The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Could we stop Yellowstone from erupting with a giant geothermal power plant?

Construction Physics • 213 HN points • 25 Apr 23
🔬 Science Geothermal Energy Climate Impact
  1. Yellowstone National Park sits on top of a supervolcano that could have catastrophic eruptions
  2. Using a giant geothermal power plant to bleed off heat from the magma chambers could prevent Yellowstone from erupting and generate electricity
  3. Developing such technology could provide benefits beyond just Yellowstone and address a major risk to civilization

Clean Tech Will Do Far More Than Stop Climate Change

Splitting Infinity • 39 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🔬 Science Renewable Energy Batteries
  1. Clean technologies like renewable energy can reshape industries by providing cheap and abundant energy sources.
  2. Batteries can help with renewable energy intermittency, reduce reliance on the grid, and have a positive impact on human health by enabling electrified transportation.
  3. Desalination technologies have the potential to provide significant amounts of fresh water, support ecosystems, and even create new lush environments with the help of cheap solar energy.

What does peer review know?

New Things Under the Sun • 160 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🔬 Science Peer Review
  1. Peer review is a common way to allocate scientific resources and has been shown to predict scientific impact.
  2. Studies have found a positive correlation between peer review scores and measures of research impact, such as publications and citations.
  3. The strength of the association between peer review scores and research impact may vary, but overall peer review can provide valuable insights into the potential impact of scientific work.
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Talking with Tony Fauci

Science Forever • 79 implied HN points • 11 Dec 22
🔬 Science Policy Communication COVID Podcasts Public Service
  1. Tony Fauci sets himself apart by being forthcoming in his communication, unlike many government scientists who stick to crafted statements.
  2. Real-time communication from scientists like Fauci reflects the evolving nature of knowledge, even though it may lead to criticism from politicians.
  3. Fauci believes scientists have a duty to speak truthfully and openly, promoting transparency in government discussions and decision-making.

Some Sex Differences are More Problematic than Others

Unsafe Science • 125 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🔬 Science Gender Studies Social Psychology Gender disparities
  1. Efforts to address sex disparities in occupational representation focus more on male-dominated jobs, while issues in female-dominated jobs receive less attention.
  2. Participants, especially women, view male-dominated jobs as more problematic due to perceived sexism/discrimination, regardless of job status or pay.
  3. Perceptions of the causes of gender gaps influence how problematic they are perceived to be, with attributions to sexism/discrimination making the gaps more concerning.

Nanoplastics in water - surprisingly large amounts discovered and its not looking good

Molecular Spectacular • 55 HN points • 14 Feb 24
🔬 Science Environment Health Research Plastic Pollution
  1. Nanoplastics are smaller than microplastics and more dangerous to human health as they can cross biological barriers and carry toxic materials.
  2. Recent research has discovered large quantities of nanoplastics in bottled drinking water, with detection remaining a challenge for real-world applications.
  3. The composition of nanoplastics found in bottled water is surprising, with some potentially originating from water processing or sources, indicating a wider issue beyond just bottled water.

eLife's Suppression of Science

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 51 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🔬 Science Peer Review Academic Publishing Research Ethics
  1. Peer review in the scientific community can be flawed, biased, and influenced by power dynamics, leading to the suppression of scientific findings.
  2. Scientific papers can face unfair rejection based on personal biases, conflicts of interest, and editorial decisions.
  3. The current scientific publishing system may hinder the open discussion and publication of research that challenges established beliefs or powerful stakeholders in the field.

Genetics can predict height, cancer risks, neuropsychiatric diseases and more — but not IQ?

Nucleus Genomics • 4 HN points • 11 Jul 24
🔬 Science Genetics Research Health Technology Education
  1. Genetics can help us understand traits like height and disease risks, but predicting intelligence (IQ) is much more complex and not fully possible yet.
  2. Current genetic models can give partial insights about how genes may influence intelligence but cannot tell you your exact IQ.
  3. As technology improves, genetic predictions for traits, including intelligence, may get better, providing more useful information about how genetics interacts with environment.

Cheating at Evolution

Eat Shit and Prosper • 159 implied HN points • 01 Nov 22
🔬 Science Biology Microbiology Evolution Genetics Health
  1. Bacteria can share genes with each other quickly, helping them adapt and survive in their environment. This 'horizontal gene transfer' allows them to grab useful traits without the slow process of traditional evolution.
  2. Some animals eat feces to gain beneficial bacteria that help them digest tough foods and absorb nutrients. This behavior helps spread helpful microbes more quickly among their populations.
  3. Understanding how microbes influence our health could lead to new treatments for various diseases. Using healthy microbes from poop could potentially improve a person's well-being significantly.

Well Traveled Cement

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 219 implied HN points • 28 Apr 22
🔬 Science Geology Environmental History Botany Urban Studies
  1. Cement in Seattle comes from limestone that originated in the Pacific Ocean around 200 million years ago. This means the material in our buildings has a fascinating history.
  2. From the 1860s to 1920s, San Juan Island was a key source of lime for cement production in Washington. Workers made quicklime by heating limestone, which was then used to create mortar and cement.
  3. Seattle's cement boom kicked off after the Great Fire of 1889, leading to building codes that favored durable materials. So, the buildings we see today have stories dating back millions of years.

Forget Gene Therapy. Microbes are the Future of Medicine.

Eat Shit and Prosper • 159 implied HN points • 28 Oct 22
🔬 Science Microbiology Genetics Evolution Health Medicine
  1. Microbes in our gut act like software, constantly changing and adapting, while our genes stay mostly fixed. This flexibility allows our bodies to optimize their functions more effectively.
  2. Unlike permanent changes in our DNA, mutations in microbes can lead to quick advantages without the risk of harmful outcomes. This means our body can benefit from favorable changes without damaging our core genetic makeup.
  3. Using microbes to adapt to different diets or conditions is faster and less risky than gene therapy. Microbes evolve quickly, making them a promising tool for improving health and dealing with diseases.

Some Atto-532 In A MiSeq

ASeq Newsletter • 51 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🔬 Science Imaging Research
  1. The post discusses experimenting with Atto-532 in a MiSeq for epi-fluorescent microscopy, highlighting the process of preparing and imaging on a microscope slide.
  2. Images taken show varying brightness in different color channels, with Atto-532 matching well with the green LED used in MiSeq technology.
  3. There's an anticipation of potential dye crosstalk, with the expectation of leakage from the G dye into the T channel, suggesting Atto-532 as a good match for the G dye.

Talking research integrity at Stanford

Science Forever • 19 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🔬 Science Research Integrity Academia Publications Errors
  1. Research integrity issues are systemic, not just due to individual mistakes. Institutions must take responsibility for addressing these problems.
  2. Tools like Proofig help catch errors in papers, emphasizing the importance of correcting mistakes promptly.
  3. Reducing stigma around correcting papers, proactive responses from institutions, and encouraging a culture of self-correction are crucial for improving research integrity.

More info, more problems

inexactscience • 39 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🔬 Science Research Economics Experiments Statistics Psychology
  1. When people get more information, they often underreact instead of overreact. This means they might ignore new data instead of properly adjusting their predictions.
  2. Experiments showed that when faced with two variables, people made less accurate forecasts. Adding complexity actually made their predictions worse.
  3. Having clear instructions and understanding of the information really helps improve decision-making. If people are confused, they tend to ignore important details.

Lateral thinking

Logging the World • 79 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
🔬 Science Research Data Analysis Public Health Epidemiology Testing
  1. Lateral flow tests had a much lower false positive rate than many initially assumed, around 0.03%, showing their effectiveness.
  2. Data on PCR retests of positive lateral flow tests revealed a positive predictive value of 82% even at low prevalence, supporting the reliability of lateral flow tests.
  3. A rise in prevalence due to variants like delta and omicron, as well as ease in lockdown restrictions, contributed to the wider acceptance of lateral flow tests for controlling the pandemic.

A Hurdle for New Biobased Plastics

The Polymerist • 215 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🔬 Science Plastics Chemistry Sustainability Performance
  1. Creating biobased plastics that are both affordable and perform well is a major challenge.
  2. Price, performance, and convincing consumers are the three main hurdles to overcome in promoting biobased plastics.
  3. The success of biobased plastics hinges on their ability to compete with traditional plastics in terms of cost and performance, while also gaining consumer acceptance.

The Struggle for Survival, Information, and Immortality

Ulysses • 59 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🔬 Science Evolution Genetics Language Memory Writing
  1. Living beings navigate the world by ingesting information to survive and evolve, as genes constantly adapt and species evolve through the exchange of genetic material.
  2. Human survival relies heavily on memetic information stored in our minds, with language playing a crucial role in passing on knowledge and shaping societies.
  3. Writing is a powerful tool for achieving a form of immortality by transferring ideas and knowledge across generations, transcending biological limitations.

Alternatives to Zookeeping

De Novo • 121 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🔬 Science Biology Biomedical Proteins Antibodies Research
  1. Synthetic biology can provide alternatives to traditional antibodies in biomedical research to improve progress and reproducibility.
  2. Current production and use of antibodies have intrinsic and extrinsic challenges, such as compatibility issues, cost, and reproducibility concerns.
  3. Moving towards new antibody technologies, like recombinant antibodies and phage display, could lead to better solutions in biomedical research, though adoption may require top-down support from funding agencies.

On creativity and language models

Philosophy bear • 50 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🔬 Science AI Creativity Language Models Philosophy
  1. Creativity involves putting things together in a new way, whether it's useful, thoughtful, beautiful, or admirable. It's all about recombining existing elements.
  2. The level of creativity depends on how new and good something is. Any new sentence can be seen as somewhat creative, but the degree varies.
  3. There doesn't seem to be a definite line between different levels of creativity; they all involve rearrangements of existing elements. It's a spectrum of newness and usefulness.

Graphene: New Comprehensive Study, Degradation, and Industry Trends

Tessa Fights Robots • 43 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🔬 Science Research Toxicity Applications Biology Industry
  1. A recent study highlighted the toxicity and degradation of graphene, raising concerns about its broad applications and potential hazards on the environment and human health.
  2. Further research is needed on the degradation of graphene-based nanomaterials to understand their environmental impact and health risks. Some compounds like humic acid and specific enzymes play a role in the biodegradation process.
  3. Graphene is a trending material in various industries, but there are growing concerns about its safety, likening it to the new asbestos or Glyphosate 2.0. Monitoring industry trends and applications of graphene is important for understanding its impact.

Left-Wing Authoritarians are Averse to Masculine Looking Men

Unsafe Science • 137 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🔬 Science Evolutionary Psychology Behavioral Science Personality Traits Research Studies
  1. Left-wing authoritarians are averse to masculine-looking men.
  2. Masculinized men can be perceived as threatening by left-wing authoritarians due to their physical advantages in conflict.
  3. Evolutionary history influences how people make judgments about others based on appearance, impacting social interactions and group dynamics.

Radiation Spikes at Chernobyl: A Mystery Few Seem Interested in Solving

Zero Day • 140 HN points • 08 Aug 23
🔬 Science Radiation Data Manipulation Investigation Forensic Analysis
  1. Radiation sensors at Chernobyl spiked after the Russian invasion, leading to suspicions of data manipulation.
  2. Patterns in the data from sensors indicated possible data manipulation rather than actual radiation spikes.
  3. The disappearance of the server and hard drives from the Ecocenter raised questions about who may have tampered with the sensor data.

AI, Capitalism, and the Collapse of Industrial Society

antoniomelonio • 46 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🔬 Science AI Capitalism
  1. Capitalism's impact on technological advancements may turn them into nightmare fuel, including artificial intelligence.
  2. AI holds potential for a post-scarcity future, optimizing tasks and potentially enabling Universal Basic Income, but under capitalism, this positive transformation faces challenges.
  3. The interactions between AI, capitalism, and society's collapse present a complex gamble for humanity's future, where AI could be both a solution and a threat, depending on how it's leveraged.

Techno-Optimism Vs. Nature

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🔬 Science Technology Nature Evolution Complexity Harmony
  1. Techno-Optimism focuses on using technology to evolve and overcome biological weaknesses imposed by nature.
  2. Techno-Optimists often misunderstand the origins of technology, which actually stem from nature and natural resources.
  3. Harmonizing technology with nature can lead to greater chances of human evolution and discovery, showing the importance of working alongside nature.

Culture and Humans Living Forever

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🔬 Science Technology Anthropology Philosophy Sociology History
  1. Advancements in science may soon allow humans to live for hundreds of years, leading to complex cultural adaptations.
  2. The concept of living forever raises ethical and societal questions, such as equal access to longevity treatments and redefining traditional milestones like retirement.
  3. The shift towards longer lifespans will challenge our current economic and cultural systems, impacting everything from wealth accumulation to family structures.

Birth Of A Science

Adjacent Possible • 126 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🔬 Science Research Health Aging
  1. Life expectancy has doubled in the past century due to reducing infant and child mortality, not old people living longer lives.
  2. Projected average life expectancy of 100 in the second half of this century is a positive development, but not a groundbreaking one.
  3. There is a debate in the scientific community about breaking the Calment boundary of 115 years and achieving life expectancies of 120 and beyond, requiring a paradigm shift in understanding aging.

Unlocking Precision Fermentation Via Protein Engineering

Splitting Infinity • 39 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🔬 Science Biochemistry Biotechnology Genetics Protein engineering Synthetic Biology
  1. Yeast, especially in precision fermentation, can be genetically modified to produce a wide range of chemicals, biologics, and medicines by augmenting their genes.
  2. The main challenge in precision fermentation is reducing costs, particularly in the purification process where proteins are separated from complex solutions.
  3. Novel techniques like self-cleaving tags and self-aggregating proteins offer promising solutions for purifying proteins in a cost-effective and efficient manner, potentially eliminating the need for expensive purification methods like column chromatography.

Ancient Aliens, Easter Island, and Truth

Skeptic • 46 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🔬 Science Archaeology Skepticism Debate
  1. Reason and science should take precedence over fantasy and entertainment for a safer society.
  2. Skepticism and critical analysis are important in evaluating claims about ancient civilizations and extraterrestrial theories.
  3. Engaging in open conversation, dialogue, and debate can help in seeking the truth and understanding different perspectives.