picture of what really contributes to traits.

How Science Must Change

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1845 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🔬 Science Scientific research Public Trust Policy Implications Partisanship
  1. Science should focus on serving everyone, regardless of their political beliefs. This means making science accessible and relatable to all citizens.
  2. Many scientists in leadership are becoming too partisan, which creates a divide between science and the public. This partisanship can lead to mistrust and alienation among people with differing views.
  3. To regain trust, the scientific community needs to foster inclusivity and understand the diverse perspectives of the public. This includes recognizing that scientists should work to serve the interests of all Americans.

Global Existential Risks

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1648 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🔬 Science Global Risks Climate change Artificial Intelligence Pandemics Nuclear Threats
  1. The U.S. government identified six major risks that could threaten humanity, including artificial intelligence and nuclear war. These risks could lead to catastrophic events affecting civilization.
  2. Climate change was found to be significant but not classified as an existential risk, meaning it won't likely cause human extinction. It's seen as a serious issue but not at the same level as other threats.
  3. Experts warn that focusing too much on familiar risks may blind us to emerging threats, like pandemics or asteroid impacts, which could have severe consequences. We need to pay attention to a broader range of potential dangers.

We’re entering a golden age of engineering biology

Noahpinion • 16647 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🔬 Science Biology AI Genetics Automation Medicine
  1. The advancements in deep learning, cost-effective data collection through lab automation, and precision DNA editing with technologies like CRISPR are converging to transform biology from a scientific field to an engineering discipline.
  2. Historically, biology has been challenging due to its immense complexity, requiring costly trial-and-error experiments. However, with current advancements, we are now at a critical point where predictability and engineering in biological systems are becoming a reality.
  3. The decreasing cost of DNA sequencing, breakthroughs in deep learning models for biology, sophisticated lab automation, and precise genetic editing tools like CRISPR are paving the way for a revolutionary era in engineering biology, with vast potential in healthcare, agriculture, and industry.