Unpopular Science 231203

Misc links and ideas for unpopular scientists

Sometimes unpopular science is shunned by professionals, but sometimes normal people will dismiss it as too far-out or nerdy.

Here’s our weekly list of annotated links that might make you unpopular.

Personal Biology Links

The Homebrew Biology club is “experimental, digital community that unites builders in biology”. They have their own Discord server and are running a contest for people who want to build interesting projects in personal biology (homebrew CGMs, automated enzyme systems, etc).

Substack writer Benjamin Anderson is building “a Little Ship for Weird Biology”: it’s a lab in St. Louis that he hopes to outfit with cheap and used lab equipment.

See way more ideas and links via Adam Mostroianni

Bits in Bio: a community building software for science. Join their Slack. 

We wrote about these and other resources in PS Week 230518:

The Odin - website to easily order great tools and reagents for trying biohacking projects at home

"A Guide to DIYbio" - (Updated 2021) a good primer and background on DIYbio, with many links to globally relevant resources for staying on top of what's possible in DIYbio today. Written and maintained by prominent biohacker, Elliot Roth.

If you’re in the Seattle area, see:

Sound Bio  (web site) (500+ members): Lab space offering shared access to bio equipment (PCR, flow hood, centrifuges, etc.) (also on Facebook and Slack)

Seattle Sequencing Meetup: (600 members):  typical events include product discussions by Illumina and others.  Often includes free food!

Facts about Race

When everyone agrees about the “right” answer to a question and you can be shunned or worse for expressing a different opinion, regardless of facts, you should raise your skeptical personal science eyebrows.

Here are some facts about race and gender that, despite being undeniably true, will make you unpopular if you say them in polite company: