More is Different

More is Different is a Substack focused on accelerating progress in science and technology towards a sci-fi future by examining regulatory hurdles, AI evolution, scientific fraud, and issues within the medical field. It critiques existing systems and offers perspectives on solutions to embrace potential advancements.

Regulatory challenges in healthcare AI development and regulation Scientific fraud Medical technology innovation Long Covid treatment Psychosomatic illness Aging and health Insomnia and sleep aids

The hottest Substack posts of More is Different

And their main takeaways

Quantum computing: hype vs reality

5 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Quantum Computing Artificial Intelligence Computer Science Investment Trends Innovation
  1. Quantum computers can do some tasks much faster than classical computers, but many claims about their abilities are exaggerated. For example, Google showcased a problem they created that doesn't have practical use.
  2. Currently, quantum computers mainly have three known useful algorithms, and none have been developed since 1996. This means their practical applications are very limited for now.
  3. Investing in quantum computing is risky because there is no clear winner among the different technologies. Many startups might fail, and it’s uncertain when quantum computers will become truly useful.

A pro-science, pro-progress, techno-optimistic middle school health textbook from 1929

16 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🚌 Education Science Health History Child development
  1. Science has made our lives better, giving us more comforts and longer life. We owe a lot to advancements like vaccinations and better sanitation that have improved health and safety.
  2. The book contrasts modern science with older practices from different cultures, showing how those without scientific methods faced more health challenges. It suggests that knowledge from science helps us understand and solve health problems better.
  3. The early chapters celebrate people's achievements in science, calling them heroes. It highlights how these individuals fought disease and changed health practices, showing the importance of curiosity and courage in scientific discovery.

Who should be our next FDA Commissioner?

8 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy FDA Regulation Public Health
  1. Dr. Joseph Gulfo believes the FDA should focus on fast-tracking safe and effective treatments instead of just protecting public health. He says this can help bring more innovative drugs to patients who need them.
  2. Balaji Srinivasan thinks the FDA's rules need to change so it can evaluate drugs and treatments better. He suggests creating new centers at universities to find smarter ways to approve medical products.
  3. Jim O'Neill has some government experience but may not be as strong as the other candidates. People are unsure about his past and whether he can lead the FDA effectively.

FDA devastation during the pandemic - a review

10 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics
  1. There is a need for a congressional commission to investigate the FDA's response during the pandemic.
  2. The FDA's delays in approving rapid tests and vaccines may have led to significant loss of life.
  3. Regulatory hurdles by the FDA impeded the production of essential items like hand sanitizer and the importation of masks during the pandemic.

Space is hard... Intuitive Machine's lander nearly didn't make it

6 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration
  1. Private companies, like Intuitive Machines and SpaceX, are playing a significant role in space exploration, with recent missions to the moon showcasing successful landings and advancements.
  2. Challenges during the mission, such as orbit corrections, technical malfunctions, and unexpected communication issues, highlight the complexities and risks involved in space missions, emphasizing that space exploration is indeed a hard endeavor.
  3. The incredible efforts and ingenuity of the engineers involved in the mission, including developing makeshift solutions under pressure and working through challenges, led to a successful soft landing on the moon with operational instruments and payloads.
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Why I'm allergic to AI hype

7 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Healthcare Research Deep Learning Generative AI
  1. Data science jobs may not be as glamorous as they seem, often involving mundane tasks and not much intellectual excitement.
  2. Efforts to create AGI have faced challenges, with ambitious projects like Mindfire encountering skepticism and practical difficulties.
  3. AI in healthcare, such as for radiology, has seen startups struggle and face issues like lack of affordability, deployment challenges, and unpredictability in performance.

Why AI doctors should not be FDA regulated

7 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Medical AI Healthcare Technology
  1. The current FDA system for AI regulation may not be sustainable due to the growing number of applications and the high costs involved in getting AI systems approved.
  2. The FDA is not equipped to regulate general-purpose AI systems like advanced AI doctors, leading to potential delays in innovation and challenges in handling new technologies.
  3. People have the right to access information from AI systems for medical advice, similar to consulting books or other resources, which raises questions about the need for FDA regulation.

Why don't we have better over-the-counter sleep aids?

3 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Regulation Safety Alternatives FDA Approval
  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is the best first-line treatment for insomnia.
  2. Sleep medications can help with treatment-resistant insomnia but come with significant negative side effects and should not be used long term.
  3. Benadryl and doxylamine are common over-the-counter sleep aids with safety and efficacy concerns, potential for anticholinergic side effects and long-term safety issues.

Psychosomatic contributors to Long Covid suffering

6 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Depression Insomnia Anxiety
  1. Psychosomatic causes for Long Covid suffering are real and can be misunderstood.
  2. Psychological illnesses are a subset of psychosomatic ones, highlighting the blurry boundaries between psychology and neurology.
  3. Discussion of psychosomatic causes for Long Covid may elicit negative reactions, but recognizing them can lead to appropriate treatment and relief.

How common is scientific fraud?

4 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
🔬 Science Fraud Data Biomedical
  1. Scientific fraud is more common than many realize, with notable cases surfacing across various fields.
  2. Fraud in research can range from fabricating data to using improper methods, and can have serious consequences for science and public health.
  3. Studies show that rates of fraud vary between fields, with a significant portion of researchers admitting to engaging in questionable research practices.

Book review: "Innovation Breakdown"

3 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Patient Safety Regulatory Challenges Healthcare Technology
  1. Innovation Breakdown tells the story of a startup harmed by FDA actions, highlighting the challenges of bringing a new medical device through the FDA.
  2. Medical device approvals at the FDA involve complex processes with regulatory uncertainties and the potential for regulatory roadblocks.
  3. The book raises questions about regulatory transparency, advocating for policy reforms to speed up approvals, reduce uncertainty, and balance strictness and effectiveness testing.

What AI ethicists get wrong – and right – about AI safety

4 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Safety Funding
  1. Two camps raise concerns about AI: AI safety focuses on future risks, AI ethics on present-day issues.
  2. AI safety efforts, funded by Effective Altruism, are critiqued for possibly contributing to the rise of dangerous AI systems.
  3. Billionaires funding AI safety raise concerns about their motivations, but their contributions are viewed as overall positive in advancing AI alignment.