The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

[COPY] Science Goddess #1

SCIENCE GODDESS • 98 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
🔬 Science Science Writing
  1. Science writing is about communication and requires both good transmitters and receivers.
  2. There is a significant gender gap in science readership, with women being underrepresented in science magazines.
  3. Physics is a project of quantification, aiming to assign numbers to physical aspects, leading to a richer understanding of our world.

Erika Update #1: Getting projects started is hard

Erika’s Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🔬 Science Research Biology Experiments Publishing Genetics
  1. Starting projects can be challenging, but perseverance and a supportive environment are key to making progress.
  2. Mistakes are common in research, but being able to identify and correct them is crucial for success.
  3. Regular updates and reflections on the progress of a project can provide valuable insights and contribute to overall success.

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.
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Driving fans

Only Wonder Knows • 98 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🔬 Science Physics Engineering Devices Specifications
  1. Understanding basic physics is crucial when dealing with fan systems.
  2. The relationship between air flow and air pressure in fan systems is not always linear.
  3. When selecting a fan for a system, consider factors like power consumption, flow specifications, and current consumption.

Time in a timeless universe (part 2)

Sam’s Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🔬 Science Physics Philosophy Quantum
  1. Newton introduced the concept of absolute time, separate from change that physical systems undergo.
  2. Absolute time is an ethereal concept outside our universes, while clock time is a more physical representation of time.
  3. Barbour proposed a theory of time where different 'times' are viewed as different 'worlds' coexisting in a timeless block.

LK-99 red flags and other miscellany

Dan Elton's Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🔬 Science Materials Replication Theory Prediction Markets
  1. Potential red flags in scientific research include institutional names, graph quality, and suspicious videos or websites.
  2. Impurities like copper sulfide and uneven copper doping can lead to erroneous results in material studies.
  3. The LK-99 incident highlighted the importance of skepticism, replication, and the limitations of prediction markets and theoretical studies.

Action Potentials for July

Neurobiology Notes • 98 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🔬 Science Neurobiology Cryonics Astronomy Anti-aging Psychiatry
  1. Analysis of the Drosophila connectome reveals insights about neurotransmitters and information flow in the fly brain.
  2. Cell type annotations in the Drosophila connectome highlight the complexity and comparisons with previous mapping efforts.
  3. Developing a computational model of the Drosophila connectome provides insights into neural activity dynamics and behavioral predictions.

JUICE: A Journey to the Icy Moons of Jupiter

Europe in Space • 98 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astronomy Satellite Technology Planetary Science
  1. JUICE mission to study Jupiter's icy moons is a world-beater showing European excellence in space exploration.
  2. JUICE will be the first spacecraft to perform various feats, like a lunar-Earth gravity assist and orbiting moons of another planet.
  3. JUICE spacecraft has a titanic effort in its creation, involving multiple countries and costing around €1.6 billion.

'Birdwatchers and shorebirds both dream of fluddles'

This Week in Birding • 98 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🔬 Science Ornithology Conservation Ecology Migration
  1. Shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers are vulnerable due to their small size and need to forage constantly for survival during migration.
  2. Stopover sites for shorebirds, like fluddles, are threatened by human activities like monoculture farming practices.
  3. Efforts are being made to preserve and monitor wetlands like fluddles to provide vital habitats for shorebirds and support their migration journeys.

A model of models of probability

Bram’s Thoughts • 78 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
🔬 Science Probability Models Human behavior
  1. People generally have a simplified internal model of probability with five main categories.
  2. People tend to struggle with accurately gauging differences in expected values within the 40-60% range.
  3. Individuals often display overconfidence in their predictions for probable events and can become overly upset when these predictions fail.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #131

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 113 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🔬 Science Physics Health Technology Cancer Astronomy
  1. A deep-sea telescope called KM3NeT has detected the highest-energy neutrino ever recorded, which could help scientists learn more about extreme cosmic events like black holes.
  2. A new blood test named PAC-MANN can detect pancreatic cancer early and accurately, potentially improving survival rates for patients.
  3. Anduril is taking over a big military project to develop augmented reality headsets for the U.S. Army, which could enhance soldiers' performance on the battlefield.

ASeq, 200 Posts in 2025. Subscription Discounts.

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🔬 Science Genomics Biotechnology Diagnostics Instrumentation Bioinformatics Industry
  1. Two hundred posts were published in 2025 and there’s an archive of over 500 posts available behind a subscription; access is $20 per month.
  2. Two limited-time annual discounts are being offered: 25% off standard annual subscriptions and 50% off annual subscriptions for educational users.
  3. The newsletter delivers focused coverage of DNA sequencing, life-science tools, diagnostics, and industry news, and relies on subscription revenue to sustain a niche audience with relatively low conversion rates.

Understanding Different Uncertainty Mindsets

Mindful Modeler • 179 implied HN points • 24 Jan 23
🔬 Science Probability Modeling Uncertainty Machine Learning Statistics
  1. Understanding the fundamental difference between Bayesian and frequentist interpretations of probability is crucial for grasping uncertainty quantification techniques.
  2. Conformal prediction offers prediction regions with a frequentist interpretation, similar to confidence intervals in linear regression models.
  3. Conformal prediction shares similarities with the evaluation requirements and mindset of supervised machine learning, emphasizing the importance of separate calibration and ground truth data.

How To See Impossible Colours

Everything Is Amazing • 733 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🔬 Science Optics Perception Color Theory Vision Neuroscience
  1. By focusing your eyes in a certain way, you can see impossible colors like red-green or blue-yellow.
  2. Seeing colors like Stygian Blue or Hyperbolic Orange challenges our understanding, as they seem darker or brighter than physically possible.
  3. Experimenting with how you view colors can lead to unique perceptual experiences, expanding the boundaries of human vision.

Censorship Undermines the Pursuit of Truth

Heterodox STEM • 135 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🔬 Science Academic Freedom Censorship Public Policy
  1. Censorship in academic settings can limit the discussion of important truths. When researchers can't speak freely, society misses out on valuable insights.
  2. There are organizations and conferences focused on addressing and fighting against academic censorship. These groups aim to protect freedom of thought and promote open conversations.
  3. The Journal of Controversial Ideas allows authors to publish under pseudonyms. This encourages debate on sensitive topics while safeguarding individuals' careers and safety.

The Counterfactual's science poll #1

The Counterfactual • 59 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research Data Analysis Large Language Models
  1. Subscribers can vote on which research topics to explore each month. This makes it a fun way for people to get involved in science.
  2. Most research will focus on concrete questions and often involve Large Language Models. The goal is to keep projects manageable and achievable in a month.
  3. Some topics will involve summarizing existing research. This helps everyone understand what we know about a subject more clearly.

The Royal Society at a Crossroads: Scientific Merit versus Political Conformity

Heterodox STEM • 106 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🔬 Science STEM Political issues Public Trust
  1. There is a debate about whether someone like Elon Musk should be kept as a Fellow of the Royal Society due to his political statements and actions. Some people believe his scientific achievements should matter more than his opinions.
  2. The discussion raises concerns about mixing politics with science. It highlights the importance of judging scientific work fairly, based on its merit, rather than personal beliefs.
  3. The Royal Society faces pressure to prioritize political views over scientific excellence. How they respond could set an important example for scientific communities everywhere.

A Statistical Saga at a "Top" Journal

The Good Science Project • 122 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🔬 Science Research Statistics Publishing Peer Review Methodology
  1. Top scientific journals sometimes have trouble understanding basic statistics. This can lead to confusion and errors that affect research outcomes.
  2. A recent case showed that reviewing a paper could involve contradictory requests, like asking for a post-hoc power analysis, which is generally not helpful after results are already obtained.
  3. Researchers should not rely solely on journal editors for correct statistical advice. The system needs to improve how it addresses statistical issues in published studies.

Genes Really Do Shape Social Outcomes

Holodoxa • 119 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🔬 Science Genomics
  1. Behavioral genetics can have a significant impact on shaping society and improving educational interventions by studying genetic contributions to social outcomes
  2. Studying the genetics of educational outcomes can improve research quality and empower precision interventions, providing biological insights for potential new drugs or learning theories
  3. Genetic studies, like genome-wide association studies (GWAS), are advancing our understanding of genetic influences on educational attainment, paving the way for more accurate prediction of social outcomes

The peer-review literature says science should not run from public challenges; here's a framework for fair discussions

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🔬 Science Science Policy Science communication Peer Review Research Methods Public Health Vaccine Safety
  1. Experts should engage in public, evidence-based debate instead of avoiding challenges. Refusing to debate undermines scientific norms and public trust.
  2. A fair public debate needs a narrow question, balanced credentialed panels with conflict disclosures, a strict evidence-first format, and an independent post-debate audit, with all data and the full record publicly archived. Neutral funding and platform transparency are also required.
  3. Relying only on closed peer review and avoiding open scrutiny weakens credibility. Reforming peer review and embracing transparent, verifiable debates would better hold researchers accountable and inform the public.

Are Stars Conscious?

Secretum Secretorum • 707 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🔬 Science Astrobiology Metaphysics Cosmology Physics Evolution
  1. Some scientists challenge the traditional definition of life, suggesting that stars exhibit life-like behaviors such as metabolism and reproduction.
  2. There are radical theories proposing that stars possess consciousness and engage in purposeful actions, influencing life on Earth.
  3. The concept of cosmological natural selection suggests that black holes may play a role in giving rise to new universes, embodying evolutionary principles at a cosmic scale.

A different way to look at solar

America in Crisis • 59 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
🔬 Science Solar Power Energy Sources Climate change Infrastructure
  1. Solar power, despite being intermittent, can be made more efficient with government assistance and innovative solutions like storing excess electricity as hydrogen.
  2. Creating a widespread network of solar-powered hydrogen wells could lead to a cost-effective production of green aviation fuel, potentially revolutionizing the energy industry.
  3. Investing in infrastructure for renewable energy, like hydrogen wells, can serve as a stimulus project, offering economic growth opportunities and addressing critical environmental concerns.

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 Reproducibility 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.

~75% of Psychology Claims are False

Unsafe Science • 161 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🔬 Science Psychology Research Methods Replication Crisis Censorship
  1. A lot of psychology studies are not reliable, with about 75% of their claims likely being false. So, it's best to be skeptical of what you read in this field.
  2. Many published psychology findings are difficult to reproduce. This means that even though a study shows something, there's a good chance it might not be true when tried again.
  3. Censorship and ignoring opposing evidence can lead to more misinformation in psychology. Some studies get more attention even when their findings are wrong or contested.

Recycling Atoms With Supercritical Water

Splitting Infinity • 59 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🔬 Science Chemistry Renewable Energy Waste Management
  1. Supercritical water can break down organic matter like sewage, paper, plastic, and food into simple molecules, helping in recycling and generating energy.
  2. Using supercritical water can address the issue of a potential future carbon shortage by breaking down carbon present in waste into simple molecules.
  3. Supercritical water enables a wide range of chemical processes like producing green hydrogen, desalination, and supporting different chemical reactions, offering potential for creating sustainable systems.

The Quantum House Cards Talk

Quantum Formalism • 39 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🔬 Science Quantum Computing Research Community Engagement
  1. The Quantum House of Cards paper by Xavier Waintal raised varied reactions in the quantum computing community, sparking debate between skeptics and optimists.
  2. Zaiku Group adopts a balanced view on quantum computing, recognizing both the transformative potential and significant challenges, advocating for open dialogue between skeptics and optimists.
  3. Xavier Waintal will hold a talk in the Quantum Formalism community on February 29th, promoting a nuanced and productive discourse on quantum computing.

Science and Its Discontents

Holodoxa • 139 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
🔬 Science Research Innovation Metascience Replication Institutions
  1. Current systems for basic scientific research have weaknesses in terms of funding, publication incentives, and impact evaluation. Scientists often spend less time on actual research due to grant application efforts, and research impact is measured ineffectively.
  2. Systemic issues in research science include inefficiencies, triviality, and misaligned incentives, leading to concerns about technological stagnation and economic growth. The replication crisis is a notable problem, affecting various fields due to lack of reproducibility.
  3. Metascience, analyzing and improving scientific methodology, offers hope for enhancing the quality and efficiency of research. It encourages transparency, awareness of limitations, and informed decision-making by scientists, policymakers, and funders, despite facing obstacles in adoption.

DNA Fragments as Vaccine Adjuvants

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetics Immunology Vaccines Medical Research
  1. DNA fragments used in vaccine production may pose risks if they integrate into human cells. This could affect how our cells produce proteins and replicate.
  2. Injecting 'naked' DNA or RNA can allow cells to take up these materials directly, which can be used for vaccine development.
  3. CpG sequences in DNA fragments can enhance immune responses and have been explored in various vaccines, but their presence in mRNA vaccines raises safety and patent concerns for companies like Pfizer.

Lusus naturae

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 159 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🔬 Science Ornithology Geology Ecology Evolution Botany
  1. Rockpeckers are birds that create holes in rocks and are important for understanding geology. They use their unique feeding habits to extract silica from plants, which helps them carve out these holes.
  2. Scientists are exploring the connections between rockpeckers and other birds like rock wrens. There are still many questions about their behavior and nesting habits, with research ongoing to learn more.
  3. Interestingly, rockpeckers share a similar hole-drilling ability with piddock clams, highlighting the idea of parallel evolution. This shows that different species can develop similar traits to survive in their environments.

The Total Dose Cult

Gordian Knot News • 124 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🔬 Science Radiation Health Risk Assessment Nuclear Biology
  1. Total dose of radiation can be misleading. It's not just about how much radiation someone gets, but also how quickly they receive it.
  2. People exposed to radiation over a long time can have different health risks compared to those who are exposed quickly. The way their body processes radiation can vary.
  3. When discussing radiation harm, it's important to consider the rate at which people are exposed. This helps to get a clearer understanding of potential risks.