Yesterday we published a detailed report about what we've learned so far from our replication database about reproducibility and correlates of reproducibility. => open.substack.com/pub/moreisdi...

I've created a new @metascienceobs.bsky.social "Bird's Eye Review" dashboard for human clinical trials on antiviral nasal sprays. Check it out ➡️ metascienceobservatory.org/birds-eye-re... Let me know what you think! There's also a #LongCOVID dashboard too: metascienceobservatory.org/birds-eye-re...

New on my Substack! I think I figured out why Xocova is very effective as a COVID-19 prophylactic while Paxlovid is not. Look at the pharmacokinetic profiles of the two regimens - levels of Paxlovid dip dangerously low every 12 hrs, which can allow the virus to get a foothold. Read more 👇

Interesting difference between Metaculus (a forecast aggregator) and Kalshi (a prediction market) regarding hantavirus… Prediction markets seem to struggle with getting low probabilities right probably because lure of a large return lures in gamblers. There may be other reasons as well.

Since 2022 the Japanese have had access to Xocova, a once-daily SARS-CoV-2 antiviral that is superior to Paxlovid. It is even approved for prophylactic use in Japan. A critical upcoming FDA decision will determine the fate of this drug in the US. A lot hangs in the balance! Read full🧵below ⬇️

WSJ and NYT are both reporting Trump will fire FDA chief Makary. Which means it is time to dig out my Substack post from 2024 where I discuss two great candidates who can reform the FDA: Joseph Gulfo, MD and Balaji Srinivasan. (The 3rd person I discuss, Jim O’Neill, is slated to be NSF Director!) 🔗⬇️

A few weeks ago I attended the Neuroscience of Vitality and Aging conference at Harvard. There were ~700 people in attendance, and I was the only person masking (with an N-95 rated, easy-to-breath-through @flomask.bsky.social). This is madness! Viruses cause brain aging! #CovidisAirborne #COVID19

Quarantine, quarantine, quarantine! #hantavirus “The Ushuaia landfill is where Argentinian authorities suspect the Dutch couple inhaled particles from the feces of long-tailed pygmy rice rats, which carry the feared Andes strain of the hantavirus—the only form known to transmit from human to human”

The past six months I've been researching AI for antiviral drug discovery & drug repurposing at RADVAC. This work recently culminated in a 60 page paper published on arXiv: arxiv.org/abs/2605.04265 I also published a Substack on high-level antiviral strategy: moreisdifferent.blog/p/antiviral-...

Remy Yeast will soon be selling bioengineered yeast (dry & beer) that produces viral shell proteins! First up: BK polyomavirus genotype-I VP1 & BK polyomavirus genotype-IV VP1. Sign up for their email list if you're interested => remyeast.com More on my Substack: moreisdifferent.blog/p/yeast-base...

This Sunday I'll be participating in a livestream where I'll be discussing what I've built so far at @metasciencejournal.bsky.social. I'll also be discussing my website @gene-wizard.bsky.social where you can upload your genetics data and get detailed information on your SNPs & polygenic risk scores.

U.S. Transhumanist Party@transhumanist.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Sunday, 4/12/2026, @ 1 PM Pacific Time, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invites Dr. Dan Elton (@delton.bsky.social) to present on 2 of his scientific projects: The Metascience Observatory (advancing scientific rigor) & Gene Wizard (platform for whole-genome analysis). www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZsu...

The White House is proposing massive cuts to NIH, NSF, and NASA. Meanwhile, they are wasting 2-3 billion A DAY in a misguided and completely counterproductive war in Iran, and asking to increase the already bloated DoD budget by $500 B. I've never been this mad at an administration in my life!

lol although it's pretty cool they're able to get internet access up there ..

niki grayson@nikigrayson.com · 4mo ago

right now the astronauts are calling houston because the computer on the spaceship is running two instances of microsoft outlook and they can't figure out why. nasa is about to remote into the computer

"Grand Staircase doesn't lead to ballroom" ... lol who comes up with this stuff? Why build a staircase to nowhere?

I knew 2025 was a big year for AI, but I didn’t realize how big until I saw this graph. It was the year of the agentic AI revolution!

Have you heard of NIH virologist Chris Buck's discovery that a beer-based vaccine is effective against BK polyomavirus? Either way, check out my new Substack deep dive on the yeast-based vaccine revolution! Vaccines can be produced and consumed as foods! 🤯 => moreisdifferent.blog/p/yeast-base...

Read our first newsletter on Substack: metascienceobservatory.substack.com/p/metascienc... You can subscribe on Substack or on our conventional mailing list: metascienceobservatory.eo.page/kdntv

Metascience Observatory Newsletter #1

Happy New Year from the Metascience Observatory! This newsletter will go out either bimonthly or quarterly.

metascienceobservatory.substack.com

Moderna CEO: "we've told investors that we will no longer be running phase 3 trials (for vaccines). It's not possible to make a return on investment without access to the US Market" www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/... (quote from around 4:15 in the video)

Moderna CEO Says Vaccine Scrutiny Curbing Trials

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel says the company does not plan to invest in late-stage vaccine trials because of growing scrutiny of immunizations from US officials. He speaks with Lisa Abramowicz at the ...

bloomberg.com

Recent research adds to a growing body of work showing that #SARSCoV2 infection leads to long-term disruption of immune system function, potentially leaving people more vulnerable to future infections for years into the future. #COVID19 #LongCOVID www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

I am not a fan of Peter Diamandiss and Singularity University! Their “Abundance” conferences are scamy networking events for the ultra-rich. The conference appears increasingly out-of-touch in the light of the growing Abundance movement, which is actually focused on realizing abundance for all! 1/5

Amazing and eye-opening! Congrats @sholtodavid.bsky.social

Retraction Watch@retractionwatch.com · 8mo ago

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has settled a lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act, admitting researchers used images and data that were “misrepresented and/or duplicated." As part of the agreement, @sholtodavid.bsky.social will receive $2.63 million, or 17.5 percent of the $15 million settlement.

PSA!! "In this summer program, high school students will explore careers in in medicine, biotech, health policy, and longevity." rootsofprogress.org/progress-in-...

PSA: on Nov 26th the White House's Office of Science & Technology policy released a Notice of Request for Information (RFI), the subject of which is "Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise". Submit your cool ideas! Deadline to respond is Dec 26th www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

Notice of Request for Information; Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties on Federal policy updates that aim to accelerate the American scientific enterprise, enable groundbreaking...

federalregister.gov

Take a moment today to send letters to your congresspeople urging them support the National Institute for Healthy Longevity & Aging Research (NIHLAR) and the Advanced Approval Pathway for Longevity Medicines. Both advocated by The Alliance for Longevity Initiatives! actionnetwork.org/letters/driv...

Drive Aging Research Gains by Supporting the Implementation of NIHLAR & AAPLM

Writing to your elected officials is the most direct way to influence the future of aging research and health policy in America. Right now, promising therapies that could prevent age-related disease o...

actionnetwork.org

Sign this petition to @mayorwu.boston.gov - Allow @waymo.bsky.social in #Boston!! Selfish unions are supporting a ban. Waymo cars are more climate friendly and safer! They also have the potential to reduce congestion dramatically. www.change.org/p/approve-th...

In certain fields, manuscript submissions are way up due to researchers using AI to help do data analysis and writing.

The Scholarly Kitchen@scholarlykitchen.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Manuscript Submissions Are Up! That’s Good, Right? scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/11/04/m...

PSA: the next online Ekkolapto salon will feature a discussion with Jim O'Shaughnessy & Atman Pandya on new mechanisms for science funding. RSVP here to join the Zoom call: luma.com/oshaughnessy...

PSA for Boston-area folks - special event Monday Nov 10th on the future of AI and humanity. RSVP Here: www.aicamp.ai/event/eventd...

PSA: tomorrow afternoon (Oct 30th) ekkolapto is hosting an online (Zoom) Salon w/ Niko McCarty from AsimovPress, a one-of-a-kind magazine about scientific progress in biology. Should be really interesting and a great chance to ask Q's to Niko! RSVP here luma.com/asimovpress?...

The Future of Research–In & Out of Academia w/ Niko McCarty from Asimov Press | Computational Philosophy Online Salon · Zoom · Luma

WHAT ⭐️: • Niko McCarty (Asimov Press) (Substack) (Asimov Press on X) (LinkedIn) • Join us as we have an open salon-style discussion on the future of research…

luma.com

Mind First Foundation Chief Scientist Preston Estep has published a review of "If Anyone Builds it Everyone Dies". A key point is that we need more rigorous scientific study of Steve Omohundro's emergent AI drives! Furthermore, AI scientists may help us craft safe AI. s-rsa.com/index.php/ag...