Substack
My main blog is Rough Diamonds, where I write about underrated opportunities in science and technology.
Stuff like ultrasound for human neuroenhancement, wearable hormone sensors, making industrial cell culture way more efficient, compressed air energy storage, and more.
The thing I’m trying to do with this newsletter is something less like science journalism and more like “techno-economic analysis” or “scientific due diligence.”
How well does the tech work?
How close is it to being cost-effective?
How does it compare to other technologies that aim to do the same thing?
Plus a bit of “explainer”-style information:
How does the tech work?
Who is working on it?
How much traction does it have so far?
I try to focus on the positive but also use critical thinking — how real is the putatively awesome tech? How far is it from doing the thing we dream of? What do we still need to do before achieving the dream?
And what cool early-stage projects are brewing that you can contribute to or fund?
If this sounds interesting, please subscribe!
Published Writing
“The Transistor Cliff”, Asterisk, June 2023
“When Cancer Was Conquerable”, Reason, June 2018