Trevor Klee’s Newsletter

Trevor Klee's Newsletter explores a wide array of topics primarily focusing on the intersection of biology, philosophy, and the impact of historical and contemporary societal transformations. It delves into personal anecdotes to illustrate broader themes, discusses scientific advancements, and critiques various aspects of culture, science, and ethics.

Philosophy and Society Biological Sciences Personal Anecdotes Cultural Critique Scientific Advancements Ethical Philosophy Societal Transformations

The hottest Substack posts of Trevor Klee’s Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Some ants can choose to live 5x as long

746 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biology Physiology Longevity Insulin
  1. Some ants, like Indian jumping ants, can live much longer lives if they become a pseudoqueen. They can live about five times longer than their worker counterparts after winning a duel for queen status.
  2. The lifespan of these ants can actually change based on their circumstances. If a gamergate is placed in a new colony with an active queen, they revert back to being a normal worker with a shorter lifespan.
  3. This interesting case suggests a different relationship between reproduction and lifespan. In these ants, becoming a reproductive figure seems to extend their life instead of shortening it like it does in many other species.

On the responsibility of size

1641 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Society Identity Behavior Human Interaction Ethics
  1. People can have different perceptions of a person based on their size. For example, a large person might be considered intimidating, even if they are friendly.
  2. This awareness of how others view them can be a burden and a blessing for someone who is large. They may adjust their behavior to avoid scaring people.
  3. If someone who is usually small suddenly became large, they might act differently, feeling more confident in using their size. However, that could lead to negative consequences if they don't understand the responsibilities that come with it.

A brief analysis of the PlasticList report

2238 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Environmental health Food Safety Consumer Protection Scientific research
  1. Water quality is generally good, but some tap water showed high levels of plasticizers, especially in certain areas.
  2. Seafood, steak, and chicken tested have notably high levels of plasticizers, raising concerns about their safety.
  3. Vegetables have low levels of plasticizers, but microwaving food might help reduce their presence.

Regulators almost killed biotech before it began

970 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Biotechnology Regulation Innovation Pharmaceuticals History
  1. Genentech is seen as the start of the biotech field because it combined new technology with business and research. This company pioneered how biotech operates today.
  2. Regulations nearly stopped Genentech from forming, creating fears about safety and ethics in biotechnology. However, Genentech managed to navigate around these regulations and succeed.
  3. Unlike big companies, Genentech used private funding and worked in less regulated spaces. This allowed them to develop human insulin without the heavy regulatory burden faced by larger firms.
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Reflections on a brief visit to Florida

970 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🏝 Travel Destination Culture Lifestyle Nature Transportation
  1. Florida is known for its nice weather and pretty coastlines, but the culture can sometimes feel strange and self-centered. People generally move there because they like the Florida vibe, which adds to its unique reputation.
  2. Getting around in Florida can be tough because there isn't much public transportation. Most people rely on cars, and walking or biking isn't easy or safe due to the layout of the roads.
  3. Gated communities are common in Florida and often feel very secure, with lots of safety features. These communities can have great nature spots, but outside of them, the pace and accessibility of life can feel very different.

Why am I bad at Scrabble?

373 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
📚 Literature Language Cognitive Science Writing Games
  1. Being good at Scrabble isn't just about having a large vocabulary or great spelling skills. It's more about understanding the specific rules and structure of the game.
  2. Scrabble requires a different type of thinking that is more linear and bounded, which can be challenging for those who excel in creative and associative thinking.
  3. This kind of thinking challenge is similar for both people and language models. They can be great at connecting ideas but struggle with systematic tasks like Scrabble.

Thinking about a cure for pain, again

597 implied HN points • 25 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Pain management Medical Science Chronic Pain Diabetes Mental health
  1. Pain is a fundamental part of being human and signals when something is wrong, yet we still don't fully understand how it works or how to treat it effectively.
  2. Diabetes can cause specific types of nerve pain that result from damage to the nerves, often making it hard for those affected to find relief.
  3. Researchers might need to focus on targeting pain at the nerve level to find better solutions, potentially using advanced methods like gene therapy.

The Manhattan Project through the eyes of Fermi

671 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
💾 History Political History Biographies
  1. The Manhattan Project was a huge scientific effort that led to the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II. It was a mix of exciting science and a race against time, shaped by the threat of fascism.
  2. Enrico Fermi, a key figure in this project, was a brilliant yet relatable scientist. He moved from Italy to the U.S. and played a major role in nuclear research while dealing with serious issues like escaping fascism.
  3. Fermi's work led to the first successful nuclear reactor in Chicago. He showed how smart and focused scientists could change the course of history, but his story also cautions us to think about the impact of scientific advancements.

No human genes have truly 100% penetrance

970 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🔬 Science Genetics Molecular Biology Health Bioethics Research
  1. No human genes have 100% penetrance, meaning not all who have a certain gene will show the related traits. This makes predicting health outcomes based on genetics challenging.
  2. Genetic diseases like Huntington's seem like they have high penetrance, but variability in symptoms and onset can make them unpredictable. It highlights the complexity of genetics beyond simple Mendelian traits.
  3. The body's systems, especially the immune system, add layers of complexity that affect how genes express themselves. This makes it really hard to guarantee that a specific gene will always result in the same outcome.

If langurs can drink seawater, can humans do so as well?

895 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biology Zoology Evolution Physiology Genetics
  1. Cat Ba langurs can drink seawater and survive in dry conditions due to their diet and unique adaptations. They mainly get water from the leaves they eat, which helps them thrive on an isolated island.
  2. Humans cannot drink seawater without serious health issues. Consuming saltwater leads to dehydration because our bodies can't remove the excess salt fast enough.
  3. Research suggests that Cat Ba langurs have special genetic traits that allow them to manage salt and calcium better than most mammals. This helps them live in their harsh environment.

Cracking biological emergence with mechanistic interpretability

597 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biology Emergence Deep Learning
  1. Emergent properties in biology can be hard to connect, kind of like trying to understand a car by randomly taking it apart. Even as we learn about proteins and genes, connecting them to actual biological traits remains a challenge.
  2. Deep learning models like Alpha Fold are changing the game by revealing connections between micro and macro biological features, even if we don't fully understand how they do it. It's like having a model that can assemble a car based on its parts without exactly knowing how all those parts work together.
  3. Recently, there's been exciting work in mechanistic interpretability, which helps us understand how these deep learning models make sense of biology. This could lead to new insights and even virtual experiments that help us learn about cell behavior and gene interactions.

Are drugs good? Are side effects bad? It depends on what you're trying to do.

895 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Drug policy Mental health Medical Ethics Psychedelics Pharmaceuticals
  1. The good or bad nature of drugs really depends on what you're trying to achieve with them. It's important to consider the purpose behind using any drug.
  2. Different drugs can have different effects. For example, psychedelics can be helpful for depression but dangerous for someone who is unstable. It's all about context.
  3. Drugs should be viewed as tools that work in specific ways. We need to determine if those effects match what we want for our health or goals.

When your family becomes inverse strangers

2910 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Family Relationships Memories
  1. As people grow older, they tend to spend less time with their parents and siblings, shifting towards spending more time with friends, kids, and spouse.
  2. Due to limited time spent with family, individuals may feel like inverse strangers, knowing intimate details yet unable to rely on each other for everyday support.
  3. Memories and interactions within a family become fragmented snapshots over time, creating a sense of distance and unfamiliarity among family members.

You live in a world that philosophy built

3283 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Science Society History Knowledge Ethics
  1. The Catholic Church venerated Aristotle and opposed Galileo because they trusted ancient philosophy over new scientific ideas.
  2. Living in a world where science evolves, we give more weight to current evidence than ancient texts or philosophers.
  3. Lessons from history remind us of the importance of valuing empirical evidence over established theories.

Something interesting is happening in Tulsa

2611 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Community Society Social justice Urban Development Philanthropy
  1. Tulsa, Oklahoma is experiencing positive transformations due to the efforts of wealthy individuals and community foundations.
  2. The Tulsa Tomorrow program aims to attract young Jewish individuals to Tulsa by offering job opportunities, social events, and resources to fulfill their dreams.
  3. Wealthy individuals in Tulsa have made significant investments to improve the city, showing visible impact in contrast to certain bureaucratic challenges faced by other cities.

Ground squirrel microbiomes are neat, unlike human microbiomes

597 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🔬 Science
  1. Human microbiomes might not be as beneficial as previously thought
  2. Ground squirrels have a cool microbiome that helps them hibernate and maintain muscle mass
  3. Ground squirrels use their gut bacteria to recycle nitrogen and build muscle mass while hibernating

Viking Therapeutics has an $8 billion market cap with 27 full time employees. This is their story.

373 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Biotech Investment Startups Pharmaceuticals Economics
  1. Success in biotech often involves licensing and developing existing molecules, rather than creating completely new ones.
  2. To thrive in biotech, it's crucial to strategically select candidates and navigate clinical trials efficiently with the available resources.
  3. Viking Therapeutics' success was built on wisely choosing profitable indications, selecting the right molecules, and executing their development program effectively.

Looking for your keys under the light

671 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🔬 Science Research Biology Models Healthcare
  1. When searching for something, we tend to look where it is easiest to see, even if it might not be the best place to find it.
  2. This behavior can lead to wasting time and effort on ineffective or inefficient search strategies.
  3. It is important to be mindful of not getting stuck looking in familiar or visible places, but to explore all possibilities.

The Tao of Fetch

447 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
  1. Some dogs are deeply fulfilled by tasks ingrained in their nature, like fetching.
  2. Understanding a dog's behavior should consider their innate instincts and not just human-like comparisons.
  3. The bond between humans and dogs involves mutual shaping of behaviors and needs.

Bloody Mary was not exceptionally bloody

522 implied HN points • 20 May 23
💾 History Ethical dilemmas
  1. Queen Elizabeth I and her sister Bloody Mary had misleading sobriquets.
  2. The label of being 'bloody' is often applied based on who is killed, not just the act of killing.
  3. Throughout history, rulers have been considered tyrants based on who they oppress or kill, rather than the number of victims.

Definitions have consequences

597 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Language Ethics Definitions Intelligence Purpose
  1. Definitions can have significant consequences, especially when redefined in academic contexts.
  2. The term 'artificial general intelligence' can be misleading due to unclear definitions of 'intelligence' and 'general'.
  3. Understanding the consequences of how terms are defined is crucial in avoiding misunderstandings and panic.