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A Shift from Animal Testing

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Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 9h

Our next book: "Making the Modern Laboratory"

An illustrated, coffee table-sized volume, it covers the origins of the machines, organisms and tools used in modern biology research. More importantly, it's a call to imagine the FUTURE of the laboratory.

Come help us write it!

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Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 2d

Read & subscribe: press.asimov.com/articles/an...

There has been a push toward animal-free alternatives in scientific research. But the success of such alternatives hinges upon whether and where they can outperform standard animal models.

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 2d

The F.D.A. wants to make animal studies “the exception rather than the norm for pre-clinical safety/toxicity testing” over the next 3-5 years.

But just how likely is this to happen? Our latest essay, a Deep Dive into non-animal methods by Celia Ford, answers your questions.

The World’s Most Common Surgery

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 9d

Read & subscribe: press.asimov.com/articles/ca...

In 4,000 years, cataract surgery went from a crude procedure involving thorn instruments to a 20-minute operation with a 95 percent clinical success rate. The next step is broadening access.

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 9d

Today we are launching Issue 08 of the magazine.

Our first piece is THE WORLD'S MOST COMMON SURGERY.

It explains how cataract surgery went from a crude procedure involving thorn instruments to a 20-minute operation with a 95 percent clinical success rate.

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 23d

Our GMO restaurant pop-up, FARMA, was just featured in The Economist.

www.economist.com/science-and...

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 23d

Image by Martina Maritan, Scripps Research Institute.

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 23d

Some fun numbers about the "speeds" of cells:

1. Sugar molecules move at ~250 mph in a cell, about 2x the speed of a Cessna 172 plane.
2. Every protein is hit by ten trillion water molecules each second.
3. ATP synthase (which makes ATP) spins around 8,040 times per minute.

An Oral History Interview with ARIA CEO Ilan Gur

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 26d

Read a short transcript: press.asimov.com/articles/aria

Watch the full interview on Eric Gilliam's blog: www.freaktakes.com/p/an-oral-h...

The Spotify version of today’s episode can be found at this link.

www.freaktakes.com

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · 26d

We recently interviewed Ilan Gur, the CEO of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).

Eric Gilliam asked Gur about how ARIA is different from DARPA or a venture capital firm, and how big of an impact is big enough.

Interesting throughout.

Seasonal dormancy features in the life cycle of many insects. We can harness it for biological control, insect farming, and disease vector management at scale.

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 21

Our latest article, by @ulkar_aghayeva, is one of the most thorough and rigorous articles ever written on the subject of insect diapause, which (we feel) has long been underrated for global wellbeing.

Read & subscribe:
press.asimov.com/articles/in...

Pausing Insect Activity

Leeches and the Legitimizing of Folk-Medicine

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 21

There are ~10 quintillion insects alive right now, collectively weighing one billion metric tons.

Each year, a large portion of them enter a dormant state, similar to hibernation, called diapause.

We can control diapause — for agriculture or disease control — using chemicals.

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Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 14

New essay by Khushi Mittal and Xander Balwit.

Read & subscribe:
press.asimov.com/articles/le...

While we’ve derived useful molecules from the leech, live leech therapy has been largely marginalized in the West. It is time we reevaluate why.

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 14

Many people dismiss leech therapy as unscientific; a relic of outdated ways.

But there is evidence that leeches can treat a wide range of conditions. Their saliva is filled with molecules that decrease inflammation, for example.

It's time we recognize the efficacy of leeches.

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 10

We got ~200 more Asimov Press books shipped in, and we're selling them at 50% off.

Books are $10 a copy. Book + DNA capsule is $30. Free shipping on all orders.

If you would like a copy, now is a good time to buy and support our work! Links: press.asimov.com/books

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 9

We recently published a huge poster showing the different vectors used to make gene therapies, such as AAV, adenovirus, lentivirus, and more.

The full article is here:
press.asimov.com/articles/ge...

Gregor Mendel's Vanishing Act

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 1

All this, and more, in our article from the archives: "Gregor Mendel's Vanishing Act":
press.asimov.com/articles/me...

After his death in 1884, thousands of Gregor Mendel’s letters and notes — filled with scientific data and figures — were destroyed. What did the friar discover, and what have we forgotten?

A Visual Guide to Gene Delivery

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Aug 1

Some fun facts about Gregor Mendel:

1. He smoked 20 cigars a day.
2. He bred more than 10,000 plants to make his genetics discoveries.
3. In his obituary, he was mostly remembered as a great beekeeper.
4. Most of his papers were burned after his death.

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Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Jul 28

Read it here. And the article includes a downloadable poster!

press.asimov.com/articles/ge...

There are at least 10,000 known monogenic diseases. When attempting to cure them, how do clinicians decide which gene-therapy delivery method is best?

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Jul 28

A VISUAL GUIDE TO GENE DELIVERY

There are at least 10,000 known monogenic diseases. Many scientists are trying to build gene therapies to cure some of them. Learn about tradeoffs between the various delivery options—from AAV to LNPs to Herpes Virus—in our latest article.

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Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Jul 24

Our Issue 07 launch party in San Francisco was a smashing success. 🏏

Thanks to everyone who came and played Biology Trivia. Winning teams got copies of our DNA books, hats, and posters. It was a really fun time!

See you in the fall, in Boston, for the next one. :)

The First Weight Loss Drugs

Asimov Press @asimovpress.bsky.social · Jul 20

Read it here: press.asimov.com/articles/fi...

Long before Ozempic and Mounjaro, there were mitochondrial uncouplers. While deadly if not used with care, it might be time for them to make a comeback.