The hottest Science communication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

All Hail The Consumers of Time and Occupiers of Space

Everything Is Amazing • 583 implied HN points • 22 Mar 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate funny, oddball science that makes people laugh but often points to real scientific value, and the ceremony is moving from the U.S. to Zurich after 35 years.
  2. The awards mix playful inventions (like the SpeechJammer and Clocky) with sharp satire that calls out absurd or harmful behavior by politicians and corporations.
  3. Research that sounds silly—such as studies on pareidolia, seeing faces in objects—can still reveal important truths about how the brain works and how we form social bonds.

Are the Strongest Nor'easters Getting Stronger? A Closer Look

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1609 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Science communication
  1. A recent study's headline that the strongest nor'easters are getting stronger rests on fragile statistical signals that largely disappear or weaken when the analysis is limited to the satellite era or when different start dates are used.
  2. The ERA5 reanalysis has uneven observational coverage and known negative biases for extreme storm winds, so improvements in data over time can create spurious trends unless those artifacts are explicitly accounted for.
  3. Detecting and attributing real long-term changes in storm intensity requires multiple independent datasets, methods, and model-based evidence, and current assessments give low confidence that such trends are detectable, so strong public claims were premature.

The 350 Million Year Old Shriek

Everything Is Amazing • 1398 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. The Tully Monster is a 310‑million‑year‑old marine fossil that looks utterly bizarre and still baffles scientists, with debates over whether it was a fish, a worm, or something else entirely.
  2. Everyday pebbles can hide ancient fossils like crinoids that trick our brains into seeing faces or teeth — pareidolia makes us read familiar shapes into random patterns.
  3. Ailsa Craig supplies a unique granite used for Olympic curling stones, and with only one other quarry in the world, the sport relies on a tiny, protected island whose quarrying is now limited.

Measles and echo chambers, fresh science, and more

Your Local Epidemiologist • 658 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Working with Christian faith-based content creators is a practical way to break echo chambers and better inform faith communities about measles and medical evidence.
  2. New scientific studies are notable, including promising progress for a hard-to-treat breast cancer and an intriguing clue found in the brains of superagers.
  3. A dangerous online trend of making cornstarch fireballs is emerging, creating a fresh public-safety and misinformation concern.

Buried by Snow—and by Shaky Science

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 445 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Science communication
  1. Recent winters have felt more extreme, but scientists currently don’t have strong evidence that the most intense nor’easters are getting steadily stronger over the long term.
  2. The IPCC plays a key role by sorting through hundreds of different and sometimes conflicting studies to give cautious, evidence-based conclusions instead of relying on any single paper.
  3. Science advances by testing claims, being honest about uncertainty, and changing course when new evidence shows earlier conclusions were wrong.
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In From the Cold

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2100 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Science communication
  1. Scientific findings about climate are often simplified into dramatic one-liners, so media and politicians can end up misrepresenting what the underlying research actually says.
  2. Observed data show heatwaves and heavy rainfall have increased with warming, but there is no strong evidence that hurricanes, floods, droughts, tornadoes, hail, or lightning have become more frequent.
  3. Practical politics and public welfare shape energy policy: people resist costly rapid transitions, emissions intensity has been falling for decades, and the most extreme 'business as usual' emissions scenarios were unrealistic and have been largely abandoned.

Why do people still not know about genes?

Heterodox STEM • 270 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Genes are a major driver of personality and behaviour — studies show roughly half of the variation in psychological traits is genetic, and traits like aggression and criminality are substantially heritable.
  2. Most mainstream discussion blames parenting, poverty or household instability for crime and life outcomes, but that often ignores the strong genetic contribution and can lead to mistaken conclusions and poor policy choices.
  3. Correlations between childhood environment and bad outcomes are frequently confounded by shared genes, so you must control for genetics (and account for random developmental effects) before claiming that poverty or family structure directly causes crime.

My book is published in the US today, and I'm shortlisted for the Unwin Award

Sustainability by numbers • 454 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Science communication
  1. An energy comparison tool got lots of user feedback and will be updated; a change log will be added and a carbon-emissions-equivalent feature is planned.
  2. Clearing the Air has been published in North America and is now available from major book retailers.
  3. Shortlisted for the Unwin Award, a recognition that highlights early-career non-fiction authors whose work makes a significant contribution.

Is it really the end of climate cancellation?

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2247 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Science communication
  1. A new UN-backed “information integrity” push frames reliable climate information narrowly and treats dissenting views as misinformation, opening a pathway to police and suppress opposing speech.
  2. Efforts to cancel or silence climate dissent aren’t ending — powerful institutions and networks (governments, NGOs, universities, foundations, litigation, and climate industry actors) still have strong incentives to control the debate.
  3. Calling on companies and governments to police platforms, fund research, and run campaigns risks centralizing control over what counts as reliable climate information and channels large sums to sympathetic actors who will shape the public narrative.

January Supporters Update: A Book, A Podcast, An Anniversary Request

Everything Is Amazing • 651 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Vera C. Rubin Observatory images highlight the mind-bending scale of the universe, from nearby stars to galaxies tens of millions of light-years away, showing how tiny any single patch of sky really is.
  2. The newsletter is reaching a five-year milestone and will shake things up with a new season and upcoming changes.
  3. Bigger projects are underway, including a book inspired by field experiences, and this update is aimed at paid supporters.

How Nature Became a 'Prestige' Journal

Asimov Press • 548 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Prestige grew from more than merit: wealthy patronage, elite scientific networks, fast weekly publication, and an expanding international audience made the journal influential early on.
  2. Mid-century editorial reforms — faster processing, mandatory peer review, and deliberate selectivity — turned publication into a powerful career signal and a common focal point for researchers across fields.
  3. Today that prestige is contested: digital publishing, preprints, open‑access pushes, and concerns about errors and gatekeeping are forcing reforms like transparent peer review and tougher retraction practices.

The alternate reality of RFK and the antivaxers

Noahpinion • 13470 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Science communication
  1. RFK Jr. has been a strong opponent of vaccines, which may influence U.S. vaccination policies if he takes a leadership role in the government. This could lead to less public support for vaccinations.
  2. Beliefs can be useful for creating group unity, even if those beliefs are not based on facts. Sometimes, being a part of a group means accepting ideas that might not be true in reality.
  3. The tension between what is real and what people believe can impact society. It shows how important it is to balance scientific facts with how communities view and accept those facts.

Brief Notes on Scientific Critique

Cremieux Recueil • 434 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Make sure your criticism is correct: check the data, run the needed analyses, and only accuse or declare problems when you can justify them.
  2. Focus on meaningful, relevant issues that actually change conclusions — don’t list hypotheticals; quantify or demonstrate how a confound or error would affect the results.
  3. Be generous and contextual: assume good faith, ask for clarification or contact authors privately when fixable, and build enough domain knowledge to notice real problems instead of relying on rote one‑liners.

Visualizing Research: How I Use Gemini 3.0 to Turn Papers into Comics

Gonzo ML • 630 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
đź•ą Technology Science communication
  1. The Gemini 3.0 Pro Image model, also known as Nano Banana Pro, is great for creating infographics and comics from academic papers. It can really change how we visualize research.
  2. Generating graphic novels from paper summaries is a fun way to review research. Using visuals can make complex ideas much easier to understand.
  3. For the best results with image generation, it's helpful to break tasks into steps and use precise prompts. This means creating a script first and then generating images based on that script.

Scientific American Ignored Years of Editor Laura Helmuth’s Appalling Conduct, Then Scalped Her After I Circulated Her Own Tweets

The DisInformation Chronicle • 4920 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Science communication
  1. Laura Helmuth, editor of Scientific American, faced backlash and resigned after her own controversial tweets were shared online. Many said her comments showed a clear bias against certain political groups.
  2. The incident sparked a debate about the standards in science journalism, highlighting how some writers may prioritize political agendas over objective reporting.
  3. Despite the controversy, some members of the science writing community continued to support Helmuth, raising questions about accountability and the direction of science communication.

Body as a shell

Your Local Epidemiologist • 4557 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. RFK Jr. has been picked to lead the Health and Human Services, which worries many public health professionals. They feel this could undermine efforts to improve public health.
  2. There is a strong concern that misinformation will spread, leading people to make poor health decisions. The fear is that lies can spread faster than the truth.
  3. Despite feelings of exhaustion and frustration, public health workers remain committed to fighting misinformation. They believe it's important to keep providing accurate information to help people make informed choices.

Poetic Justice for Jay Bhattacharya

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3389 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. Jay Bhattacharya was a respected Stanford professor until the pandemic changed everything. He proposed focusing on protecting vulnerable people instead of broad lockdowns.
  2. With support from other scientists, he created the Great Barrington Declaration, advocating for 'focused protection' during Covid-19. This approach aimed to keep society more open while safeguarding those at risk.
  3. Despite facing harsh criticism and attacks on his character for his views, Bhattacharya's ideas are gaining more attention, especially as he may soon lead the NIH.

“Focus like a laser on merit!”

Unsafe Science • 97 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Claims about widespread unconscious bias and pervasive anti‑female hiring discrimination are often overstated; measures like the IAT tap associations in memory rather than proven unconscious prejudice and do not reliably predict discriminatory behavior.
  2. Many DEI and anti‑bias trainings lack solid evidence that they change real‑world behavior and can have unintended costs or even provoke reverse bias, so interventions should be rigorously evaluated for both benefits and harms.
  3. The best practical approach is to focus like a laser on merit by using clear, job‑relevant criteria and individualized evidence, and to improve credibility through adversarial collaboration and honest communication about uncertainty.

New Emails From Anthony Fauci And Francis Collins Show More Purposeful Dishonesty On COVID Vaccines

Unmasked • 56 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. Fauci shifted key public health stances over time, including on masks, school closures, and lockdowns, creating conflicting guidance.
  2. Newly released emails are presented as evidence that Fauci and Francis Collins knowingly misled the public to push vaccine messaging and mandates.
  3. The piece argues that media and officials largely failed to hold them accountable, and that critics of strict COVID policies were vindicated.

LIL News Update

LIL Science • 923 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. TikTok is not a safe place for accurate science due to moderation issues.
  2. The author is moving away from TikTok due to lack of integrity from moderators.
  3. The author is excited to branch out to other platforms for sharing accurate science.

The COVID Digest, 18Feb2023

The COVID Digest • 1100 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness 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.

How Will Vaccine Skeptics View Vaccine Beer?

Viruses Must Die • 52 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Talk to vaccine skeptics with empathy and without sneering; listening and explaining things simply helps conversations go much better.
  2. Distrust of institutional scientists and Big Pharma fuels skepticism, but independent scientists also deserve critical scrutiny—avoid reflexive tribalism on either side.
  3. Vaccine beer might appeal to some skeptics if it’s transparent, clearly not coercive (for example, visibly colored), and developed with feedback from skeptical communities beyond one’s family.

Near-Term Climate News and Other Tall Tales

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 55 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Science communication
  1. Global warming is accelerating now, with a projection of about +1.7°C global temperature in 2027 and an observed rate near 0.31°C per decade. This pace, if it continues, means steady and rapid temperature increases over the coming decades.
  2. If today’s warming and CO2 trends hold, mid‑century and later decades could see temperatures well above 2°C and atmospheric CO2 possibly topping ~500 ppm by 2050, which would be dangerous for future generations. These changes will reshape lives within the lifetimes of people alive today.
  3. AI-generated fakery is becoming startlingly realistic, with faces and gestures that look human; this trend raises serious concerns about misinformation, cultural erosion, and how we’ll remember the past.

CIA Says Pandemic Likely Started From a Lab

The DisInformation Chronicle • 670 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. The CIA recently suggested that the COVID virus likely originated from a lab in Wuhan, which contradicts earlier claims that labeled this idea as a conspiracy theory. This has caused a stir among scientists and writers who previously dismissed these claims.
  2. Some scientists who once strongly rejected the lab leak theory are now reconsidering their stance, as new assessments show that the virus's origin is still unresolved. They admit there is no definitive proof for either a natural or lab-based origin.
  3. The claim that calling the lab leak theory a conspiracy was unfounded has been echoed by various commentators. Many are now acknowledging that skepticism about the virus's origin deserves more serious discussion.

Wired’s Scicomm Writer Emily Mullin Attacks Independent Research, Because of Course

The DisInformation Chronicle • 565 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Science communication
  1. The article critiques a piece by Emily Mullin that is critical of a new science journal, saying it contains many errors and misleading statements. It argues that journalists can sometimes promote their own biases instead of focusing on factual reporting.
  2. It highlights a term called 'dial-a-quote,' where writers seek quotes from people they know will support their narrative, instead of looking for a balanced perspective. This practice can skew the way information is presented to readers.
  3. The discussion raises concerns about the credibility of some researchers who contribute to science writing. It points out how certain quotes and opinions may align with existing narratives rather than presenting objective scientific information.

The weather is nice so we have to freak out about heatwaves now

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 176 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Science communication
  1. Currently, even though the weather is nice, many people are still worried about heatwaves and climate change. It seems like there's always something to worry about, regardless of the actual conditions.
  2. In Germany, the current temperatures aren't as extreme as some predictions suggest, but the media is still making a big deal out of potential heat. Often, it's not the heat itself that's dangerous, but how suddenly it increases.
  3. Instead of banning fun summer activities, a better solution for helping vulnerable people during heatwaves would be to provide air conditioning. It's important to focus on practical solutions rather than creating fear around the nice weather.

Eight questions "Professor Dave" can't answer

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. The debate became personal and some questions were deleted, raising concerns that ad hominem attacks and comment removal undermined open scientific discussion.
  2. There is a demand for clear, record-level evidence and transparent data (including autopsy results) to show whether COVID vaccines saved lives or caused harm, and a new analysis is claimed to show increased deaths after boosters.
  3. The speaker challenges the opponent's credibility and asks for credentials plus explanations for puzzling findings like odd protective effects in one study, sudden autism cases after vaccination, and unusual cancer trends.

Vaccine expert Peter Hotez was offered $2.6M free and clear to debate RFK Jr. on vaccine safety. He turned it down.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 15 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. A prominent vaccine expert turned down multi‑million dollar offers to debate a high‑profile vaccine critic, saying such events risk becoming spectacles rather than serious scientific discussion.
  2. People who backed the offers interpret the refusals as proof that mainstream vaccine experts avoid public debates with challengers and see that as evidence of unwillingness to be held accountable.
  3. The episode highlights how crowdfunding and large public bounties fuel polarized media standoffs, and that many experts prefer education and controlled media appearances over open debate formats.

Interview with Tony Fauci

Science Forever • 139 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  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.

My email to Brown Professor Craig Spencer, M.D., MPH on his StatNews article

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. An open invitation asks a public health expert to have a civil, data-focused conversation about vaccine safety, aiming to stick to data and methods rather than rhetoric.
  2. The view that the medical community is simply 'correct and must earn trust' is challenged, with a key concern being that many credentialed experts refuse public, method-focused debates.
  3. Repeated attempts to engage prominent figures (including offers to Dr. Paul Offit and an instance where Peter Hotez reportedly declined to meet RFK) are seen as evidence that refusal to dialogue is the main barrier to finding the truth, and dialogue is promoted as the solution.

Unsafe Commenting Guidelines

Unsafe Science • 137 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Be nice and respectful when commenting. No insults or personal attacks allowed.
  2. Stay on topic. Comments should relate directly to the post rather than unrelated issues.
  3. Keep comments short. Aim for around 300 words, so everyone can share their thoughts without overwhelming the conversation.

The peer-review literature says science should not run from public challenges; here's a framework for fair discussions

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🔬 Science Science communication
  1. Experts should engage in public, evidence-based debate instead of avoiding challenges. Refusing to debate undermines scientific norms and public trust.
  2. A fair public debate needs a narrow question, balanced credentialed panels with conflict disclosures, a strict evidence-first format, and an independent post-debate audit, with all data and the full record publicly archived. Neutral funding and platform transparency are also required.
  3. Relying only on closed peer review and avoiding open scrutiny weakens credibility. Reforming peer review and embracing transparent, verifiable debates would better hold researchers accountable and inform the public.

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.

My revised $1M offer to Paul Offit

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. A $1 million challenge invites an expert to defend a JAMA study that claims mRNA vaccination did not increase 4-year all-cause mortality, with impartial judges to decide the winner.
  2. The critic argues the study is too confounded to draw reliable conclusions about non-COVID deaths because retrospective propensity-weighted cohorts (and 1:1 matching) cannot fully adjust for bias.
  3. The challenge is presented as educational and non-accusatory, aiming to clarify interpretation of published science, and it includes a prediction that the invited expert will likely decline.

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

Unreported Truths • 67 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness 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.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Science communication
  1. The author believes that vaccines can cause autism and is willing to bet $1 million on it. They think if the science is clear, people should take the bet.
  2. They argue that nobody is accepting the bet because they secretly believe vaccines do cause autism, despite the scientific consensus that they don't.
  3. The author views putting money on the line as a way to see who truly believes in their claims. They are eager for a debate and willing to offer a reward for finding a counterparty.

Fauci's Deceit

Silent Lunch, The David Zweig Newsletter • 27 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.