The hottest Science Substack posts right now

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Prime Time

Doomberg β€’ 6766 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 24
πŸ”¬ Science Energy Technology Policy Climate Nuclear
  1. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to significantly increase power demand, potentially impacting the journey towards electrifying everything.
  2. The nuclear industry is experiencing a resurgence as evidenced by Amazon's move to power a data center with nuclear energy, reflecting a larger trend of increasing nuclear capacity globally.
  3. There is growing concern about whether the uranium fuel supply chain can meet the demand created by the rapid pivot towards nuclear energy, highlighting the importance of understanding the nuclear fuel cycle.

Indecomposable Ordinals

Infinitely More β€’ 38 implied HN points β€’ 01 Feb 26
πŸ”¬ Science Mathematics Set Theory Algebra Foundations
  1. An ordinal Ξ»>0 is additively indecomposable when the sum of any two smaller ordinals is still below Ξ»; equivalently, it cannot be expressed as a sum of two smaller ordinals.
  2. Concrete examples: Ο‰ is additively indecomposable, ω·2 is not, and the next indecomposable after Ο‰ is Ο‰^2, so such ordinals must exceed every finite multiple of Ο‰.
  3. There are analogous notions for multiplication and exponentiation β€” multiplicative or exponential indecomposability raises similar questions about whether indecomposable equals irreducible and motivates a full characterization via tools like Cantor normal form.

Government Science and the Prestige Economy

Richard Hanania's Newsletter β€’ 1219 implied HN points β€’ 14 Jun 25
πŸ”¬ Science Research Policy Innovation Economics History
  1. Government funding for science is important because there are some types of research that private companies won't invest in, even though they can benefit society. Basic research is valuable, even if it doesn't have immediate economic benefits.
  2. The idea of crowding out suggests that government funding may take talent away from private companies, but research shows that government support often leads to more innovation in the private sector as well.
  3. Prestige economies, which reward knowledge and research, can motivate scientists to do valuable work even if it doesn't yield direct financial gains. This is different from private sector jobs where profit is the main goal.
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Bioelectric Signalling and Cellular Communication

Solve Cancer in 365 days β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 28 Aug 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology Cell Biology Genetics Medical Research
  1. Bioelectricity is how cells communicate using tiny electrical signals. Think of it as the way cells send messages to each other in the body.
  2. Cells have gate-like structures called ion channels that control the movement of charged particles, creating bioelectric signals. These signals help in many processes such as healing and development.
  3. Manipulating bioelectric signals could potentially change how cells behave, which might lead to new ways to treat diseases like cancer by changing unhealthy cells back to normal ones.

All Bayes Everything

Holodoxa β€’ 239 implied HN points β€’ 14 Jun 24
πŸ”¬ Science Statistics Probability Neurobiology Consciousness Research
  1. Bayes' Theorem is a powerful concept in probability theory that helps update beliefs based on new evidence, highlighting the importance of combining prior knowledge and new data.
  2. Bayesian methods can offer valuable improvements to scientific research practices by emphasizing uncertainty, effect magnitude, and probability distributions over traditional p-values and null hypothesis testing.
  3. The concept of the brain functioning as a prediction machine aligns with Bayesian principles, suggesting that the brain uses prior knowledge and new sensory inputs to make predictions and construct conscious experiences.

The Possibility of Pikas

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind β€’ 419 implied HN points β€’ 02 May 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology Ecology Conservation Wildlife Climate
  1. Pikas are small mammals that usually live in rocky areas at high elevations, but some have been found at lower elevations, like the Columbia River Gorge. These unique habitats help them survive despite the warmer climate.
  2. Researchers found that moss plays an important role for pikas at lower elevations by keeping them cooler and happier. Moss helps create a nice environment for these little creatures as temperatures can often be too hot for them.
  3. Pikas are adapting to their new lower habitats by spending less energy storing food for winter and more time in the shade of trees. This shows they might have the ability to adjust to climate change better than some other animals.

The grid part II - the golden age of the power industry

Construction Physics β€’ 11274 implied HN points β€’ 03 Jun 23
πŸ”¬ Science Electricity Industry Infrastructure Regulation Environmental Impact
  1. In the 1930s, federal projects like the Hoover Dam increased electrification and capacity, but growth slowed due to the Great Depression.
  2. Post-World War II saw the Golden Age of the electric power industry with massive growth in electricity generation, consumption, and industry assets.
  3. The end of the Golden Age came in the late 1960s due to factors like environmental concerns, technical challenges, and the 1973 energy crisis, leading to rising costs and stagnation.

Staring At The Tsunami

Β‘Do Not Panic! β€’ 1788 implied HN points β€’ 21 Aug 23
πŸ”¬ Science Psychology Optimism Risk Assessment
  1. Unrealistic optimism can lead to underestimating personal risk and overestimating favorable outcomes.
  2. Our brains may fail to update perceptions when faced with immediate, observable realities, leading to a freeze response.
  3. Depression and neurodiversity may result in a more accurate assessment of risk, providing survival advantages.

4.1 Heaviside, Poynting, & Energy Flow

Fields & Energy β€’ 239 implied HN points β€’ 12 Jun 24
πŸ”¬ Science Physics Energy Electromagnetism Theories Mathematics
  1. Poynting and Heaviside explained how energy moves through space, not just through wires. They believed that energy travels through the surrounding medium as it shifts from one spot to another.
  2. They challenged the traditional 'fluid' model of electricity, saying that while current flows through wires, the energy actually flows outside of them. This highlights the importance of electric and magnetic fields in energy transfer.
  3. The debate between the fluid model and the electromagnetic theory showed that although the latter was complex, it provided a more accurate understanding of how energy moves in electrical systems.

Sequencing the Pfizer monovalent mRNA vaccines also reveals dual copy 72-bp SV40 Promoter

Nepetalactone Newsletter β€’ 1749 implied HN points β€’ 12 Apr 23
πŸ”¬ Science Vaccines Genetics Biology Research COVID-19
  1. Sequencing of Pfizer vaccines showed dual copies of a 72-bp SV40 Promoter
  2. The assembly struggled to handle a 72-bp tandem repeat with 105bp insert sizes
  3. The data corrected the assumption of multiple vectors in Pfizer vaccines, indicating a single vector with an additional 72bp repeat

4.0 Electromagnetism Comes of Age

Fields & Energy β€’ 259 implied HN points β€’ 05 Jun 24
πŸ”¬ Science Physics Electromagnetism Innovation Technology History
  1. Oliver Heaviside improved upon Maxwell's ideas about electromagnetism. He made complex concepts simpler and more useful, opening doors for new technologies.
  2. Heaviside's work helped solve many technical issues with telegraphy, making long-distance communication possible. His innovations changed how electrical signals were sent across wires.
  3. Heaviside created important terms used in electronics today and developed a simplified way to describe energy flow in electromagnetic fields. His contributions are still fundamental in understanding electromagnetism.

The Genetic Time Machine: Neanderthals, genomics and hybridization priors

ideassleepfuriously β€’ 982 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jan 24
πŸ”¬ Science Genomics Evolutionary biology Anthropology Genetics Human biology
  1. 200 thousand years of isolation may not be enough for genetic incompatibilities to develop
  2. Genomics has revolutionized evolutionary biology by providing precise insights with massive amounts of data
  3. The mixing of Neanderthal and modern human lineages led to genetic incompatibilities and selection against Neanderthal-origin DNA in modern humans

Compressed for Time

Doomberg β€’ 6641 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jan 24
πŸ”¬ Science Energy Technology Chemicals
  1. Jafurah in Saudi Arabia is a huge natural gas project with massive investments to increase production significantly by 2030.
  2. Technological advancements have made natural gas production economically viable, with potential for further investment and development.
  3. Natural gas can serve as a direct substitute for oil in various applications, contributing to energy efficiency and market dynamics.

Neanderthals in the House

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind β€’ 359 implied HN points β€’ 09 May 24
πŸ”¬ Science Paleontology Geology Anthropology Urban Nature Natural History
  1. A person found part of a jawbone while visiting their parents' house, and it could be related to ancient humans like Neanderthals. This discovery shows that fossils can be hidden in unexpected places, even in our homes.
  2. Many buildings, like the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, are made from a stone called travertine that has preserved fossils of leaves and other plants. This means you can see ancient life without going to a museum.
  3. Cities like Seattle are full of building stones with hidden fossils, encouraging people to look closer at their surroundings. Exploring urban areas can reveal fascinating pieces of our natural history.

3.4.1 Ohm's Law

Fields & Energy β€’ 519 implied HN points β€’ 03 Apr 24
πŸ”¬ Science Physics Education History Engineering Mathematics
  1. Ohm's Law shows that voltage is equal to current times resistance, which is key to understanding how electrical circuits work.
  2. Georg Simon Ohm faced a lot of criticism during his time for his ideas, but later scientists recognized his important contributions to physics.
  3. Henry Cavendish had discovered concepts similar to Ohm's Law before Ohm, but much of Cavendish's work went unnoticed because he rarely published his findings.

A year in three psychological biases

The Free Mind β€’ 1670 implied HN points β€’ 13 Feb 23
πŸ”¬ Science
  1. 2022 was a year filled with extraordinary events and happenings
  2. Weirdness prevailed as seen with the quick resignations and political changes
  3. Consider subscribing to The Free Mind for more insights and access to full post archives

Weekly Dose of Optimism #174

Not Boring by Packy McCormick β€’ 130 implied HN points β€’ 19 Dec 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biotechnology Longevity Neuroscience Materials science Photonics Research Trends
  1. Science is developing organ perfusion systems that can keep organs alive outside the body for much longer, which could turn transplants into scheduled procedures, increase usable donations, and enable organ banking or swapping.
  2. Self-experiments with high-dose psilocybin showed rapid improvements in mental health, brain plasticity, metabolic control, and inflammation. These results suggest psychedelics might become part of longevity strategies for some people, though risks remain.
  3. Researchers are 3D-printing tiny helix structures that manipulate terahertz waves, unlocking a hard-to-reach part of the electromagnetic spectrum for telecom, sensing, and even polarization-encoded data. A year-end scientific review also highlights wide-ranging, high-impact advances across many fields, signaling rapid progress.

Forest Feed: How Trees Like, Share, & Communicate Through Mycelial Networks πŸŒ²πŸ„

Tripsitter β€’ 179 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jun 24
πŸ”¬ Science Communication Networks Ecology
  1. Forests operate as interconnected organisms, with trees communicating and sharing resources through underground mycelial networks.
  2. The symbiotic relationship between trees and fungi, known as mycorrhizae, plays a vital role in enhancing the forest ecosystem.
  3. Trees use the mycelial network to warn each other of dangers, nourish weaker trees, and even collectively defend against threats like pests.

In cosmology, all our errors lean the same way. The implications are... interesting

The Egg And The Rock β€’ 1650 implied HN points β€’ 09 May 23
πŸ”¬ Science Cosmology Astronomy Evolution Theory Research
  1. In cosmology, our errors consistently lead us to underestimate the size and complexity of the universe.
  2. A major flaw in our approach may stem from an unexamined assumption underlying our theories.
  3. Shifting from a universe-as-rock paradigm to a universe-as-egg paradigm may help us better understand the universe's complexity.

Wolverine: The Creature Most Voracious

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind β€’ 239 implied HN points β€’ 06 Jun 24
πŸ”¬ Science Animal Behavior Ecology Natural History Mythology
  1. Wolverines are known for their huge appetites and can eat a lot of food at once. They are so gluttonous that they can overeat and need to find narrow spaces to relieve themselves.
  2. These animals have a varied diet and are both hunters and scavengers, eating everything from birds to rodents. They do face tough winter conditions without hibernating, relying on their hunting skills.
  3. People often view wolverines negatively, calling them destructive and cunning. However, they are simply doing what they need to survive in harsh environments and shouldn't be unfairly blamed.

The Whale Fall Edition

Why is this interesting? β€’ 1870 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 25
πŸ”¬ Science Marine Biology Ecosystems Environmental Science Biodiversity Ecology
  1. When a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor, it becomes a feast for many sea creatures. This event leads to a chaotic but vital ecosystem around the whale carcass.
  2. After larger scavengers eat their fill, bacteria step in to break down the whale's body, turning it into nutrients for other life forms. This process creates a thriving community in a place that usually has little life.
  3. The cycle of life and death in the ocean shows that nothing goes to waste. Even in death, a whale can support new life for decades, reminding us that everything in nature is interconnected.

Building a phosphorescence detector

lcamtuf’s thing β€’ 2652 implied HN points β€’ 27 Nov 24
πŸ”¬ 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.

SUPER BUCK MOON 2023

The Lunar Dispatch β€’ 1611 implied HN points β€’ 03 Jul 23
πŸ”¬ Science Psychological Effects
  1. Space psychology is a growing field due to long-term space missions potential.
  2. Balancing crew personalities and group dynamics is crucial for successful space missions.
  3. Space sickness poses unpredictable challenges for astronauts, and non-pharmacological treatments are being developed.

3.5 Summary and Conclusions

Fields & Energy β€’ 259 implied HN points β€’ 29 May 24
πŸ”¬ Science Physics Electromagnetism
  1. Maxwell built on the work of earlier scientists to develop his laws of electromagnetism. He connected electricity and magnetism, proving they are linked like never before.
  2. Maxwell emphasized the importance of careful experimentation and having a clear understanding of facts rather than jumping to theories. This approach helped in developing the scientific understanding of electromagnetism.
  3. Innovative ideas often face skepticism, especially from those already established in the field. Acknowledging our limitations and being open to new ideas are crucial for advancements in knowledge.

Science and Serendipity

Dr’s Newsletter β€’ 746 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
πŸ”¬ Science Research Chemistry Toxicity
  1. PhD research can be challenging but can lead to unexpected and serendipitous discoveries
  2. The stability of certain compounds is crucial in preventing toxicity, as observed in experiments with aluminium and silicic acid in fish
  3. Understanding the chemistry behind experimental outcomes is key, as seen in the success of a PhD research project despite initial doubts

No Evidence RSV Had a Research Laboratory Origin, Multi-Layer Analysis Concludes

Who is Robert Malone β€’ 8 implied HN points β€’ 04 Mar 26
πŸ”¬ Science Virology Genomics Epidemiology Biosecurity Surveillance
  1. A six-layer, AI-enhanced analysis found no credible genomic, epidemiological, or behavioral evidence that RSV was engineered or escaped from a lab, and the data point to a natural, zoonotic origin long before the 1950s.
  2. RSV was likely circulating in humans for decades and was only detected in the 1950s because of advances in tissue culture and expanded respiratory surveillance, including military-funded detection programs, not because the virus newly emerged from labs.
  3. The AI-Enhanced verification framework produced consistent negative findings for RSV, showing multi-layer analytical tools can help distinguish natural emergence from laboratory involvement, though they cannot replace political agreements or formal inspection regimes.

Unsafe Science Retrospective

Unsafe Science β€’ 106 implied HN points β€’ 26 Dec 25
πŸ”¬ Science Academia Research Integrity Peer Review Free speech Social Science DEI
  1. An independent newsletter platform can protect free inquiry and host open discussion with guest contributors. Paid subscriptions can be used to fund research, backstop projects, and launch alternative journals and conferences.
  2. Academic mobs and cancellation campaigns can target critics of diversity initiatives. Careful public documentation and rebuttal can turn attacks into increased support, new scholarship, and career opportunities.
  3. A central theme is that DEI programs and the politicization of scholarship can be ineffective or harmful. If academia remains highly partisan, it risks losing funding, credibility, and the ability to function effectively.

The Extinction Tournament

Astral Codex Ten β€’ 9153 implied HN points β€’ 20 Jul 23
πŸ”¬ Science Artificial Intelligence Forecasting Existential Risk Technology
  1. Experts and superforecasters had a strong disagreement on the likelihood of global catastrophes.
  2. The tournament explored global disaster risks, with 'Catastrophe' meaning an event killing over 10% of the population, and 'Extinction' meaning reducing human population below 5,000.
  3. The tournament highlighted the challenges in aligning expert predictions, potential biases in forecasts, and the complexities of forecasting AI-related risks.