The hottest Scientific research Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Superintelligence is already here, today

Noahpinion • 28588 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Scientific research
  1. AI today already combines human-level language and reasoning with superhuman memory, speed, and scale. That lets it do things no single human can do, like read entire scientific literatures, prove theorems, and write complex code very quickly.
  2. Those capabilities are primed to massively accelerate science by automating grunt work, knocking off large numbers of overlooked problems, and enabling closed-loop lab experiments and fast discovery — but they also risk flooding fields with low-quality or hard-to-verify results.
  3. The same powers create real dangers: if AI systems gain permanent autonomy, robot bodies, and end-to-end automated production, they could seize control or enable catastrophic bioattacks, so we should consider limiting autonomy, robotic capabilities, or full automation to manage those risks.

Time for some courage in the climate fight too

The Crucial Years • 2471 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Scientific research
  1. Big business and financial leaders have largely pulled back from climate leadership after political pushback, but public funds and big investors could still use their financial power to force change.
  2. Divesting from fossil fuels is both a moral choice and a smart financial move, since renewables and batteries are cheaper and funds that shunned fossil stocks have often seen better returns; staying invested has cost taxpayers billions.
  3. Scientists warn the window to avoid dangerous warming is smaller than we thought and tipping points are real, so governments must speed up the clean-energy shift by scaling renewables, storage, and other clean technologies already proving they work.

Harvard and MIT Study: AI Models Are Not Ready to Make Scientific Discoveries

The Algorithmic Bridge • 1857 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Scientific research
  1. AI models can predict things accurately but struggle to explain why things happen. This means they might not truly understand the underlying science.
  2. The study shows that current AI models, even powerful ones, do not create a real understanding of the world. Instead, they use tricks to predict results based only on patterns they have seen.
  3. This limitation is important because it shows that AI is not ready to make new scientific discoveries. Real understanding involves knowing why things happen, not just what happens.

The LA Fires and the Big Bang

The Crucial Years • 4882 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Scientific research
  1. Climate change is making wildfires worse due to extreme heat and drought in places like Los Angeles. This is causing devastation to homes and communities.
  2. Scientific advancements, like those from Edwin Hubble, help us understand our universe and climate, but there are fears that funding for vital climate research is being threatened.
  3. There's a growing concern about losing our ability to think critically about important issues. As we face bigger problems, understanding and intelligence seem to be declining.
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When the Sackler Brothers studied LSD

Res Obscura • 2799 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
💾 History Scientific research
  1. The Sackler brothers, known for their later role in the opioid crisis, initially explored the potential of LSD and other psychedelic treatments in the 1950s. They even attended early scientific discussions about LSD.
  2. Despite their good intentions to improve mental health treatments, the Sacklers also recognized the financial gains from pharmaceuticals. This shift in focus highlights how idealistic motives can change when wealth is involved.
  3. The ongoing debate about psychedelics mirrors this historical pattern. As society cautiously opens up to these substances for therapy, there are concerns about commercialization, addiction, and the potential for harm.

How Science Must Change

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1845 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🔬 Science Scientific research
  1. Science should focus on serving everyone, regardless of their political beliefs. This means making science accessible and relatable to all citizens.
  2. Many scientists in leadership are becoming too partisan, which creates a divide between science and the public. This partisanship can lead to mistrust and alienation among people with differing views.
  3. To regain trust, the scientific community needs to foster inclusivity and understand the diverse perspectives of the public. This includes recognizing that scientists should work to serve the interests of all Americans.

BOMBSHELL: The CDC Has Updated Its “Autism and Vaccines” Page

Injecting Freedom • 152 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Scientific research
  1. The CDC has updated its stance on vaccines and autism, admitting that they haven't proven that vaccines do not cause autism.
  2. Previous studies suggesting there is no link between vaccines and autism have serious flaws and have been largely ignored by health authorities.
  3. The CDC is now supporting further research on the relationship between infant vaccines and autism, acknowledging that more studies are needed.

Cooked?

ChinaTalk • 429 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Scientific research
  1. The stock market is showing some signs of life, suggesting short-term recovery. However, experts worry about long-term issues like talent attraction and scientific research funding.
  2. The value of the dollar is declining, which may indicate growing distrust in the U.S. economic system. Other countries are looking for alternatives, potentially affecting future investments.
  3. Immigration policies are becoming stricter, which could hurt the U.S.'s ability to attract top talent. This change might limit the country's innovation and competitiveness in the long run.

Warming in the pipeline: Decoding our climate commitment

The Climate Brink • 569 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Scientific research
  1. Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have a long-lasting impact on warming the Earth because they remain in the atmosphere for a really long time.
  2. There's a scientific question about future warming if emissions stopped today, known as 'warming in the pipeline', with varying viewpoints based on assumptions.
  3. Different assumptions made in calculations determine whether there will be little warming in the coming decades or significant warming over thousands of years, emphasizing the long-term effects of greenhouse gases.

Coffee and the Heart: Startling New Findings?

The Skeptical Cardiologist • 412 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Scientific research
  1. The CRAVE study found that coffee consumption was associated with more daily steps and fewer minutes of sleep among participants.
  2. The CRAVE study had limitations including select group of participants and lack of real-world coffee consumption scenario.
  3. Scientific evidence consistently supports that moderate coffee consumption is linked to living longer and having a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Note to Congress on DEI in the Sciences: The Call is Coming from Inside the House

OpenTheBooks Substack • 181 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Scientific research
  1. Funding for scientific research is being diverted towards projects focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which some argue do not contribute to actual scientific innovation.
  2. Congress plays a role in these funding decisions by mandating certain criteria that prioritize DEI over traditional scientific research, affecting how grants are awarded.
  3. There's a push for lawmakers to stop funding DEI initiatives in science, as it is believed that this money could be better spent on crucial medical research and scientific advancements.

The Virtue of Diversity

David Friedman’s Substack • 431 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Scientific research
  1. Many countries had similar Covid-19 policies, even though their cultures and situations were very different. This shows that having different approaches can be useful because it allows for diverse solutions.
  2. The Great Barrington Declaration suggested protecting vulnerable people while allowing the virus to spread among others. This idea faced strong opposition, highlighting how challenging it can be to propose different solutions in a uniform system.
  3. Countries like Sweden took a different path during the pandemic, opting for lighter restrictions. This led to a less severe impact than predicted, suggesting that a variety of strategies can lead to better outcomes.

Heterodox Views In The Academy Could Save Lives

Heterodox STEM • 142 implied HN points • 22 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Scientific research
  1. The lab leak theory is still debated, but political biases can influence how openly this is discussed in science.
  2. Gain-of-function research helps study viruses but poses risks, as it could lead to pandemics if not handled properly.
  3. Honest communication about scientific topics can help build public trust, which is crucial for handling future health crises.

Top Links 594 American consumers flipflop. Questioning the savings glut & the strain of too much scientific publishing.

Chartbook • 286 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
💰 Finance Scientific research
  1. American consumers are uncertain about their spending and saving habits right now. It shows there's a lot of confusion about the economy.
  2. There's a discussion about whether there's too much focus on saving money in the economy. Some believe this could be a problem.
  3. The volume of scientific publishing is increasing, and this might be causing stress for researchers. It's important to find a balance in how much gets published.

Links #7

Splitting Infinity • 19 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Scientific research
  1. In a post-scarcity society, communities of hobbyists can lead to significant innovations driven by leisure time and interest rather than necessity.
  2. Drug discovery challenges stem from a lack of understanding of diseases and biology, proposing an alternative approach focusing on experimental drug use and patient data collection.
  3. Language models are scaling down for efficient inference, suggesting that combinations of smaller models may outperform training larger ones.

Department of Scientific Efficiency

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 36 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🔬 Science Scientific research
  1. Science often feels inefficient and frustrating for researchers, leading to disillusionment. Many wish for changes that can improve how scientific work gets done.
  2. Funding for science can be improved by connecting researchers with venture capital and industry, which can help new ideas grow. Scientists need more support and training to navigate these opportunities.
  3. The current grant and publication systems are riddled with issues, making it hard for scientists to succeed. Changing these systems could lead to more effective and fairer funding processes and help researchers publish their work without unnecessary hurdles.

Nature paper shows the COVID "vaccines" increased your risk of getting COVID

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Scientific research
  1. COVID vaccines may reduce the body's protective mucosal antibodies, which are important for preventing infections.
  2. Data suggests that vaccinated individuals could be more susceptible to COVID than those who haven't been vaccinated.
  3. There is a call for clearer communication from health authorities about the potential risks associated with COVID vaccinations.

Links (1)

Bretton Goods • 31 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🔬 Science Scientific research
  1. Understand how neural networks work with an interesting explanation from Olah et. al
  2. Learn about the history of scientific research and patronage from the rich
  3. Gain insights on modern macroeconomics and what it gets wrong

Vaccine Safety Research Foundation SunPower LED SuperPalm 1050 Raffle

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 1 implied HN point • 25 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Scientific research
  1. The Vaccine Safety Research Foundation is holding a raffle for a SuperPalm 1050 device valued at $1900, which uses advanced light therapy. This device helps relieve pain and target deep tissue issues.
  2. Tickets for the raffle are affordable, starting at $10 for one entry, and there are options to buy more for better chances. The funds raised support the foundation's mission related to vaccine safety and advocacy.
  3. The foundation promotes transparency and encourages open discussions about COVID-19 vaccine safety and public health. They aim to provide information free from corporate influence and biased narratives.

A Big Unknown: Long Covid-19

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Sep 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Scientific research
  1. Long Covid-19 is a significant concern as it involves persistent symptoms even after recovery from the initial infection.
  2. Vaccines may offer some protection against Long Covid-19, but more research is needed to fully understand their impact on this condition.
  3. There is a current debate between Long Covid-19 patients and researchers on the seriousness and study approach towards this condition, emphasizing the need for more objective research and timely understanding.