Asimov Press

Asimov Press focuses on advancements and perspectives within biotechnology, emphasizing revolutionary technologies, scientific methodologies, and the societal impacts of biotechnological progress. It covers topics from practical tools like micropipettes to complex concepts like gene therapy, with a keen interest in improving methods, understanding mechanisms, and exploring future potentials in healthcare, agriculture, and beyond.

Biotechnology Advancements Scientific Methodology Healthcare Innovations Agricultural Technologies Gene Therapy and Genetics Neurotechnology Scientific Communication Ethics in Scientific Research

The hottest Substack posts of Asimov Press

And their main takeaways

Francis Crick Was Misunderstood

161 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🔬 Science Biology Genetics Molecular Biology Evolution Research
  1. The Central Dogma explains that information in cells flows mainly from DNA to RNA to proteins, but it's more complex than just that. It actually includes several other information transfers that many people don't realize.
  2. Francis Crick named his idea the Central Dogma, but it’s not an unchangeable belief; it's a scientific hypothesis based on evidence. Even though people often misunderstand it, he believed in testing ideas with experiments.
  3. Recent discoveries show that some processes in biology may seem to contradict the Central Dogma, but they don't actually break its rules. The essential point is that information can only flow from nucleic acids to proteins, never the other way around.

The Pursuit of Parenthood

199 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Reproductive Rights Medical Ethics Biotechnology Public Policy
  1. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) has become widely accepted in society, with many people knowing someone who has used this technology. Just 50 years ago, it faced a lot of criticism from scientists and the public.
  2. The journey to making IVF mainstream involved many scientific breakthroughs and changes in public perception, starting from early experiments in the 1930s to the birth of the first IVF baby in 1978. This shows how challenging and slow scientific progress can be.
  3. Despite the success of IVF, there is a lack of federal regulation, which can lead to some issues like inflated success rates and high costs. Still, this absence of strict rules has allowed for a lot of innovation and diverse options for people seeking reproductive assistance.

How to Measure Molecules

335 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🔬 Science Physics Chemistry History Experimentation Mathematics
  1. In the late 19th century, Lord Rayleigh measured the size of a single molecule using simple materials like oil and water. This clever experiment showed how basic observations can lead to important scientific discoveries.
  2. Benjamin Franklin also made significant observations about oil on water in the 18th century, but he didn't calculate the size of molecules. His work laid the groundwork for future scientists like Rayleigh.
  3. Rayleigh's experiment demonstrated that you don’t always need complex tools to make groundbreaking discoveries. Even simple experiments can provide valuable insights that inspire later research.

Mitochondria Are Alive

735 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biology Evolution Molecular Biology Genetics
  1. Mitochondria are more than just cell parts; they are alive and have their own functions. They carry their own DNA and replicate just like bacteria.
  2. Thinking of mitochondria as living beings can help us understand their role better in our health and in biology. Many diseases are linked to problems with mitochondria.
  3. Mitochondria can interact with their environment and even move between cells, which shows they can adapt and play important roles in complex biological systems.

The Long Road to End Tuberculosis

193 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Disease Control Vaccination Antibiotics Public Health Research Funding
  1. Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major global health threat, killing around 1.2 million people each year despite vaccines and antibiotics that help in treatment. There is a pressing need for new medicines and vaccines to reduce TB cases and deaths significantly.
  2. The current BCG vaccine against TB has varied effectiveness, especially in adults, and has not been updated for decades. Newer vaccine candidates like M72/AS01E are being developed to provide better protection, particularly for adults.
  3. Antibiotic resistance in TB is a growing concern, making it harder to treat. New strategies to discover antibiotics and improve existing treatments are crucial for combating resistant strains of TB and ensuring effective patient care.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Fast Biology

270 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🔬 Science Biology Physics Mathematics Experimentation
  1. The concept of viewing time differently through the lens of the Minute Man and the Millennium Man prompts questions about our understanding of speed and time in the world.
  2. Biological processes at the cellular level can occur at astonishing speeds, with enzymes performing millions of chemical reactions per second and protein 'motors' spinning thousands of times a minute.
  3. Scientists use innovative experiments to directly observe rapid biological processes, such as watching ATP synthase spin or tracking ribosomes moving along messenger RNA strands, to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate workings of life.

Scaling Phage Therapy

270 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Technology Infectious Diseases Public Health
  1. Phage therapy, using bacteriophages to combat drug-resistant infections, has seen renewed interest but faces challenges in scaling up due to the specificity of phages and the complexity of creating effective treatments.
  2. High-tech advancements like AI and synthetic biology offer potential solutions by predicting phage-host relationships and synthesizing phages for personalized treatments, aiming to overcome logistical and regulatory hurdles.
  3. The burden of antimicrobial resistance is predicted to impact low-income countries the most, highlighting the need for affordable, accessible phage therapies that can be used to prevent the spread of bacterial diseases in global health crises.

Making the Micropipette

322 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🔬 Science Biology Innovation Technology Research History
  1. The development of the micropipette was driven by the hazards and limitations of mouth pipetting.
  2. Innovators from different parts of the world each contributed to the modern micropipette's design and features.
  3. The history of the micropipette highlights the importance of simple tools and incremental improvements in scientific breakthroughs.

What Science Can Learn from Car Mechanics

251 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🔬 Science Biology Medicine Research Diabetes Genetics
  1. Applying the Five Whys technique helps to identify the root cause of complex problems effectively.
  2. Investigating and understanding the root cause of diseases like diabetes requires in-depth research and methodology.
  3. In science, it's crucial to focus on finding root causes in biology and medicine to advance our understanding of complex diseases.

Stories We’d Like to Publish

174 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetics Microbiology Predictive Models Animal Welfare
  1. Asimov Press is publicly sharing ideas for essays they'd like to publish and inviting writers to contribute by emailing them at [email protected].
  2. Topics in biotechnology range from synthetic blood development to artificial wombs and synthetic nitrogen fixation, showcasing the broad spectrum of innovative research being undertaken.
  3. Biotechnology advancements aim to address a variety of issues, such as animal welfare, predictive growth models for microbes, and challenges in protein structure prediction, highlighting the diverse applications and potential impact of biotechnological research.

Welcome to Asimov Press

232 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🔬 Science Biology Biotechnology Publication Research Innovation
  1. Biology evolved from a field of study to a problem-solving tool in the last century.
  2. Advancements in biotechnology are making impactful changes, such as reducing energy in laundry.
  3. Asimov Press aims to spread ideas on biology, emphasizing simplicity, high-impact solutions, and mechanistic reasoning.

A Protein Printer

322 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🔬 Science Biology Technology Chemistry DNA Proteins
  1. A protein printer is a new technology that can convert digital bits into physical molecules, potentially revolutionizing biology.
  2. The protein printer could make proteins without using DNA or cells, thus reducing costs significantly.
  3. Engineering a protein printer involves reimagining the ribosome to quickly convert digital bits into physical molecules with high precision.

Blocked Transmission

103 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Regulation
  1. Fomite transmission, where pathogens spread through touch on surfaces, is a significant route for disease spread, and materials like copper coatings or sprays can help reduce this transmission.
  2. Using innovative technologies like far-UVC light or cellulose-based sprays can effectively kill pathogens on surfaces, providing alternatives to traditional disinfectants like bleach that may contribute to issues like antibiotic resistance.
  3. Regulations and testing pose challenges for the adoption of new surface treatments, but research into effective and non-toxic materials, like copper or cellulose-based sprays, could lead to improved pathogen control methods in various settings.

The Vector Zoo

96 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🔬 Science Diseases Genetics Vaccines
  1. The Vector Zoo showcases humanity's battle to eradicate zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, emphasizing the challenges faced in diseases like malaria due to shifting parasites and vectors.
  2. The Last Mile Labyrinth in the Vector Zoo symbolizes the choice between collaborative efforts towards disease eradication or reverting to isolated living, highlighting the complexities and costs involved in disease elimination.
  3. The Temple of Political Will in the Vector Zoo underscores the critical role of social and political commitment in disease eradication, demonstrating the impact of funding and investments in public health initiatives.

Deliberate Dysentery

96 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research Ethics Safety Vaccines Infectious Diseases
  1. Human challenge trials have been used for centuries to deliberately infect individuals with pathogens for research purposes, such as testing vaccines and treatments.
  2. The rising popularity of challenge trials can be attributed to ethical reforms, development of solid challenge models, and the ability to safely and effectively test vaccines for various diseases.
  3. Challenge trials have drawbacks, including recruitment challenges, underpayment of participants, and difficulty in quantifying overall impact.

The Fall and Rise of Science Writing

180 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🔬 Science Writing Journalism AI News Biology
  1. Science journalism is shifting towards automation using AI, but there is a potential for a renaissance in science writing led by scientists and physicians.
  2. Current news articles often follow a templated structure rooted in historical newspaper layout practices from the past.
  3. The future of impactful science writing lies in personal experiences and unique perspectives, which AI cannot replicate.

Codon: Notes on Progress #2

135 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🔬 Science Genetic Engineering Biology Climate change Health Impact Microbiome
  1. A newsletter provides curated insights on scientific progress in biology and future technologies.
  2. Recent advancements include nano-scale probes for space exploration, gene-editing for heart protection, and new gene therapy trials.
  3. Challenges in genetics, predictions of protein levels from DNA sequences, and advancements in microbiome research showcase ongoing developments in the field.

DARPA Neurotechnology: The Deep Dive

122 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🔬 Science Neurotechnology Research
  1. DARPA has initiated over 40 neurotechnology programs in the last 24 years, showing a significant focus in this field.
  2. Neurotechnologies funded by DARPA have led to advancements like memory prostheses, speech decoders, and robotic prosthetic arms with sensory feedback.
  3. Studying DARPA's history and outcomes in neurotechnology can provide insights for funding high-risk technologies, mapping the human brain, and preparing for artificial general intelligence.

Codon Digest: GPT-4 Controls a Robot

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.

Codon: Notes on Progress #1

83 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🔬 Science AI Neurotech CRISPR Proteins
  1. Biology is unique because it allows measuring designs in real experiments at massive scales.
  2. AI and machine learning are driving breakthroughs in biology including genome editing prediction and antimicrobial peptide discovery.
  3. Advancements in neurotech include brain-computer interface speed records and LED implants for vision stimulation.