Niko McCarty
@nikomccarty.bsky.social
Science. Biology. Progress.
Founding Editor of Asimov Press. Subscribe at press.asimov.com!
Founding Editor of Asimov Press. Subscribe at press.asimov.com!
Hyperspectral cameras, mounted to drones, can be used to see microbes from > 90 meters away. It's now possible to monitor microbes across entire ecosystems.
My new Asimov Press essay explains how it works & regulations on releasing genetically-engineered microbes into the wild.
My new Asimov Press essay explains how it works & regulations on releasing genetically-engineered microbes into the wild.
October 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Hyperspectral cameras, mounted to drones, can be used to see microbes from > 90 meters away. It's now possible to monitor microbes across entire ecosystems.
My new Asimov Press essay explains how it works & regulations on releasing genetically-engineered microbes into the wild.
My new Asimov Press essay explains how it works & regulations on releasing genetically-engineered microbes into the wild.
Today we are launching Issue 08 of @AsimovPress.
There will be at least 2x new articles each week for the next two months (and...a podcast?)
Coming up:
- A deep history of electron microscopy.
- How to see microbes from the sky.
- Making computers smell.
... and much more.
There will be at least 2x new articles each week for the next two months (and...a podcast?)
Coming up:
- A deep history of electron microscopy.
- How to see microbes from the sky.
- Making computers smell.
... and much more.
September 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Today we are launching Issue 08 of @AsimovPress.
There will be at least 2x new articles each week for the next two months (and...a podcast?)
Coming up:
- A deep history of electron microscopy.
- How to see microbes from the sky.
- Making computers smell.
... and much more.
There will be at least 2x new articles each week for the next two months (and...a podcast?)
Coming up:
- A deep history of electron microscopy.
- How to see microbes from the sky.
- Making computers smell.
... and much more.
Asimov Press party // September 30 // Boston // Asimov HQ
There will be trivia. There will be winners (and losers). And there will be prizes.
Come celebrate, answer questions, and show everyone how much esoteric biology stuff you know. Hope to see you there!
There will be trivia. There will be winners (and losers). And there will be prizes.
Come celebrate, answer questions, and show everyone how much esoteric biology stuff you know. Hope to see you there!
September 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Asimov Press party // September 30 // Boston // Asimov HQ
There will be trivia. There will be winners (and losers). And there will be prizes.
Come celebrate, answer questions, and show everyone how much esoteric biology stuff you know. Hope to see you there!
There will be trivia. There will be winners (and losers). And there will be prizes.
Come celebrate, answer questions, and show everyone how much esoteric biology stuff you know. Hope to see you there!
Out today: A useful review on AI-designed protein binders.
It covers the history of this work + has lots of good case studies, including how these tools are being used to make snake anti-venoms.
The tables are particularly valuable.
It covers the history of this work + has lots of good case studies, including how these tools are being used to make snake anti-venoms.
The tables are particularly valuable.
September 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Out today: A useful review on AI-designed protein binders.
It covers the history of this work + has lots of good case studies, including how these tools are being used to make snake anti-venoms.
The tables are particularly valuable.
It covers the history of this work + has lots of good case studies, including how these tools are being used to make snake anti-venoms.
The tables are particularly valuable.
E. coli copies 600 bases of DNA/second.
It makes one error every few billion bases, or one mutation per 1,000 generations.
I made an animation to show just how crazy this is. Every green square is a copied nucleotide. The red squares (very rare) are mutations. 🔻
It makes one error every few billion bases, or one mutation per 1,000 generations.
I made an animation to show just how crazy this is. Every green square is a copied nucleotide. The red squares (very rare) are mutations. 🔻
August 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
E. coli copies 600 bases of DNA/second.
It makes one error every few billion bases, or one mutation per 1,000 generations.
I made an animation to show just how crazy this is. Every green square is a copied nucleotide. The red squares (very rare) are mutations. 🔻
It makes one error every few billion bases, or one mutation per 1,000 generations.
I made an animation to show just how crazy this is. Every green square is a copied nucleotide. The red squares (very rare) are mutations. 🔻
Behold the cursed noodles.
Researchers mixed together chicken muscle cells and microalgal cells, and then extruded them with a 3D printer, to make a "plant and animal cell-based hybrid noodle."
The reason for doing this, they say, is to tune textures, nutrition levels, etc.
Researchers mixed together chicken muscle cells and microalgal cells, and then extruded them with a 3D printer, to make a "plant and animal cell-based hybrid noodle."
The reason for doing this, they say, is to tune textures, nutrition levels, etc.
July 29, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Behold the cursed noodles.
Researchers mixed together chicken muscle cells and microalgal cells, and then extruded them with a 3D printer, to make a "plant and animal cell-based hybrid noodle."
The reason for doing this, they say, is to tune textures, nutrition levels, etc.
Researchers mixed together chicken muscle cells and microalgal cells, and then extruded them with a 3D printer, to make a "plant and animal cell-based hybrid noodle."
The reason for doing this, they say, is to tune textures, nutrition levels, etc.
Read the essay in Asimov Press:
www.asimov.press/p/cable-bac...
www.asimov.press/p/cable-bac...
July 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Read the essay in Asimov Press:
www.asimov.press/p/cable-bac...
www.asimov.press/p/cable-bac...
Cable bacteria link together (thousands of cells, end-to-end) to conduct electrons across distances up to 7 centimeters. They are living batteries.
They were discovered in Aarhus, Denmark in 2012. I visited Aarhus last year to see them in person, and wrote about it today.
They were discovered in Aarhus, Denmark in 2012. I visited Aarhus last year to see them in person, and wrote about it today.
July 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Cable bacteria link together (thousands of cells, end-to-end) to conduct electrons across distances up to 7 centimeters. They are living batteries.
They were discovered in Aarhus, Denmark in 2012. I visited Aarhus last year to see them in person, and wrote about it today.
They were discovered in Aarhus, Denmark in 2012. I visited Aarhus last year to see them in person, and wrote about it today.
The flagellum motor is biological design of the highest order.
The motor hits rotational speeds >1,000 rpm. The basal disk (that purple ring) alone is built from 51 tethered subunits. The tail whips at high torques thanks to interlocking cogs, an axial driveshaft, and propeller.
The motor hits rotational speeds >1,000 rpm. The basal disk (that purple ring) alone is built from 51 tethered subunits. The tail whips at high torques thanks to interlocking cogs, an axial driveshaft, and propeller.
July 6, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The flagellum motor is biological design of the highest order.
The motor hits rotational speeds >1,000 rpm. The basal disk (that purple ring) alone is built from 51 tethered subunits. The tail whips at high torques thanks to interlocking cogs, an axial driveshaft, and propeller.
The motor hits rotational speeds >1,000 rpm. The basal disk (that purple ring) alone is built from 51 tethered subunits. The tail whips at high torques thanks to interlocking cogs, an axial driveshaft, and propeller.
Using E. coli to convert post-consumer PET plastic into acetaminophen.
The researchers discovered a biocompatible Lossen rearrangement; it uses phosphate as a catalyst.
They start the Lossen rearrangement in phosphate buffer and add E. coli; PET to acetaminophen at 92% yield.
The researchers discovered a biocompatible Lossen rearrangement; it uses phosphate as a catalyst.
They start the Lossen rearrangement in phosphate buffer and add E. coli; PET to acetaminophen at 92% yield.
June 23, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Using E. coli to convert post-consumer PET plastic into acetaminophen.
The researchers discovered a biocompatible Lossen rearrangement; it uses phosphate as a catalyst.
They start the Lossen rearrangement in phosphate buffer and add E. coli; PET to acetaminophen at 92% yield.
The researchers discovered a biocompatible Lossen rearrangement; it uses phosphate as a catalyst.
They start the Lossen rearrangement in phosphate buffer and add E. coli; PET to acetaminophen at 92% yield.
It's sad, in a way, that a magazine spending $4M a year to hire additional, talented writers is seen as "throwing a lot of money."
It's good that The Atlantic is spending more money on writers. It is the anti-status quo. May their poaching drive up salaries elsewhere, too.
It's good that The Atlantic is spending more money on writers. It is the anti-status quo. May their poaching drive up salaries elsewhere, too.
June 20, 2025 at 9:12 PM
It's sad, in a way, that a magazine spending $4M a year to hire additional, talented writers is seen as "throwing a lot of money."
It's good that The Atlantic is spending more money on writers. It is the anti-status quo. May their poaching drive up salaries elsewhere, too.
It's good that The Atlantic is spending more money on writers. It is the anti-status quo. May their poaching drive up salaries elsewhere, too.
Biotech papers & news this week:
1. Chemical reactions can be affected by stir bars.
2. A tool to drag membrane transporters into peroxisomes.
3. Full computational design of Kemp eliminase enzymes.
4. UK government to approve crops made using precision breeding.
& more...
1. Chemical reactions can be affected by stir bars.
2. A tool to drag membrane transporters into peroxisomes.
3. Full computational design of Kemp eliminase enzymes.
4. UK government to approve crops made using precision breeding.
& more...
June 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Biotech papers & news this week:
1. Chemical reactions can be affected by stir bars.
2. A tool to drag membrane transporters into peroxisomes.
3. Full computational design of Kemp eliminase enzymes.
4. UK government to approve crops made using precision breeding.
& more...
1. Chemical reactions can be affected by stir bars.
2. A tool to drag membrane transporters into peroxisomes.
3. Full computational design of Kemp eliminase enzymes.
4. UK government to approve crops made using precision breeding.
& more...
"...we establish an all-cell-free viral cycle where T7 phages infect synthetic cells, equipped with lipopolysaccharides on the outer leaflet of the lipid membrane while encapsulating a cell-free gene expression system."
Looks useful; an in vitro system to study viral infections.
Looks useful; an in vitro system to study viral infections.
June 19, 2025 at 11:36 PM
"...we establish an all-cell-free viral cycle where T7 phages infect synthetic cells, equipped with lipopolysaccharides on the outer leaflet of the lipid membrane while encapsulating a cell-free gene expression system."
Looks useful; an in vitro system to study viral infections.
Looks useful; an in vitro system to study viral infections.
Much like fingerprints, humans can be identified using their nasal airflow patterns.
By measuring air as it flows in and out of the nose over a 24-hour period, researchers identified individuals with up to 96.8% accuracy (in a cohort of 97 people).
By measuring air as it flows in and out of the nose over a 24-hour period, researchers identified individuals with up to 96.8% accuracy (in a cohort of 97 people).
June 15, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Much like fingerprints, humans can be identified using their nasal airflow patterns.
By measuring air as it flows in and out of the nose over a 24-hour period, researchers identified individuals with up to 96.8% accuracy (in a cohort of 97 people).
By measuring air as it flows in and out of the nose over a 24-hour period, researchers identified individuals with up to 96.8% accuracy (in a cohort of 97 people).
Today is my first day as Writer-in-Residence at @arcinstitute
I'll be writing about the Virtual Cell, genome editing + much more.
Grateful for the invitation to spend my summer here and learn more about AI+Bio!
I'll be writing about the Virtual Cell, genome editing + much more.
Grateful for the invitation to spend my summer here and learn more about AI+Bio!
June 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Today is my first day as Writer-in-Residence at @arcinstitute
I'll be writing about the Virtual Cell, genome editing + much more.
Grateful for the invitation to spend my summer here and learn more about AI+Bio!
I'll be writing about the Virtual Cell, genome editing + much more.
Grateful for the invitation to spend my summer here and learn more about AI+Bio!
I recently visited Rocinha, which is Rio de Janeiro's most populous favela.
It is quite unsafe and sad, in many ways. I wouldn't recommend going there yourself.
But here are some photos from that visit, which I plan to write about soon.
It is quite unsafe and sad, in many ways. I wouldn't recommend going there yourself.
But here are some photos from that visit, which I plan to write about soon.
June 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I recently visited Rocinha, which is Rio de Janeiro's most populous favela.
It is quite unsafe and sad, in many ways. I wouldn't recommend going there yourself.
But here are some photos from that visit, which I plan to write about soon.
It is quite unsafe and sad, in many ways. I wouldn't recommend going there yourself.
But here are some photos from that visit, which I plan to write about soon.
This study estimates that "a brain performing active tasks consumes just 5% more energy compared to a resting brain."
Cognition is extremely energy efficient.
Glucose provides most of this energy. The estimate was made by looking at fMRI, PET, and other data sources together.
Cognition is extremely energy efficient.
Glucose provides most of this energy. The estimate was made by looking at fMRI, PET, and other data sources together.
June 6, 2025 at 4:49 PM
This study estimates that "a brain performing active tasks consumes just 5% more energy compared to a resting brain."
Cognition is extremely energy efficient.
Glucose provides most of this energy. The estimate was made by looking at fMRI, PET, and other data sources together.
Cognition is extremely energy efficient.
Glucose provides most of this energy. The estimate was made by looking at fMRI, PET, and other data sources together.
We made a huge poster that illustrates all of the major genome editing tools in one place.
You can download a copy for free from the @AsimovPress website.
press.asimov.com/articles/cr...
You can download a copy for free from the @AsimovPress website.
press.asimov.com/articles/cr...
June 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
We made a huge poster that illustrates all of the major genome editing tools in one place.
You can download a copy for free from the @AsimovPress website.
press.asimov.com/articles/cr...
You can download a copy for free from the @AsimovPress website.
press.asimov.com/articles/cr...
I'll be living near Stanford this summer, from ~June 10 to August 10.
I'm hoping to meet lots of people and learn a lot more about AI+Bio efforts.
Let's hang out!
I'm hoping to meet lots of people and learn a lot more about AI+Bio efforts.
Let's hang out!
June 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I'll be living near Stanford this summer, from ~June 10 to August 10.
I'm hoping to meet lots of people and learn a lot more about AI+Bio efforts.
Let's hang out!
I'm hoping to meet lots of people and learn a lot more about AI+Bio efforts.
Let's hang out!
Journey of a pill.
This article traces the making of a common drug, clonazepam, from the mining of raw materials in India to manufacturing in New Jersey and packaging in Tennessee.
"The total distance travelled in this scenario is approximately 63,162 km..."
This article traces the making of a common drug, clonazepam, from the mining of raw materials in India to manufacturing in New Jersey and packaging in Tennessee.
"The total distance travelled in this scenario is approximately 63,162 km..."
June 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Journey of a pill.
This article traces the making of a common drug, clonazepam, from the mining of raw materials in India to manufacturing in New Jersey and packaging in Tennessee.
"The total distance travelled in this scenario is approximately 63,162 km..."
This article traces the making of a common drug, clonazepam, from the mining of raw materials in India to manufacturing in New Jersey and packaging in Tennessee.
"The total distance travelled in this scenario is approximately 63,162 km..."
I'm doing weekly Links posts again. Maybe you'll hate it. But there's too much good stuff on the Internet not to share it!
June 1, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I'm doing weekly Links posts again. Maybe you'll hate it. But there's too much good stuff on the Internet not to share it!
I'm offering free copies of the @AsimovPress book to iGEM students, or college students enrolled in biotechnology courses, in the U.S.
If you'd like copies for your team/class, DM me. I'll send out 1 book per student & 1 DNA capsule per shipment. While (limited) supplies last.
If you'd like copies for your team/class, DM me. I'll send out 1 book per student & 1 DNA capsule per shipment. While (limited) supplies last.
May 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I'm offering free copies of the @AsimovPress book to iGEM students, or college students enrolled in biotechnology courses, in the U.S.
If you'd like copies for your team/class, DM me. I'll send out 1 book per student & 1 DNA capsule per shipment. While (limited) supplies last.
If you'd like copies for your team/class, DM me. I'll send out 1 book per student & 1 DNA capsule per shipment. While (limited) supplies last.
A new device "measures...milk volume during breastfeeding" and then sends the data "to a smartphone" for real-time tracking so that mothers can track how much milk is consumed by the infant.
Seems really useful.
Seems really useful.
May 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
A new device "measures...milk volume during breastfeeding" and then sends the data "to a smartphone" for real-time tracking so that mothers can track how much milk is consumed by the infant.
Seems really useful.
Seems really useful.
Another insane example of insect evolution. Female digger wasps:
1. Remember locations of <10 nests at once.
2. Feed their offspring in order, by age, to reduce chances of starvation.
3. Will delay feeding a child if that child was given a larger amount of food previously.
1. Remember locations of <10 nests at once.
2. Feed their offspring in order, by age, to reduce chances of starvation.
3. Will delay feeding a child if that child was given a larger amount of food previously.
May 13, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Another insane example of insect evolution. Female digger wasps:
1. Remember locations of <10 nests at once.
2. Feed their offspring in order, by age, to reduce chances of starvation.
3. Will delay feeding a child if that child was given a larger amount of food previously.
1. Remember locations of <10 nests at once.
2. Feed their offspring in order, by age, to reduce chances of starvation.
3. Will delay feeding a child if that child was given a larger amount of food previously.
The first experimentally-solved, 3D structures of the human sweetness receptor.
Resolved in complex with sucralose and aspartame; but the structures were identical. Upon binding, these molecules cause the protein to *slightly* bend & trigger a signaling cascade in the cell.
Resolved in complex with sucralose and aspartame; but the structures were identical. Upon binding, these molecules cause the protein to *slightly* bend & trigger a signaling cascade in the cell.
May 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The first experimentally-solved, 3D structures of the human sweetness receptor.
Resolved in complex with sucralose and aspartame; but the structures were identical. Upon binding, these molecules cause the protein to *slightly* bend & trigger a signaling cascade in the cell.
Resolved in complex with sucralose and aspartame; but the structures were identical. Upon binding, these molecules cause the protein to *slightly* bend & trigger a signaling cascade in the cell.