TLDR
The asteroid Ryugu contains every letter of the genetic alphabet
This is awesome, but does not mean life fell to Earth from space
Elise Cutts
Elise Cutts is a science journalist and ex-scientist. She writes a newsletter called Reviewer, too.
TLDR
Stingers and spikes across nature have the same shape. Here's why.
Not everything in biology evolved for a purpose.
Artificial Intelligence
Networks are math squares disguised as drawings
This is why neural networks are linear algebra under the hood
TLDR
A tiny scrap of the genetic molecule RNA can *almost* copy itself.
Here's what it means for the origin of life
Complexity
Complexity is less than the sum of its parts, not more
Patterns are a shorthand for reality
TLDR
Elon Musk wasn't stupid to buy Twitter
New research shows that the X algorithm pushes people to the political right
Q&A
The origin of life wasn't fat-free
James Sáenz studies how fatty molecules might have helped life get started
Tell me how you really feel
And by that I mean: please fill out my survey.
Science Communication
Pop science doesn't reach a "general audience"
Pop sci readers are wealthy, educated, and left-leaning
roundups
Paper Roundup 3.2.2026
A human-curated research roundup published each Tuesday
Astrobiology
Maybe don't call exoplanets "Earth-like" until the 2040s
A plea and a note on science communication
roundups
Paper Roundup 27.1.2026
A human-curated research roundup published each Tuesday