The hottest Science communication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

The COVID Digest, 18Feb2023

The COVID Digest • 1100 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health COVID-19 Vaccination Immunity Science communication
  1. The author is taking a break from writing about COVID-19 after three years of pandemic updates.
  2. There has been a significant decrease in hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Georgia as waves of the pandemic progressed.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of public health in addressing disparities and ensuring access to healthcare for all.

On the arrogance (and stupidity) of Pfizer's Super Bowl ad

Unreported Truths • 67 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals Medical Ethics Marketing Science communication
  1. Pfizer's history shows a mix of successful marketing strategies and problematic scientific practices.
  2. The Super Bowl ad by Pfizer focused on science and notable scientists, with minimal mention of specific products.
  3. Despite the high cost of the ad, there was no clear return on investment, leading to questions about Pfizer's motives.
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UK COVID data, week starting 30th January

Logging the World • 338 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Covid data Science communication Long Covid Infections Vaccination
  1. The XBB.1.5 COVID variant is around 10-12%, growing but not as dominant as other variants like BA.5 or BA.1
  2. ZOE data shows a rise in COVID cases and hospital admissions are increasing again, with a 4-week doubling rate
  3. The latest Long COVID data from ONS indicates a modest drop in severe symptoms, despite high infection numbers

Interview with Tony Fauci

Science Forever • 139 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Government Science communication Vaccine Hesitancy
  1. Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy are exacerbated by the huge impact of social media, making it challenging to counter with correct information.
  2. Challenges exist in countering misinformation when highly credentialed individuals spread inaccurate information, creating difficulty in preserving the integrity of scientific communication.
  3. Communicating the evolving nature of science and the iterative self-correcting process can aid in improving science literacy and public understanding.

Market fundamentalism drives science denial

Science Forever • 99 implied HN points • 04 Feb 23
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Market fundamentalism is a driving force behind science denial, as explored in 'The Big Myth' by Oreskes and Conway.
  2. The book 'Merchants of Doubt' reveals how highly credentialed scientists used their expertise to cast doubt on science requiring government regulation.
  3. The Big Myth delves into the why of science denial, exploring how corporations and conservative operatives have promoted market fundamentalism over the past century.

Fauci's Deceit

Silent Lunch, The David Zweig Newsletter • 27 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Pandemic response Science communication
  1. The post discusses Dr. Fauci's deceptions and obfuscations related to high-risk virology research and the potential lab leak in Wuhan.
  2. It highlights how Fauci's language choices, like referring to a paper as a 'study' instead of 'correspondence,' can impact the perceived weight of evidence.
  3. The article aims to surprise and alarm readers who may not have closely followed the story.

Do masks work?

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19 Masks Transmission Science communication
  1. Despite recent reviews, high quality masks are effective in reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.
  2. Different types of masks, usage, and settings affect their effectiveness in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
  3. There is strong evidence that masks are able to block aerosol transmission and reduce the risk of transmission and infection of COVID-19.