Rough Diamonds

Underrated opportunities in science, technology, and society

The hottest Substack posts of Rough Diamonds

And their main takeaways
72 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jan 25
  1. Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing can be expensive. It's usually cheaper to make simple chemicals using traditional methods than using living organisms.
  2. Biomanufacturing startups need to focus on products that can only be made with biological processes. If they try to compete on common products, they will struggle.
  3. Successful biomanufacturing requires good teamwork between design and manufacturing. Companies that only focus on one part of the process often face big problems.
128 implied HN points β€’ 20 Dec 24
  1. It's important to distinguish between things that seem good and things that are truly good. Always look for the real value behind what's presented to you.
  2. We should strive to do better in our own lives, even if society has problems. It’s about taking action in your own local context instead of waiting for everyone else to change.
  3. Cut out pointless busywork in organizations. Focus on efficiency and ensuring that every task contributes to meaningful outcomes.
70 implied HN points β€’ 04 Dec 24
  1. Philanthropy can create new, innovative projects that don't exist yet. Instead of just giving to existing organizations, donors can help start new initiatives, which is much more exciting and impactful.
  2. Science and tech projects often lack funding, even if the research is important. Many great scientists depend on small donations, and they need more support to bring their ideas to life.
  3. Creating ambitious projects takes a lot of work and organization. It's important to have dedicated people to manage and facilitate plans so that innovative ideas can become reality.
40 implied HN points β€’ 13 Nov 24
  1. Neutrality is about treating all opinions equally, which helps people work together despite their differences. It’s important for creating spaces where cooperation can happen without conflict.
  2. Our current systems often lack trust and a shared understanding, making it hard for people to agree on basics. Building new systems of trust is crucial for moving forward.
  3. Institutions need to be more than just neutral; they should create a framework that supports healthy discussions and diverse viewpoints. This way, people can feel both included and understood.
21 implied HN points β€’ 08 Nov 24
  1. Bigger athletes tend to have larger livers, and this contributes to their higher resting metabolic rates. This means they burn more energy even when not exercising, allowing them to eat more without gaining weight.
  2. Eating a higher-protein diet appears to promote liver growth. This suggests that if you want a bigger liver, increasing your protein intake along with exercise might help.
  3. Some methods to artificially increase liver size can lead to serious health issues, like cancer. It's better to focus on safe and natural ways to promote liver health, such as diet and exercise.
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19 implied HN points β€’ 04 Nov 24
  1. Metastatic cancer is often very serious and many people diagnosed don't survive long. However, some treatments are making progress in helping patients achieve long-term remission.
  2. New treatments, especially immunotherapies, are showing promise in making metastatic cancer disappear in some patients. This is a big deal because it used to be very rare.
  3. There's still a lot of potential to improve cancer treatments. Researchers are exploring many different strategies, and exciting possibilities are on the horizon to help more patients.
22 implied HN points β€’ 20 Oct 24
  1. There's a balance between radical and moderate ideas in science. Some projects are high-risk but can lead to breakthroughs, while others are more secure and in line with existing knowledge. It's good to have a mix of both types.
  2. In culture and politics, radical changes can help expand what's possible, even if they don't always succeed. It's important to have both radical voices and moderate actions working side by side.
  3. Managing smaller projects is different from overseeing large organizations. As you grow in responsibility, you learn to think about the bigger picture and work with more people, which requires a different approach.
23 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 24
  1. The author's writing process involves minimal editing and a lot of continuous writing from years of experience.
  2. The author emphasizes the importance of clear, concise writing using strong, plain language.
  3. In addition to focusing on logic in writing, the author also highlights the importance of evoking the right emotions and associations in the reader.
8 implied HN points β€’ 13 Jan 24
  1. People handle stress differently, and there are identifiable brain patterns related to emotional resilience.
  2. Emotion regulation techniques like reappraisal can reduce negative emotions and show increased brain activity in specific regions.
  3. Studies suggest that activation in certain brain regions is linked to successful emotional regulation and reduced amygdala activity.
3 implied HN points β€’ 27 Jan 24
  1. EEGs measure brain activity by recording fluctuations in electrical signals.
  2. Different brain wave frequencies on EEGs correspond to different mental states like sleep, relaxation, alertness, and conscious perception.
  3. Consumer-grade EEG devices are noisier than clinical ones but can still provide useful insights into brain activity, especially for applications like monitoring drowsiness or stress.
2 HN points β€’ 05 Jan 24
  1. Noninvasive brain activity imaging allows for measuring and mapping brain activity without surgery or bulky machines.
  2. Different imaging modalities like fNIRS, functional ultrasound, and portable MEG offer varying levels of convenience, spatial resolution, and depth of brain activity detection.
  3. Innovations like functional ultrasound and OPM-MEG show promise in providing noninvasive and portable options for measuring brain activity.