The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Long Live the Gene

Holodoxa • 39 implied HN points • 02 Nov 22
🔬 Science Genetics Debate Research Philosophy Evolution
  1. There is a heated debate between the importance of genetics and environment in shaping human behavior with stark divisions between political ideologies.
  2. The debate often oversimplifies complexities, with genetics and environmental factors both playing significant roles, despite the polarized views.
  3. Kampourakis' book, 'Understanding Genes,' critiques genetic essentialism but lacks depth in explaining the significance and impact of genetic science, presenting a one-sided view.

A Simple Math Model for Global Warming

America in Crisis • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🔬 Science
  1. Global warming arises from an imbalance between incoming solar energy and outgoing radiated energy from Earth, affected by properties of the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
  2. Water vapor, clouds, and greenhouse gases all play significant roles in the Earth's average temperature, altering the emissivity and albedo of the planet.
  3. Simple math models can provide insights into climate dynamics, considering factors like the effectiveness of clouds as radiation shields and the impact of increasing greenhouse gases on the Earth's temperature.

Links in Progress: Snakebites, Pig Hearts, and More

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Medicine Genetics Public Health Pharmaceuticals
  1. An AI tool has been developed to create a new kind of antivenom that can work without refrigeration. This could help save many lives, especially in areas where snakebites are common.
  2. A study showed that a vaccine for Ebola had an 84% effectiveness in preventing the disease in high-risk groups. This is good news for controlling future outbreaks.
  3. New technologies in gene editing and drug development are rapidly evolving, with Chinese companies making significant strides in creating new treatments.

The NIH and Data . . .

The Good Science Project • 22 implied HN points • 25 Dec 24
🔬 Science Research Data Innovation Metrics Evaluation
  1. The NIH is starting a program to give scholars access to its internal data. This will help them answer important questions about the economic impact and effectiveness of research policies.
  2. They are creating a new metric called the S-index to reward scientists for sharing data with the wider community. This aims to encourage more collaboration rather than just focusing on personal achievements.
  3. The NIH is offering a $1 million prize for innovative ideas on how to implement the S-index metric, encouraging creativity and participation from the scientific community.
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How Global Warming Became Scientific Fact

America in Crisis • 19 implied HN points • 24 May 23
🔬 Science Global Warming Scientific Method Atmospheric science Climate change
  1. The idea of global warming caused by human activities becoming a scientific fact evolved through the cultural evolution process of the scientific method, involving observation, hypothesis testing, and theory formation.
  2. Scientists in the 19th century made key discoveries about radiation and emissions that laid the foundation for understanding the greenhouse effect, and later researchers like Arrhenius and Manabe contributed to the development of climate science.
  3. Measurements and research over time have confirmed predictions about rising CO2 levels and global temperature increase, showcasing the progression of global warming from hypothesis to scientific fact.

(Ad-free Video) Origins Podcast: The War on Science Interviews: Day 1, Richard Dawkins

Critical Mass • 7 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🔬 Science Education Philosophy Public Policy Research Academia
  1. A series of 20 interviews will be released, featuring various authors discussing their perspectives on the challenges facing science today. This is to promote understanding of how current issues affect scientific progress.
  2. The discussions will cover a range of topics like academic free speech, the impact of social justice on research, and the need for sound scientific principles in universities. The goal is to spark important conversations about these challenges.
  3. The project aims to unify voices in academia to combat what is seen as an attack on science and scholarship. This effort is crucial for restoring trust and integrity in scientific inquiry.

An Interview about the Origins Project Foundation

Critical Mass • 9 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🔬 Science Physics Education Philosophy Research Astronomy
  1. The Origins Project Foundation is focused on science and education, aiming to inspire curiosity and understanding. It's important for our society to engage with scientific ideas.
  2. The Science Book Club is supporting the foundation through fundraising efforts, which can help promote more educational initiatives. Supporting such causes helps spread knowledge to a wider audience.
  3. Interviews and discussions about science can shed light on complex topics. Conversations like the one from the Science Book Club help make science more accessible.

Single molecule imaging of the central dogma reveals myosin-2A gene expression is regulated by contextual translational buffering

Axial • 22 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🔬 Science Molecular Biology Cell Biology
  1. Researchers created a special cell line to study how the MYH9 gene works, focusing on its role in myosin-2A production. This new approach allows them to see all stages of gene activity with high precision.
  2. The study found that changes in the cell cycle can affect how MYH9 is expressed, especially during cell division, helping to control when myosin-2A is made.
  3. They also discovered a 'buffering' system that adjusts protein production based on how much RNA is available, showing how cells adapt their response to different situations.

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.

Making Sense of Consciousness Part 3: The Pulvinar Nucleus

Rough Diamonds • 7 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🔬 Science Neuroscience Cognition Psychology Biology Behavior
  1. The pulvinar nucleus is a key part of the brain that helps process different types of sensory information. It's thought to play a role in how we pay attention to what we see, hear, and feel.
  2. Damage to the pulvinar can lead to problems with awareness of one side of the body, known as hemispatial neglect. People may ignore things on that side because their brain isn't processing it correctly.
  3. Research shows that the activity of the pulvinar changes based on our confidence in what we perceive. Its role may connect to how aware we are of our surroundings and how well we can focus.

k-Core Decomposition

Graphs For Science • 52 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🔬 Science Graph Theory Algorithms Data Analysis
  1. k-Core Decomposition is a way to explore the structure of networks by identifying the largest subgraph where every node has a specified minimum degree.
  2. The k-Core Decomposition algorithm involves recursively removing nodes with degrees lower than a specified threshold to reveal the k-core and k-shell structure of a graph.
  3. The degree of a node in a k-core doesn't have an upper limit, providing unique insights into network connectivity beyond traditional degree-based analysis.

The Physics of Intelligence

Breaking Smart • 99 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🔬 Science Physics AI Intelligence Systems Computation
  1. The physics of intelligence is not substrate dependent, similar to the physics of flight.
  2. The key questions in understanding the physics of intelligence relate to attention, memory, and the relationship between intelligence and information.
  3. Intelligence is not just about computation, but also about embodiment and specific interactions within the universe.

Changing retraction criteria for Science family

Science Forever • 19 implied HN points • 06 Jan 23
🔬 Science Research Errors Publishing Corrections
  1. Extensive corrections in scientific papers may lead to a retraction if confidence is lacking
  2. Retracting a paper could be considered if there is an accumulation of errors, causing editors to lose confidence in the data integrity
  3. Transparently correcting errors in scientific research is crucial to maintain the integrity of the self-correcting process of science

World of Glass

Material World • 87 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🔬 Science Technology History Innovation Discoveries
  1. Glass is a crucial material in modern civilization and advanced technology.
  2. The world's scientific and cultural advancements have been heavily influenced by the use of glass.
  3. The production and use of glass have played significant roles in historical events and technological developments.

Reupping an Article on Katalin Kariko

The Good Science Project • 70 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🔬 Science Research Funding mRNA technology Academic challenges
  1. New scientific institutes funded by Silicon Valley aim to advance scientific progress quickly.
  2. The current system of science funding is seen as uncreative and inflexible.
  3. It's important to fund a diverse range of people and ideas, including those that may currently seem unpopular or unworkable, to uncover groundbreaking discoveries.

Chaos control!

These Are Systems • 1 HN point • 17 Jul 24
🔬 Science Chaos Theory
  1. Chaotic systems can be unpredictable but still controllable. Even if it seems out of hand, with the right approach, we can manage and guide these systems effectively.
  2. The butterfly effect shows how tiny changes can lead to big results in chaotic systems. A small shift can completely change the system's trajectory over time.
  3. Feedback control allows us to react in real-time to changes in chaotic systems. By continuously measuring and adjusting, we can keep the system on track even if we can't predict exactly where it's going.

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.

When Does Science Self-Correct? Lessons from a Replication Crisis in Early 20th Century Chemistry

The Good Science Project • 63 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🔬 Science Chemistry Psychology Replication Applications
  1. Science can struggle to correct errors from the scientific record, even with healthy reforms in place.
  2. Non-replicable findings can still hold influence and get cited as much as replicable ones.
  3. Natural sciences can swiftly correct mistakes with practical consequences, while social sciences face challenges in self-correction due to less tangible applications and high acceptance of contradictory findings.

Soon, we will talk to other animals.

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🔬 Science Artificial Intelligence Ethics Sentience
  1. Humans have been communicating with animals through various methods like sign language and body language.
  2. Artificial Intelligence is being used in projects to communicate with different animal species like whales and bees.
  3. Exploring communication with animals raises ethical questions and challenges our perception of sentience and our role in the ecosystem.

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.

Letter from Harvard

Natural Selections • 10 implied HN points • 20 May 25
🔬 Science Research Funding Medical Science Cancer Research Public Policy Higher education
  1. The end of federal funding for research can hurt students, especially those from low-income families, making it harder for them to contribute to important medical advancements.
  2. A lot of scientific research relies on federal money, and cuts can disrupt ongoing projects and harm future innovation, making it a complex issue beyond just budget cuts.
  3. Having more people involved in science is great, but it raises questions about how to fund it fairly. We need to ensure that decisions on funding are made wisely and not based on popularity.

Hexagonal knot mosaics

A Piece of the Pi: mathematics explained • 24 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🔬 Science Mathematics Geometry Topology Research
  1. Hexagonal knot mosaics are a way to represent knots on a hexagonal board. You can use different types of tiles to create them.
  2. There are three categories of hexagonal mosaics: standard, semi-enhanced, and enhanced. Each type has different rules about how crossings can occur.
  3. Research has shown the maximum number of crossings you can achieve in these mosaics. Enhanced mosaics can have the most crossings, while standard ones allow the least.

The Open Source Stack for Biological Imaging

LatchBio • 17 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🔬 Science Research tools Data Analysis Open Source
  1. There are many open-source tools for biological imaging like Napari, ImageJ, Cellpose, CellProfiler, and Suite2p. Each tool has unique features and helps scientists visualize and analyze complex biological data.
  2. Using these tools, scientists can perform tasks such as tracking embryo development, analyzing protein interactions, segmenting cells, and studying neural activity. This technology makes research more efficient and accurate.
  3. Modern data infrastructure can greatly improve the use of these imaging tools. Centralizing resources, using container templates, and optimizing data transfer enhances research productivity and collaboration among teams.

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.

Post Replications!

Cremieux Recueil • 72 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🔬 Science Genetics Research Knowledge
  1. Public support for gene therapies and embryo selection is increasing, especially among educated individuals and those who would benefit from these technologies.
  2. There is a debate about whether knowledge is empowering or dangerous, with some advocating for caution in sharing scientific findings to avoid offense or harm.
  3. A study on attitudes towards gene therapy in infertility patients showed a high acceptance rate for various genetic editing purposes, with varying levels of acceptance based on political, religious, and educational backgrounds.

Experimental Induction of Epigenetic Inheritance

De Novo • 77 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🔬 Science Research Findings
  1. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is weak in mammals due to erasure of epigenetic marks between generations
  2. Experimental induction of strong epigenetic perturbation can lead to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance
  3. Study induced DNA methylation in mouse embryonic stem cells, tracked it through multiple generations, revealing potential for persistent epigenetic changes

Codon Digest: GPT-4 Controls a Robot

Asimov Press • 90 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetic Engineering Bioinformatics Microbiology Biology
  1. GPT-4 controlled a lab robot to conduct chemical reactions, showcasing the potential of using natural language to automate experiments.
  2. Skin microbes were engineered to activate the immune system to fight tumors when applied to the skin, offering a novel cancer treatment approach.
  3. Tobacco plants were genetically modified to produce moth sex pheromones, providing a natural way to repel male moths from crops and protect them.

Toward Sympoietic Mycomusicology

Cybernetic Forests • 39 implied HN points • 12 Jun 22
🔬 Science Music Technology Ecology Philosophy
  1. Mushrooms play a significant role in transforming materials to support life, showcasing a symbiotic relationship with the environment.
  2. The coordination and information exchange within mushroom bodies and networks can be likened to circuit boards, showing potential for capturing digital information.
  3. Exploring the connection between mushrooms and synthesizers delves into the concept of sympoiesis, highlighting the collaborative production and distribution of control and information.

Synthesis - Switchback Systems, Inc.

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetics Proteomics Patents Innovation
  1. Switchback Systems appears to own some interesting technology but isn't using it in the expected way. Instead of focusing on protein sequencing, they're exploring a new method for synthesis.
  2. There's some confusion about the direction of Switchback Systems because they don't seem to align with the typical work associated with their intellectual property.
  3. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding how companies adapt their technologies and where they might lead in the future.

The Role of Advanced Mathematics in AGI: Could Abstract Theories Pave the Way?

Deep-Tech Newsletter • 1 HN point • 12 Jul 24
🔬 Science Mathematics AI Machine Learning Linear Algebra
  1. The AI industry is investing heavily in large language models and AGI, but faces financial challenges and uncertainty in meeting high expectations.
  2. To achieve AGI, more advanced mathematical techniques beyond current ML algorithms like gradient descent may be needed, with Category Theory showing promise.
  3. Barriers exist in understanding Category Theory for AGI due to its abstract nature, but efforts are being made to empower AI researchers and engineers with necessary mathematical knowledge.

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.

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.