The hottest Health tech Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

⚡️ Top 10 news of the week

digitalhealthinsider • 39 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Health tech
  1. Health tech investments are looking better in 2024, suggesting a recovery in the market. This may lead to more innovative solutions in healthcare.
  2. Companies like Oshi Health and Eleanor Health are raising significant funds to improve virtual care and substance use treatment. This shows a growing focus on essential health services.
  3. Google has launched an AI tool for healthcare that is now available for everyone. This could make it easier for people to find health information quickly.

“Sometimes I Forget I'm Paralyzed.” How Neuralink’s First Patient Found Freedom by Connecting His Brain to a Computer.

Big Technology • 6004 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic, was able to control a computer with his mind after getting a Neuralink device implanted. This technology allows him to communicate and interact with others in ways he couldn't before.
  2. Neuralink's goal is to connect human brains to computers, helping people with disabilities regain some lost functions. Arbaugh's participation in the first human trial symbolizes hope for future advancements in brain-computer interfaces.
  3. The ethical implications of brain technology are significant. While it can be used for good, like helping those with disabilities, there are risks and potential for misuse that society will need to address.

Weekly Dose of Optimism

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 117 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Personalized, data-driven cancer care can work: one determined patient used intensive diagnostics, bespoke therapies, and a coordinated team to reach remission, pointing to a future where tailored oncology is more widely available.
  2. mRNA cancer vaccines look promising when combined with immunotherapy — a Moderna/Merck trial cut the risk of death or recurrence by about half in melanoma, suggesting vaccines will become an important part of cancer treatment.
  3. Big engineering projects are scaling to solve huge problems — drone delivery (Zipline) is expanding life-saving logistics, The Ocean Cleanup is intercepting a growing share of plastic pollution, and space-based networks like TeraWave aim to provide high-capacity global connectivity for enterprises.

Visions for AI

In My Tribe • 288 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. AI will eventually do most software engineering by taking English prompts to write and maintain business applications, making traditional developers unnecessary for routine work.
  2. Robots that understand and respond to human language will become much more useful, sparking a robotics boom and creating new roles for people who design practical uses for them.
  3. AI will automate many routine tasks in education and health care — personalized teaching software will handle factual instruction and AI tools could diagnose and treat — but political and institutional resistance means assisting human professionals will come first.

Full Q&A: Neuralink Patient Noland Arbaugh on His Injury, Selection, and Newfound Superpower

Big Technology • 3627 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Noland Arbaugh, the first Neuralink patient, had a brain chip implanted that allows him to control computers using his brain signals. This technology translates his thoughts into actions on a screen.
  2. Despite losing movement due to his injury, Noland feels hopeful because he can see his brain's neuron activity when he attempts to move. This gives him the sense that he still has control, even if he can't physically move.
  3. Neuralink has the potential to enhance human interaction with technology, allowing people to multitask in ways not possible before. It might even revolutionize gaming, offering advantages that could separate users into different gaming leagues based on Neuralink usage.
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Weekly Dose of Optimism #175

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 98 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. A redesigned national food pyramid gives clearer, more science-aligned guidance and could nudge people toward healthier eating.
  2. Next‑generation weight‑loss drugs (GLP‑1 combos and oral pills) are proving remarkably effective and becoming much more accessible, but a booming grey market for peptides creates safety and supply‑chain risks.
  3. Open‑source AI platforms like Boltz Lab are putting powerful protein and small‑molecule design tools into many hands, speeding drug discovery and democratizing biotech research.

Setting AIRS Free

AI Research & Strategy • 158 implied HN points • 05 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. The writer has paused billing for their Substack and is offering full refunds to all paid subscribers. They believe it's fair since they haven't been able to provide valuable content recently.
  2. Health challenges impacted the writer's ability to consistently focus on their Substack. They want to put their health first instead of feeling pressured to deliver content.
  3. The writer plans to continue writing occasionally, focusing on joy instead of obligation. They appreciate the support they've received and are thankful for their subscribers.

Resetting expectations for VC investing in health tech

Second Opinion • 1729 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
💼 Business Health tech
  1. Not every startup in health tech needs to be backed by venture capital.
  2. Health tech industry may not yield many billion-dollar exits, but there are numerous smaller exits ranging from $40 to $500 million.
  3. Venture capitalists should consider alternative sources of capital like private equity, government grants, family offices, and angel investors for health tech startups.

My Parkinson's data - at last!

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 1368 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Health tech
  1. The author has been seeking hard data about his Parkinson's symptoms to understand their severity and response to medication.
  2. Monitoring technology like PD Monitor can provide detailed insights into symptom presence and medication effectiveness over time.
  3. The data revealed that the effectiveness of the author's medication peaks before 11am, making it clear that eating a big breakfast close to pill time can impact absorption.

The Aktiia Bracelet is Almost Here

The Skeptical Cardiologist • 491 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Health tech
  1. The Aktiia Bracelet offers a cuffless way for 24/7 blood pressure monitoring with accuracy validated through studies.
  2. Validation studies have shown that the Aktiia Bracelet performs well and satisfies established criteria for accuracy.
  3. Continuous and unobtrusive monitoring provided by the Aktiia Bracelet can give a more accurate representation of blood pressure throughout the day and night, potentially improving cardiovascular outcomes.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #51

Faster, Please! • 274 implied HN points • 05 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. The US is speeding up its review process for new nuclear reactors, which could help increase energy efficiency and reduce waste. This new reactor design aims to start construction in 2026.
  2. There's a new material called Superwood made from waste wood that could replace steel and plastic in many products. It’s strong, lightweight, and could even be used in things like flying cars.
  3. A new mRNA flu vaccine from Moderna shows stronger results than the regular flu shot, especially for older adults. This could lead to better protection during flu seasons.

Even Diabetes Research Foundations Are Trying to Connect With Kids Through Roblox

Crossplay • 235 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. JDRF used Roblox to create spaces for kids with type 1 diabetes to connect and learn about the condition.
  2. When trying to engage with a younger audience on platforms like Roblox, it's important to understand the platform and its audience well.
  3. Charity Walk Simulator in Roblox by JDRF incentivized players to walk and learn about diabetes, showing success with over 2,500 virtual bears given away in 24 hours.

Multi-Million Dollar Contract(s) Up For Grabs

Second Opinion • 196 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🏥 Health Politics Health tech
  1. The US organ transplant system is in need of a significant overhaul to save lives and better serve patients.
  2. Recent government initiatives aim to introduce competition and reform to address long-standing failures in the system.
  3. Health tech builders have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by engaging in the reform process and improving organ donation systems.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #148

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 98 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Childhood leukemia treatment has greatly improved, with survival rates jumping from under 10% in the 1960s to about 85% today in many countries. This is fantastic news for families and shows that medical advancements can really save lives.
  2. The World Bank is now willing to fund nuclear energy projects, which could help meet energy demands and reduce emissions. This is a positive step toward developing clean energy sources that are reliable and safe.
  3. Startup companies, especially in the tech and energy sectors, are seeing a lot of investment and growth. This surge in startup activity shows that innovation is alive and well, and it might lead to some exciting new advancements in the future.

#47 🍩 What the Health - A VC fund buys a hospital, Elon puts brain implants in humans & we're all eating millions of microplastics

What the Health?! • 78 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Health tech
  1. A VC fund bought a hospital, Elon Musk implanted brain chips in humans, and we are consuming millions of microplastics.
  2. Important updates in the health tech and innovation space, including funding reports, startup news, and noteworthy events.
  3. Exciting developments such as breakthroughs in diabetes treatment, presence of microplastics in protein sources, and advancements in cancer detection through blood tests.

The Middle Path for AI

Future History • 260 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. AI is already affecting our lives in many ways, like helping with healthcare and driving. It's important to realize that while it can do good things, it can also have negative outcomes.
  2. Instead of seeing the future as only good or bad, we should focus on a balanced view. Many things in life are grey, and understanding the middle ground helps us prepare better for what AI can and will do.
  3. Governments using AI for control and surveillance can be dangerous. While AI can help detect problems like health issues quickly, it can also invade privacy and create a society where people are constantly monitored.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #130

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 168 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Researchers found a new drug called CT-179 that may help stop childhood brain tumors by keeping cancer stem cells dormant. This could lead to better treatments that stop the cancer from coming back.
  2. OpenAI introduced Deep Research, a new AI that can do detailed research and create expert-level reports quickly. It's designed to help with complicated subjects, making research easier for everyone.
  3. NanoCas is a tiny CRISPR system that can edit genes in muscle and heart tissues, not just the liver. This breakthrough could help treat muscle diseases and improve gene therapies.

CGM Meets AI: My Personal Health Tech Experiment - part 2

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 59 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Health tech
  1. Custom GPTs let you personalize AI chatbots to focus on specific topics, making them more useful for things like health advice. It's like giving your AI a special job just for you.
  2. Using a Continuous Glucose Monitor helps track your health, and combining it with a Custom GPT can give you better, tailored advice about your diet. This can help you manage your glucose levels more effectively.
  3. There are exciting future possibilities for AI in health, like connecting to real-time data from health devices. This can make managing health even easier and more personalized.

Remembering Brandon Gilles Founder of Luxonis

Robots & Startups • 99 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Brandon Gilles, founder of Luxonis, passed away from Long Covid complications, leaving behind a legacy in spatial AI and robotic vision.
  2. He documented his illness and recovery pathways for others facing similar situations.
  3. To learn more about Brandon Gilles' work and contributions, a subscription to Robots & Startups is available with a 7-day free trial.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Agents

Marginally Compelling • 7 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. An emotionally detached AI can act like a clear, unbiased advisor or therapist, helping you see situations without human drama.
  2. Giving an AI lots of communication history lets it spot patterns and make sense of messy relationship dynamics.
  3. Using AI agents this way can help you stop worrying and gain surprising, useful insights about relationships.

Thư ngỏ gửi Thủ tướng Phạm Minh Chính về việc thay đổi tư duy làm app chống dịch

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 399 implied HN points • 05 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. The electronic health record system in Vietnam has serious security vulnerabilities, potentially exposing sensitive personal information of millions of individuals, including high-profile government officials.
  2. It is crucial for the government to address these vulnerabilities promptly by working with developers to fix the flaws and involve independent assessment.
  3. The long-term recommendation is to make national technology systems transparent by publicly sharing source code, design documents, and development plans to allow for widespread scrutiny and error detection.

20251231 A yearly review

Curious futures (KGhosh) • 4 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. AI is shifting from a tool into a thinking partner that changes how we create, work, and decide; we must keep human skills alive and build ethics, transparency, and rules so people stay in control.
  2. Environmental risk has moved from awareness to crisis — thawing carbon stores, water shortages, and strained infrastructure are happening now — so bold policy and practical tech choices (like geothermal and local resilience) are needed immediately.
  3. Trust and social cohesion are eroding as privacy risks, misinformation, economic insecurity, and political polarization spread, so rebuilding trust through transparency, fair access, and stronger community and cultural support is essential.

James Wise: Why We Need More Entrepreneurs

Danielle Newnham • 19 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
💼 Business Health tech
  1. James Wise emphasizes the importance of having more entrepreneurs for the greater good.
  2. Balderton Capital, where James is a Partner, focuses on investing in European startups and has a strong track record.
  3. James Wise prioritizes investing in artificial intelligence, sustainability, health tech, and supports founder wellbeing in entrepreneurship.

Technical Nemesis

Regress Studies • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Health tech
  1. Wearable biotech devices are quantifying and externalizing aspects of personal health, potentially distancing individuals from their own bodies.
  2. The modern transformation of medicine emphasizes individual responsibility and quantitative understanding of health.
  3. Technological advancements in health care are symbolizing individual empowerment, but may actually perpetuate dependence on external measurement and monitoring.

The Long Game 170: Genomics, Embryo Selection, Expectations, Taking Yourself Seriously

The Long Game by Mehdi Yacoubi • 2 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Embryo selection is extremely high-stakes, so companies must have honest marketing and solid science. If you see fake reviews, copied research, or basic methodological errors, be very skeptical and don't trust them with decisions about future children.
  2. Set deliberately low expectations so small improvements feel like wins and bad news feels normal. Controlling your expectations reduces unnecessary suffering and helps you appreciate progress.
  3. Stop waiting for life to happen and take yourself seriously by choosing a direction and acting on it. Real progress comes from responsibility, risk, and doing more than what feels safe.

Illumina's Roche Reaction

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 01 Mar 25
💼 Business Health tech
  1. Illumina is facing several challenges, including layoffs and changes in their offerings. They've introduced a new spatial instrument but are cutting employee stock grants.
  2. In their response to Roche, Illumina emphasized that Roche's technology is complex and might not be as efficient. They believe their products, like the MiSeq i100, are on par in performance.
  3. Overall, Illumina didn't provide clear answers to questions about their strategy, leaving some uncertainty about their future direction in the market.

My Biological Archive

Reboot • 19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Tracking biological data can reveal personal insights, but it can't capture everything about our experiences. Each person's journey with their body is unique and complex.
  2. There are concerns over biotechnology companies misusing genetic data, as shown by incidents like 23andMe's data breach. It's important to think carefully about who we trust with our personal information.
  3. We have more control over our bodily experiences than we might think. Listening to our bodies and prioritizing our personal stories can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Issue 19: American S-Bahn

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Cities can improve public transport by building small tunnels to connect existing train lines, making systems more efficient without huge costs.
  2. New Zealand's unique approach to controlling inflation changed how many countries handle their economies, showing that bold ideas can lead to widespread change.
  3. Lead poisoning is a big global issue that can be mostly solved with actions that have worked in wealthier countries, like testing and regulating sources of lead.

Landscape of Sequencing-based Spatial RNA Technology

LatchBio • 15 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Spatial RNA technology helps us see how cells interact in their natural environment. It gives a clearer picture than traditional methods that just show gene activity without their locations.
  2. There are many ways to capture and analyze spatial gene data, like using specially barcoded slides or microfluidic methods. Each approach has its pros and cons depending on what researchers want to study.
  3. Advancements in technology are making it possible to analyze tiny details, like individual cells or even parts of cells. This opens new doors for understanding biology and diseases.

UX Roundup: Film Festival | AI Therapy | AI Radiology | AI Creative Writing | Grok 3

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 13 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. AI technology has made significant strides in creative fields, like filmmaking, showcasing impressive work at events such as the AI Film Festival. Artists are using AI to create stunning visuals and stories, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
  2. Research indicates that AI can perform on par with human therapists in couples therapy. Although AI therapy is cheaper and more accessible, many people still prefer human interaction due to trust and emotional connection.
  3. AI has demonstrated higher accuracy than human radiologists in medical diagnoses, particularly in breast cancer detection. This advancement has the potential to reduce workloads for doctors and improve early detection rates, highlighting AI's growing role in healthcare.

A story about how AI will transform health

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Health tech
  1. AI can analyze personal genomic data and provide tailored health recommendations. This can help people get advice that is more specific to their situation than the average doctor visit.
  2. Using AI tools like GPT-4 allows individuals to access a wide range of research and findings that may not be known to their healthcare provider.
  3. It's important to understand certain medical concepts when interpreting genetic information. Being informed can help you ask the right questions and get the most accurate insights.

Cảnh báo: lỗ hổng lộ thông tin gần 25 triệu người đã tiêm vaccine ở Việt Nam

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 59 implied HN points • 04 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Nearly 25 million people who have received vaccines in Vietnam may have had their personal information exposed due to security vulnerabilities in the national electronic health record system.
  2. The leaked information includes sensitive data like names, addresses, ID numbers, phone numbers, workplaces, and health insurance details, putting individuals at risk of privacy breaches and potential misuse.
  3. Discovering and addressing software vulnerabilities is crucial, but fixing underlying systemic issues, fostering transparency, and inviting expert collaboration upfront can prevent larger security breaches in the future.

How We Made a UVC Disinfection Chamber

OK Doomer • 12 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. UVC light can effectively disinfect items like groceries, helping to reduce the risk of virus transmission. It's especially useful for dealing with viruses that can survive on surfaces for a long time.
  2. Building a UVC disinfection chamber can be practical and cost-effective for personal use. It allows people to safely handle essential food items without too much hassle.
  3. Research supports the idea that UVC light can destroy viruses quickly, making it a reliable method for maintaining hygiene in everyday items.

What Full Body Composition Scales Teach About Machine Learning

The Palindrome • 3 implied HN points • 16 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. Not all body composition scales are accurate, but some of them are less wrong than others. It's important to understand how bias and variance affect their readings.
  2. Bias refers to a consistent error in measurements, while variance relates to the randomness of measurement errors. Both play a role in how reliable a scale's readings can be.
  3. When choosing a scale, it's better to prioritize low variance over low bias if you're only interested in tracking trends rather than precise values.

Year In Review - Long Reads

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Health tech
  1. PacBio faced challenges in the stock market but still aims to provide high-quality clinical genomic sequencing. They are seen as a strong competitor in the long-read space despite financial struggles.
  2. Oxford Nanopore has been active in raising funds but has dealt with internal issues and departures of significant team members. Profitability remains an elusive goal for both them and PacBio.
  3. New competitors are emerging in the long-read sequencing market, including Roche and BGI, who are exploring nanopore sequencing technology. This could shake up the landscape for current players.