The hottest Biology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

MASHUP: Aboriginal Smokeless Nicotine, Quinine & Caffeine Therapy, African G6PD Deficiency

Grey Goose Chronicles β€’ 786 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jan 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Aboriginal Australians have a unique way of consuming tobacco with varying effects and health benefits.
  2. Quinine has a rich history in colonial expansion and fighting malaria, while caffeine might hold potential as an antimalarial drug.
  3. Genetic conditions like G6PD deficiency in sub-Saharan Africans show adaptations to malaria, impacting medical treatments and outcomes.

Learning about longevity from long-lived animals

The Works in Progress Newsletter β€’ 30 implied HN points β€’ 10 Feb 26
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Long-lived animals use different tricks β€” extreme regeneration, strong DNA repair and cancer defenses, and very slow metabolisms β€” any of which could teach us about aging.
  2. Humans already have some longevity advantages like big brains, long childhoods, social roles, and certain cancer-fighting adaptations, but these traits come with evolutionary tradeoffs.
  3. We can extend life by treating specific diseases or by targeting fundamental aging (telomeres, DNA repair, metabolism); promising approaches include telomerase work, mTOR inhibitors, diabetes drugs, and caloric restriction, but they carry risks like cancer and other tradeoffs.

What makes a good egg?

De Novo β€’ 154 implied HN points β€’ 30 Nov 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. For an egg to develop into a healthy baby, it needs to have the right number of chromosomes and be free from harmful mutations. This can be checked using various genetic testing methods.
  2. Eggs must also have proper epigenetics, meaning they need to erase the old marks from the starting cells and replace them with new ones specific to eggs. This part has been tricky for scientists.
  3. Besides genetics and epigenetics, eggs need to be the right size and have enough nutrients and energy sources. To be useful, any method for growing eggs in the lab must make sure the eggs are consistently high-quality and safe.
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Beware the Univariate Fallacy

Reality's Last Stand β€’ 1474 implied HN points β€’ 27 Mar 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. The Univariate Fallacy manipulates using single-variable focus to distort reality and push agendas.
  2. There are two versions: one exaggerates group differences, and the other minimizes them.
  3. This fallacy is used to justify false depictions of reality, especially regarding sex and gender.

On RFK Jr., Atrazine and WiFi. Plus a puzzle for you!

An Insult to Intuition β€’ 1454 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jun 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Kennedy discussed the potential effects of Atrazine on organisms like frogs and mammals, sparking a debate on environmental toxins.
  2. The story shared analogies between a hypothetical alien civilization and current human societal challenges, emphasizing the importance of humility and balance.
  3. There was a discussion on the perceived health risks of WiFi radiation, highlighting the need for thoughtful consideration and humility in scientific discourse.

Debunking Pseudoscience: β€˜Multimodal Models of Animal Sex’

Reality's Last Stand β€’ 1434 implied HN points β€’ 06 Mar 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. The paper debunks the traditional binary model of biological sex by proposing a multimodal model.
  2. Current efforts in academia are influencing scientific research on sex by incorporating political motivations in the study.
  3. The study fails to provide evidence for more than two sexes and is criticized for misinterpreting sex differences in genetics, endocrinology, morphology, and behavior.

Import AI 364: Robot scaling laws; human-level LLM forecasting; and Claude 3

Import AI β€’ 519 implied HN points β€’ 11 Mar 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Biology
  1. Scaling laws are transforming the world of robotics - more data, bigger context windows, and more parameters in models lead to significant improvements quickly.
  2. Advancements in AI forecasting show that language models can match human capabilities in predicting binary outcomes, suggesting a future of accurate forecasting by AI systems.
  3. New datasets like Panda-70M for video captioning and models like Evo for biological predictions are pushing the boundaries of AI and demonstrating the power of generative models in various domains.

Numlock News: January 18, 2024 β€’ Stellar Streams, Tetrapods, Richard Feynman

Numlock News β€’ 766 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jan 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. The National Baseball Hall of Fame faced a significant financial decline in revenue and attendance in 2022.
  2. Walmart's financial services became a target for scammers, leading to billions of dollars in fraud.
  3. Biologists are concerned about the extinction of tetrapod species, with around 856 currently missing and presumed extinct.

What Are Virtual Cells?

The Century of Biology β€’ 644 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jun 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. AI is changing biology by making it easier to model things like proteins and cells. Instead of trying to write down every detail, researchers can use data to train models that can predict how cells behave.
  2. The concept of 'Virtual Cells' is about building computer models that can simulate how real cells function. This can help scientists understand complex biological processes and test experiments without needing a lab.
  3. Using AI to learn from large amounts of biological data could lead to breakthroughs in medicine and biology, allowing researchers to predict outcomes and design better experiments more efficiently.

Planarian: The Immortal Flatworm

Solve Cancer in 365 days β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 03 Sep 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Planarians are unique flatworms that can regenerate any part of their body, even after being cut into many pieces. This shows amazing capabilities, as they can grow back perfectly.
  2. These worms also challenge our ideas about intelligence. They can transfer learned information across their bodies, suggesting that intelligence might not just reside in the brain.
  3. Scientists are exploring how the electrical patterns in planarians can guide regeneration and influence cellular behavior. Understanding this could lead to advances in human healing and possibly control over our own biology.

The Renaissance in Biology

Solve Cancer in 365 days β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 01 Sep 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Biology can be understood like hardware and software. While genes represent the hardware, we need to pay attention to the bioelectric signals, which act like the software, guiding how cells function.
  2. Traditional approaches focused too much on altering genes without comprehending the complexities of how these changes affect everything else in the body. We often miss how the interactions among different cell signals can impact health.
  3. By understanding bioelectricity, scientists might find better ways to tackle diseases. Instead of random discoveries, aligning the right signals could lead to effective treatments and innovations in biology.

Links for July

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER β€’ 531 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jul 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Goats have unique eyeballs that rotate to keep their vision horizontal, allowing them to see better while munching or looking around. This is pretty cool and shows how animals adapt physically to their environment.
  2. There's a way to stimulate specific cone cells in our eyes to potentially see new colors beyond what we can normally perceive. It suggests our brains can interpret unusual signals in fascinating ways.
  3. Recent findings indicate that only a small percentage of light-sensitive cells in our eyes control melatonin production, which affects our sleep. It's important to focus on dim lighting at night, rather than just blocking blue light.

Complex systems emerge from simple rules

Tecnica β€’ 55 HN points β€’ 28 Jul 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Complex systems can develop from just a few simple rules, like in the Game of Life. It shows how starting with basic ideas can create amazing patterns and interactions.
  2. Emergence means that new, complex properties appear from simpler components interacting together. This is true for nature, biology, and even technology like AI.
  3. Human thoughts and actions also have an emergent nature. We often wonder where our ideas come from and what rules guide our decisions.

Lungs

Microanimism β€’ 139 implied HN points β€’ 24 May 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Biological systems like lungs demonstrate asymmetry and imperfection, showcasing the complexity of biology over mathematical perfection.
  2. Microbial worlds in our lungs and in the atmosphere interact in complex ways, affecting our health and environment.
  3. The evolution and existence of lungs are deeply intertwined with microbial life, showcasing a long history of collaboration for the sustenance of life.

Bio links, Fall 2025

De Novo β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 16 Nov 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. A new method can estimate an embryo's genetic makeup using a tiny amount of data, potentially helping more people choose traits for their babies.
  2. Research on modified cows and sheep shows we can create new stem cells that might also work in humans, leading to exciting possibilities in breeding and genetics.
  3. Recent studies highlight the harmful effects of herpesviruses, showing they can lead to serious diseases like lupus, making vaccine development even more crucial.

Macbeth

Microanimism β€’ 119 implied HN points β€’ 30 May 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Viruses are ancient, existing before cellular life and influencing the history of biology and life today.
  2. The presence of viruses is widespread, from biblical references to everyday life, emotions, and biological processes.
  3. The text explores themes of guilt, perfection, and the intertwining of life and death through a poetic and philosophical lens.

But Seriously, Why The F*ck Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?

Insight Axis β€’ 612 implied HN points β€’ 12 Nov 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Giraffes have long necks to better reach food on tall trees, increasing their chances of survival and passing on their genes.
  2. In the true story of giraffes' evolution, genes are the main characters that hold knowledge for survival in their environment.
  3. Humans, unlike giraffes, can create their own knowledge using their minds, allowing them to survive in diverse environments and even outer space.

What Makes a Mature Science

Asimov Press β€’ 348 implied HN points β€’ 21 Jul 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. For a science to mature, it needs to explain its subject clearly using specific entities, properties, and rules. Just having a mechanism isn't enough.
  2. Fields like biology and psychology are still developing because they struggle to define their key entities and rules, making it difficult to fully understand their subjects.
  3. To progress, sciences must move beyond descriptions and start building models that predict outcomes, much like how chemistry evolved from alchemy to a mature science.

Kat Kitay: The Origin of Cyborgs

Do Not Research β€’ 499 implied HN points β€’ 11 Dec 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Donna Haraway introduced the concept of 'cyborg' in 1985 as a response to the rising technological world order
  2. Human evolution has been driven by technological advancements since ancient times, shaping our species' survival and success
  3. The modern digital revolution is pushing us towards a new kind of evolution where gene-editing technologies and digital pressures play crucial roles

Cable Bacteria are Living Batteries

Asimov Press β€’ 335 implied HN points β€’ 23 Jul 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Cable bacteria are unique microbes that act like living batteries by transferring electrons over long distances in mud. They help oxidize sulfide deep in sediment and transport energy to places where it can access oxygen.
  2. The discovery of cable bacteria challenges traditional views in biology, showing that organisms can work together like circuits and coordinate their energy processes over large spaces, which was not thought possible before.
  3. These bacteria have potential environmental benefits, like reducing methane emissions in rice paddies, but growing them for practical use is difficult, as they can't be cultured alone or genetically modified yet.

A Bridging of Dimensions

α΄‹ΚŸα΄€α΅Ύs β€’ 628 implied HN points β€’ 15 Jun 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Former government officials have revealed details about UFO crash retrieval programs involving non-human intelligence and advanced materials.
  2. The use of topological materials in UFO technology could explain exotic properties, like strange isotopes and materials able to deform into higher dimensions.
  3. Connections between the human brain's multi-dimensional functions and UFO phenomena could suggest a link between consciousness and unexplained aerial phenomena.

Some ants can choose to live 5x as long

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter β€’ 746 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  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.

Reproducibility starts with good communication

Briefly Bio β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 22 Jul 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Good communication is key to making experiments reproducible. If scientists can't share their methods clearly, it’s hard for others to repeat their work.
  2. Many methods of communication in science are outdated and not effective. This can lead to misunderstandings and mistakes in reproducing experiments.
  3. Tools that help streamline communication in science can improve reproducibility. A better system can replace complicated and unclear documentation.

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

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter β€’ 895 implied HN points β€’ 14 Nov 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  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.

The Monarch's Shield

coldhealing β€’ 294 implied HN points β€’ 11 Jan 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico to survive winter.
  2. Raising monarch caterpillars in captivity can hinder their ability to reach Mexico.
  3. Watching a caterpillar grow into a butterfly can be a fun and educational experience.

Links for Winter 2026

Telescopic Turnip β€’ 31 implied HN points β€’ 28 Dec 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Some viruses can trigger bacteria to self-organize into a single, coordinated structure, producing collective behaviors that look a lot like a hive mind.
  2. Gene-level molecular clocks suggest mitochondria were acquired relatively late, after the nucleus, cytoskeleton, and vesicle-transport systems had already evolved, which challenges the idea that mitochondria jump-started eukaryotic complexity.
  3. Forbidding children from moving or fidgeting appears to impair creativity, and larger studies are needed before treating stillness as a universal schooling requirement.

Epistemic Hell

Secretum Secretorum β€’ 1768 implied HN points β€’ 27 Jan 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Through history, reasoning based on limited information has led to dangerous outcomes, like chronic cyanide poisoning and scurvy.
  2. Some scientific problems, like understanding heredity, have been challenging due to complexity and the need for exceptional datasets.
  3. To escape epistemic hells, radical ideas, serendipity, unlearning prior knowledge, and persistence are vital.

Urban Umwelt in Awe of Animals

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind β€’ 199 implied HN points β€’ 15 Feb 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Animals have unique ways of sensing their world that we often can't understand. For example, dogs like Taylor use their amazing noses to gather information that goes beyond what we can perceive.
  2. The concept of 'umwelt' shows that each species experiences their environment differently. This means animals interact with their surroundings in ways that are complex and rich, not simple or automatic.
  3. Learning about how animals sense the world can help us appreciate their lives and experiences more. It reminds us that our way of sensing things isn't the only way and that every creature has its own valuable perspective.

Paul Stamets on Fungi, Heterodoxy and Systems

rebelwisdom β€’ 687 implied HN points β€’ 07 Mar 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Fungi play a critical role in ecosystems, being essential for survival and offering various benefits to humans.
  2. Mycelium networks demonstrate resilience and adaptability, showing how diversity and innovation can emerge from minorities and unconventional thinking.
  3. Psilocybin mushrooms provide not just physical effects, but also potential societal and spiritual benefits, connecting different cultures and promoting collaboration over conflict.

Genius in turbulent times

Logging the World β€’ 418 implied HN points β€’ 05 Jul 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Genius can be found in lesser-known figures like Kolmogorov, who made significant contributions to mathematics and other fields.
  2. Kolmogorov's work on probability theory and the Kolmogorov-Arnold theorem had a lasting impact on mathematics and even underpins modern AI algorithms.
  3. Kolmogorov's life was not only marked by academic achievements but also by navigating personal challenges, such as opposing Lysenkoism and living as an openly gay man in Stalinist Russia.

Mitochondria Are Alive

Asimov Press β€’ 735 implied HN points β€’ 08 Nov 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  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.

Invisible feedback loops: How the body shapes the brain

Brain Pizza β€’ 662 implied HN points β€’ 27 Nov 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. The brain is not separate from the body; they work together in complex ways. Understanding how they interact can give us better insights into health and disease.
  2. Various bodily factors like gut health, muscle activity, and fat can influence how our brain functions. This shows the importance of considering the whole body when studying the brain.
  3. Topics like cancer cachexia and the gut-brain axis highlight specific connections between body signals and brain function, which can impact cognitive health.

Spinning Bacteria

Asimov Press β€’ 186 implied HN points β€’ 31 Jul 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Scientists discovered how bacteriophages, or phages, time their escape from bacteria by spinning them. This helped them understand when phages decide to burst out after infecting a host.
  2. The research showed that phages wait until just the right moment, keeping the bacteria's energy intact until they are ready to reproduce as many phages as possible.
  3. Using a clever spinning technique and measuring the bacteria's electrical gradient, researchers found that if the charge drops by half, phages trigger lysis immediately, maximizing their chances of survival.

Why It Might Not Sink In Until You've Written It Down

Everything Is Amazing β€’ 1534 implied HN points β€’ 18 Feb 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Writing something down helps you remember it better, so it's not just about typing but also about physically writing.
  2. Observing nature can lead to interesting discoveries, like how birds charm worms using vibrations to catch them.
  3. Unexpected collaborations and interactions can lead to exciting outcomes, like gaining exposure to a wider audience through social media.

AI-Designed Enzymes

Asimov Press β€’ 457 implied HN points β€’ 13 Feb 25
πŸ”¬ Science Biology
  1. Researchers are now able to design complex enzymes from scratch using AI. This new ability could help create custom enzymes for various chemical reactions.
  2. The process of designing these enzymes is not easy, as they need to change shape during reactions. Scientists have developed methods to improve their ability to predict how these enzymes will work.
  3. Even though the newly designed enzymes are not as fast as natural ones yet, this work is a big step toward making more effective enzymes for scientific and industrial purposes.