Asimov Press
@asimovpress.bsky.social
Asimov Press is a publisher focused on the science and technologies that promote flourishing.
Pitch: editors@asimov.com // Part of Asimov. Supported by Astera Institute and Stripe.
Pitch: editors@asimov.com // Part of Asimov. Supported by Astera Institute and Stripe.
Out today: A broad-coverage antivenom, made by mixing eight different antibodies from a llama and alpaca, protects mice against snakebites from 17 of 18 deadly species in Africa.
The antivenom outperformed a WHO-approved remedy that is already on the market.
Read: www.asimov.press/p/broad-ant...
The antivenom outperformed a WHO-approved remedy that is already on the market.
Read: www.asimov.press/p/broad-ant...
October 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Out today: A broad-coverage antivenom, made by mixing eight different antibodies from a llama and alpaca, protects mice against snakebites from 17 of 18 deadly species in Africa.
The antivenom outperformed a WHO-approved remedy that is already on the market.
Read: www.asimov.press/p/broad-ant...
The antivenom outperformed a WHO-approved remedy that is already on the market.
Read: www.asimov.press/p/broad-ant...
Electron microscopes are one of the great feats of human engineering.
These towering metal tubes, filled with detectors and electromagnetic coils, are used to image the smallest of molecules.
Our latest essay by Smrithi Sunil is a deep dive into the making of these machines.
These towering metal tubes, filled with detectors and electromagnetic coils, are used to image the smallest of molecules.
Our latest essay by Smrithi Sunil is a deep dive into the making of these machines.
October 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Electron microscopes are one of the great feats of human engineering.
These towering metal tubes, filled with detectors and electromagnetic coils, are used to image the smallest of molecules.
Our latest essay by Smrithi Sunil is a deep dive into the making of these machines.
These towering metal tubes, filled with detectors and electromagnetic coils, are used to image the smallest of molecules.
Our latest essay by Smrithi Sunil is a deep dive into the making of these machines.
Scientists often engineer microbes, like E. coli, to make drugs and other molecules.
But what if, instead, we could isolate ALL the components of a cell into little vials and sell them? How much would, say, 1 liter of cells be worth?
The answer, it turns out, is about $600,000.
But what if, instead, we could isolate ALL the components of a cell into little vials and sell them? How much would, say, 1 liter of cells be worth?
The answer, it turns out, is about $600,000.
October 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Scientists often engineer microbes, like E. coli, to make drugs and other molecules.
But what if, instead, we could isolate ALL the components of a cell into little vials and sell them? How much would, say, 1 liter of cells be worth?
The answer, it turns out, is about $600,000.
But what if, instead, we could isolate ALL the components of a cell into little vials and sell them? How much would, say, 1 liter of cells be worth?
The answer, it turns out, is about $600,000.
We previously published an interactive about the repressilator, a type of gene circuit.
You can drag sliders to learn how promoters, decay rates, and other parameters affect its behavior.
We'd like to publish more digital interactives like this. So what should we make next?
You can drag sliders to learn how promoters, decay rates, and other parameters affect its behavior.
We'd like to publish more digital interactives like this. So what should we make next?
October 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
We previously published an interactive about the repressilator, a type of gene circuit.
You can drag sliders to learn how promoters, decay rates, and other parameters affect its behavior.
We'd like to publish more digital interactives like this. So what should we make next?
You can drag sliders to learn how promoters, decay rates, and other parameters affect its behavior.
We'd like to publish more digital interactives like this. So what should we make next?
We're planning to scale up next year, with lots more articles and multimedia formats (and books).
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
Asimov Press 2025 Survey
Your feedback will significantly shape our coverage!
docs.google.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
We're planning to scale up next year, with lots more articles and multimedia formats (and books).
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
We're planning to scale up next year, with lots more articles and multimedia formats (and books).
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
Asimov Press 2025 Survey
Your feedback will significantly shape our coverage!
docs.google.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
We're planning to scale up next year, with lots more articles and multimedia formats (and books).
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
We'd love to hear from you before then. What articles do you like, what do you not like, and how can we do better?
1-minute survey: forms.gle/FSePEaW1rxD...
Writer Donna Vatnick spent dozens of hours observing a liver transplant.
She watched as surgeons extracted an organ from a dead donor, placed it on ice, flew it to another hospital, and transplanted it into the recipient.
The full story, told in intricate detail, is out now:
She watched as surgeons extracted an organ from a dead donor, placed it on ice, flew it to another hospital, and transplanted it into the recipient.
The full story, told in intricate detail, is out now:
October 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Writer Donna Vatnick spent dozens of hours observing a liver transplant.
She watched as surgeons extracted an organ from a dead donor, placed it on ice, flew it to another hospital, and transplanted it into the recipient.
The full story, told in intricate detail, is out now:
She watched as surgeons extracted an organ from a dead donor, placed it on ice, flew it to another hospital, and transplanted it into the recipient.
The full story, told in intricate detail, is out now:
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!
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!
October 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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!
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!
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.
But just how likely is this to happen? Our latest essay, a Deep Dive into non-animal methods by Celia Ford, answers your questions.
October 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
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.
But just how likely is this to happen? Our latest essay, a Deep Dive into non-animal methods by Celia Ford, answers your questions.
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.
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.
September 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
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.
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.
Our GMO restaurant pop-up, FARMA, was just featured in The Economist.
www.economist.com/science-and...
www.economist.com/science-and...
September 15, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Our GMO restaurant pop-up, FARMA, was just featured in The Economist.
www.economist.com/science-and...
www.economist.com/science-and...
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.
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.
September 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
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.
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.
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.
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.
September 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
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.
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.
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.
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.
August 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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.
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.
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.
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.
August 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
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.
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.
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
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
August 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
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
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
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...
The full article is here:
press.asimov.com/articles/ge...
August 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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...
The full article is here:
press.asimov.com/articles/ge...
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.
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.
August 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM
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.
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.
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.
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.
July 28, 2025 at 7:31 PM
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.
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.
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. :)
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. :)
July 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
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. :)
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. :)
In 1931, Stanford doctors tested whether DNP—an explosive chemical used during WWI—could help people lose weight.
Daily DNP administration led to a 40% increase in metabolic rate. Patients lost 0.9 kg per week on average; comparable to Ozempic.
From our latest article.🔻
Daily DNP administration led to a 40% increase in metabolic rate. Patients lost 0.9 kg per week on average; comparable to Ozempic.
From our latest article.🔻
July 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
In 1931, Stanford doctors tested whether DNP—an explosive chemical used during WWI—could help people lose weight.
Daily DNP administration led to a 40% increase in metabolic rate. Patients lost 0.9 kg per week on average; comparable to Ozempic.
From our latest article.🔻
Daily DNP administration led to a 40% increase in metabolic rate. Patients lost 0.9 kg per week on average; comparable to Ozempic.
From our latest article.🔻
French munitions workers during WW1 mysteriously began losing weight. One of their explosive chemicals, called DNP, caused it.
This became one of the first effective weight-loss drugs. But a newly-established FDA banned it for safety reasons in the late 1930s.
By Alex Telford.
This became one of the first effective weight-loss drugs. But a newly-established FDA banned it for safety reasons in the late 1930s.
By Alex Telford.
July 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
French munitions workers during WW1 mysteriously began losing weight. One of their explosive chemicals, called DNP, caused it.
This became one of the first effective weight-loss drugs. But a newly-established FDA banned it for safety reasons in the late 1930s.
By Alex Telford.
This became one of the first effective weight-loss drugs. But a newly-established FDA banned it for safety reasons in the late 1930s.
By Alex Telford.
Uncertain Origins of Aspirin 💊
It's hard to know where this incredible pain reliever actually came from.
Willow bark tea? Hippocrates? Or John Reverend Stone? The trail is littered with bad record keeping and obscure translations.
Our latest explains what we know for sure.🔻
It's hard to know where this incredible pain reliever actually came from.
Willow bark tea? Hippocrates? Or John Reverend Stone? The trail is littered with bad record keeping and obscure translations.
Our latest explains what we know for sure.🔻
July 14, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Uncertain Origins of Aspirin 💊
It's hard to know where this incredible pain reliever actually came from.
Willow bark tea? Hippocrates? Or John Reverend Stone? The trail is littered with bad record keeping and obscure translations.
Our latest explains what we know for sure.🔻
It's hard to know where this incredible pain reliever actually came from.
Willow bark tea? Hippocrates? Or John Reverend Stone? The trail is littered with bad record keeping and obscure translations.
Our latest explains what we know for sure.🔻
Issue 07 is coming on Monday. It features essays on aspirin's uncertain origins, how to scale proteomics, the first weight-loss drugs, and more.
Also, we dropped new merch to celebrate and we're hosting a BIOLOGY TRIVIA NIGHT on July 23 in San Francisco. RSVP at the link below.
Also, we dropped new merch to celebrate and we're hosting a BIOLOGY TRIVIA NIGHT on July 23 in San Francisco. RSVP at the link below.
July 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Issue 07 is coming on Monday. It features essays on aspirin's uncertain origins, how to scale proteomics, the first weight-loss drugs, and more.
Also, we dropped new merch to celebrate and we're hosting a BIOLOGY TRIVIA NIGHT on July 23 in San Francisco. RSVP at the link below.
Also, we dropped new merch to celebrate and we're hosting a BIOLOGY TRIVIA NIGHT on July 23 in San Francisco. RSVP at the link below.
Last October, we published a sci-fi story about a future restaurant in San Francisco that serves diners cultured meats, sonic-aged drinks, and exotic GMO fruits.
In April, we brought it to life.
We opened a pop-up restaurant and served diners a futuristic meal from 2055. 🔻
In April, we brought it to life.
We opened a pop-up restaurant and served diners a futuristic meal from 2055. 🔻
June 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Last October, we published a sci-fi story about a future restaurant in San Francisco that serves diners cultured meats, sonic-aged drinks, and exotic GMO fruits.
In April, we brought it to life.
We opened a pop-up restaurant and served diners a futuristic meal from 2055. 🔻
In April, we brought it to life.
We opened a pop-up restaurant and served diners a futuristic meal from 2055. 🔻