The hottest Science Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

Trump, Science, and Academia

Unsafe Science • 116 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Science Policy
  1. RFK Jr.'s appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services raises concerns due to his controversial views on vaccines and health policy, even if he has a strong background in environmental law.
  2. Trump's approach to academia, including the emphasis on reducing DEI programs and fighting anti-Semitism, aims to shift the focus back to equal treatment in federal funding and policy, potentially impacting diversity efforts in education.
  3. The pause in federal grants and the disappearing of some scientific data have caused concern about access to information and funding in academia, highlighting the ongoing battle over scientific governance.

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 Policy
  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.

The mRNA Revolution

Diane Francis • 479 implied HN points • 20 Dec 21
🏥 Health Politics Science Policy
  1. The mRNA vaccines are an important breakthrough in fighting COVID-19 and other diseases. They help our bodies recognize and attack viruses more effectively.
  2. Despite concerns about variants like Omicron, the vaccines still offer protection. People are tired of restrictions, but the vaccines are a positive step forward.
  3. Scientists are continuing to innovate with mRNA technology. This could lead to even more health advancements in the future.

(Ad-free Video) What's New in Science With Sabine and Lawrence | New Year's Edition: Big ideas, precision measurements, and prebiotic molecules.

Critical Mass • 5 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. Wormhole headlines are mostly speculative and serve as theoretical tools, while traversable wormholes still face major obstacles like the need for negative energy and time‑travel paradoxes.
  2. ATLAS’s observation of the Higgs decaying into muon pairs gives a precise confirmation of the Standard Model, but it also highlights the unresolved mystery of neutrino masses and raises questions about future collider priorities.
  3. OSIRIS‑REx’s Bennu samples contain ribose and other prebiotic molecules, suggesting the chemistry for life may be common rather than a unique cosmic fluke.

Why science is politically disruptive

Optimally Irrational • 27 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Science Policy
  1. Science often challenges established political ideas, leading to conflict. New findings can disrupt beliefs that people hold dear, making it a powerful force in society.
  2. Political narratives are not always logically sound or factually accurate. They are shaped by convenience and the need to defend specific interests, which can lead to inconsistencies.
  3. Examples like the scientific understanding of homosexuality show how evidence can clash with political views. Sometimes, what seems like a simple fact can become a heated political issue depending on the narrative around it.
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When the Police Raid the Neighborhood: The Real Lesson of Science’s Politicization-Guest Post

Critical Mass • 5 implied HN points • 25 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Science Policy
  1. Some critics say the problem with science is that it's too far left. Yet, they might be ignoring a bigger issue, which is the current right-wing attacks on science as well.
  2. When schools and scientific fields lean too much into one ideology, they become targets for political attacks. If we don't keep things balanced, we risk making it easier for others to attack us.
  3. To avoid becoming too politicized, it's suggested that institutions should focus on neutral policies and allow a variety of viewpoints. This can help prevent backlash from any side.

Carole Hooven | The War on Science Interviews | Day 11

Critical Mass • 5 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. There will be 20 interviews released, featuring various authors discussing the problems in science and academia. The goal is to share ideas on how to address these issues.
  2. Topics include how social justice activism is affecting academic scholarship and the dangers of cancel culture. The conversations aim to spark important discussions about restoring science and free speech.
  3. The interviews and reflecting on the upcoming book hope to encourage awareness and prompt action to improve the current state of academia and scientific inquiry.

Peter Boghossian | The War on Science Interviews | Day 16

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. There will be 20 interviews released over 20 days that discuss issues impacting science and academia.
  2. The interviews will touch on important topics like free speech, social justice, and the effects of cancel culture on universities.
  3. The goal is to spark conversation about restoring trust and quality in academia and science to fight against current challenges.

Frances Widdowson | The War on Science Interviews | Day 10

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. The interviews focus on serious issues affecting science and education today. They aim to encourage discussion about how to improve trust and integrity in academia.
  2. The authors discuss problems like cancel culture, ideological bias in science, and challenges to free speech in academic settings. These issues are seen as harmful to the progress of science.
  3. The goal is to raise awareness about current threats to scientific inquiry and scholarship. The hope is to unite people in restoring sound science and open conversation in universities.

Geoff Horsman | The War on Science Interviews | Day 13

Critical Mass • 2 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. The discussion revolves around the conflicts facing science and academia today. Many believe that ideological biases are affecting how science is conducted and taught.
  2. Interviews with key figures will share their perspectives on issues like free speech, cancel culture, and the detrimental effects of social justice activism in academic settings.
  3. There is a call to action for the academic community and the public to engage in conversations that promote sound science and restore trust and excellence in research.

From Papyrus to Preprints

Reboot • 7 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. Preprints are changing how research is shared. They allow scientists to share their findings quickly, before formal peer reviews, which helps speed up the conversation in the scientific community.
  2. The traditional peer review process can be slow and has limitations. Sometimes, important discoveries don’t get published because they don't fit the narrow criteria of journals.
  3. Platforms like arXiv have democratized access to research. They let everyone see new ideas and findings, but they also require us to be careful about the quality of information we trust.

Karleen Gribble | The War on Science Interviews | Day 20

Critical Mass • 1 implied HN point • 14 Aug 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. There will be 20 interviews released daily with authors from the book 'The War on Science,' starting from July 22. Each interview will cover various topics related to science and academia.
  2. The discussions will address issues like how ideology is affecting science, free speech in universities, and the challenges that current academic trends pose to genuine scholarship.
  3. The aim is to provoke a conversation about restoring trust and sound science in academia, emphasizing the importance of free inquiry and the negative effects of cancel culture and distortions in science.

Alex Byrne and Moti Gorin | The War on Science Interviews | Day 18

Critical Mass • 0 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. A series of 20 interviews with authors from the book 'The War on Science' is being released daily. These interviews cover important topics affecting science and academia today.
  2. The discussions focus on issues like ideological corruption in science, cancel culture, and the impact of social justice activism on scholarship. It's crucial to recognize how these challenges are harming the pursuit of knowledge.
  3. The goal is to spark conversations that will help restore trust and excellence in science at universities. It's important for everyone to get involved and address these internal conflicts within academia.

Dorian Abbot | The War on Science Interviews | Day 21

Critical Mass • 0 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
🔬 Science Science Policy
  1. A series of interviews will be released, featuring various authors discussing the problems in science and academia today. These discussions aim to raise awareness and spark conversation.
  2. The authors talk about issues like the impact of cancel culture, distorted views on biology, and how social justice activism is affecting academic scholarship. They believe these are serious threats to science.
  3. The goal is to encourage a movement to restore trust and quality in science education. They want more people to speak out against the current challenges faced in universities.