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24 posts found
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Feb 05, 2026
acx
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Links For February 2026

48 min • 7,419 words • 660 comments • 255 likes • podcast (49 min)
A monthly collection of diverse links covering AI developments and regulation, COVID origins debates, healthcare policy, cultural phenomena, scientific research, and internet curiosities, maintaining Scott's characteristic blend of serious analysis and entertaining observations. Longer summary
Scott Alexander's February 2026 links collection covers a wide range of topics including AI developments, politics, science, culture, and internet phenomena. Major themes include updates on AI capabilities and regulation (with discussions of OpenAI, Anthropic, and various political machinations around AI policy), the ongoing COVID lab leak debate and related prediction markets, healthcare and drug development issues, cultural observations from around the world, and various scientific and academic findings. The post maintains Scott's characteristic style of jumping between serious policy discussions, academic research, internet curiosities, and cultural commentary, with particular attention to AI safety concerns, rationalist community topics, and interesting historical or linguistic oddities. Shorter summary
Jan 13, 2026
acx
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Mantic Monday: The Monkey's Paw Curls

42 min • 6,449 words • 247 comments • 211 likes • podcast (36 min)
Scott reviews the state of prediction markets after explosive growth, finding that most volume is degenerate sports gambling rather than useful forecasting, and proposes both technical solutions and two potential futures for the field. Longer summary
Scott Alexander examines the current state of prediction markets after their recent explosion in popularity, noting that while volume has grown from millions to billions per month, most of it comes from sports betting rather than the epistemic improvement he'd hoped for. He explores several problems: markets aren't asking the most important questions society needs answered; resolution criteria disputes ("rulescucking") create controversy; and there are concerns about insider trading and manipulation. He proposes solutions including a novel approach to conditional markets and suggests two paths forward: either creating user-generated, subjectively-resolved real-money markets (the "Siskind Cube"), or accepting that prediction markets' main value may be as training data for AI forecasters that could make the markets themselves obsolete by late 2026. Shorter summary
Jun 23, 2021
acx
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Links For June

23 min • 3,442 words • 649 comments • 55 likes • podcast (31 min)
Scott Alexander presents a monthly collection of 42 diverse links covering topics from science, politics, culture, and technology, highlighting interesting findings and current events. Longer summary
This post is a collection of 42 diverse links and topics, ranging from scientific studies to political news and cultural observations. Scott Alexander curates these links monthly, covering a wide array of subjects including zoology, sociology, economics, psychology, technology, and more. The links often highlight interesting or surprising findings, such as studies on cult demographics, obesity research controversies, and the effects of testosterone on belief in minority positions. Scott also includes humorous content, political commentary, and discussions on current events and social trends. Shorter summary
Jan 31, 2019
ssc
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Book Review: Zero To One

39 min • 5,908 words • 341 comments • podcast (43 min)
Scott Alexander reviews 'Zero To One' by Peter Thiel, discussing its advice on creating monopolies, believing in secrets, and embracing definite optimism for successful startups. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews Peter Thiel's book 'Zero To One', which offers advice for entrepreneurs aiming to create revolutionary startups. The book emphasizes the importance of creating monopolies, believing in secrets, and embracing definite optimism. Thiel argues that successful startups should aim to escape competition by achieving monopoly-like status through proprietary technology, network effects, economies of scale, or branding. He also stresses the value of believing in undiscovered secrets and making long-term plans, contrasting this with the modern skepticism about individual reasoning and planning. The review explores Thiel's concept of definite vs indefinite optimism and the implications for society and progress. Scott reflects on the book's contrarian stance and its emphasis on the importance of being genuinely weird in a world where everyone is trying to be unconventional. Shorter summary
Nov 22, 2017
ssc
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Links 11/17: Sri Linka

19 min • 2,812 words • 598 comments
A collection of links covering topics from drug regulation and genetic testing to tax reform and AI developments, with Scott's commentary on each item. Longer summary
This is a wide-ranging links post covering various news items and studies. Topics include FDA regulations and drug pricing, genetic testing advances, Russian Facebook ads from the 2016 election, studies on education and intelligence, tax reform effects on graduate students, and various scientific developments. The post moves quickly between topics, providing brief commentary and often linking to additional sources. Several items focus on medical and healthcare issues, from insulin prices to studies on pain medication effectiveness. The post maintains Scott's characteristic mix of intellectual curiosity and light humor throughout. Shorter summary
May 18, 2017
ssc
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Postmarketing Surveillance Is Good And Normal

12 min • 1,738 words • 74 comments
Scott Alexander argues that the 33% rate of post-marketing safety events for FDA-approved drugs is not necessarily concerning and explains why post-marketing surveillance is a normal part of drug safety monitoring. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses a study showing that 33% of FDA-approved drugs in the past decade have faced post-marketing safety events. He argues that this doesn't necessarily mean the FDA is too lax, explaining that post-marketing surveillance is a normal and necessary part of drug safety monitoring. He points out that only 1.3% of drugs were actually withdrawn from the market, which he considers a good success rate. Scott explains why it's impossible to catch all potential side effects in pre-approval studies and gives examples of safety communications that range from important to seemingly trivial. He concludes that the 33% figure alone is meaningless without a broader cost-benefit analysis of FDA approval standards. Shorter summary
Sep 28, 2016
ssc
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SSC Endorses Clinton, Johnson, Or Stein

34 min • 5,167 words • 317 comments
Scott Alexander endorses Clinton (or Johnson/Stein in safe states) over Trump, citing concerns about Trump's unpredictability and potential negative impacts on conservatism and social dynamics. Longer summary
Scott Alexander endorses voting for Hillary Clinton in swing states, and Clinton, Johnson, or Stein in safe states. He argues against Donald Trump, not primarily on policy grounds, but because of Trump's unpredictability, potential for high-variance outcomes, and the damage he could do to conservatism and the fight against social justice extremism. Alexander expresses concerns about Trump's lack of concrete plans, his potential to radicalize the next generation towards the far left, and his movement's epistemic vices. He also touches on issues like global warming and immigration, urging readers to consider the long-term consequences of their vote. Shorter summary
Aug 29, 2016
ssc
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Reverse Voxsplaining: Drugs vs. Chairs

11 min • 1,657 words • 737 comments • podcast (12 min)
Scott Alexander argues that the EpiPen price hike is due to over-regulation and cronyism in the pharmaceutical industry, not lack of regulation as suggested by Vox. Longer summary
This post criticizes Vox's article on EpiPen price hikes, arguing that the problem isn't lack of regulation but over-regulation and cronyism. Scott Alexander contrasts the pharmaceutical industry with the unregulated chair industry, pointing out that chair prices don't suddenly spike 400%. He then details how FDA regulations and patent laws prevent competitors from entering the EpiPen market, despite the drug being off-patent and inexpensive to produce. The post highlights several failed attempts by companies to create generic versions of EpiPens, and how lobbying by the manufacturer Mylan has helped maintain their monopoly. Scott uses an extended analogy comparing the situation to a hypothetical government-controlled chair market to illustrate the absurdity of the current system. Shorter summary
Jul 27, 2016
ssc
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Post-Partisanship Is Hyper-Partisanship

18 min • 2,639 words • 845 comments
Scott Alexander discusses how political groups can shift from outgroups to 'fargroups', leading to less hostility and more exoticization, and predicts this pattern may increase political in-fighting while reducing inter-party conflict. Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores the concept of 'fargroups' as opposed to outgroups, and how this distinction affects political discourse. He argues that as groups become less threatening, they transition from outgroups to fargroups, leading to exoticization rather than hostility. The post traces this pattern in the decline of atheism vs. religion debates and the rise of intra-party conflicts in American politics. Scott predicts that as political bubbles increase, opposing parties may become fargroups, while internal party factions become the new outgroups. He also notes a trend of sympathetic portrayals of Trump and Brexit supporters, suggesting they're transitioning to fargroup status for some progressives. Shorter summary
May 12, 2016
ssc
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Solidarity

19 min • 2,838 words • 928 comments
Scott Alexander discusses the British junior doctors' strike, detailing the harsh working conditions and systemic issues that likely led to it, based on his experience in a similar system. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the recent strike by junior doctors in Britain, drawing on his experience in the Irish medical system. He describes the extremely demanding work conditions faced by junior doctors, including 100-hour work weeks and 36-hour shifts, which lead to burnout, depression, and a mass exodus of doctors to other countries. The British system responds by importing foreign doctors rather than addressing systemic issues. While Scott doesn't know the specifics of the current dispute, his experience leads him to sympathize with the junior doctors' position, believing their complaints are likely legitimate. He concludes by expressing a desire for a more principled system to address labor disputes, while acknowledging that in a socialized healthcare system, strikes may be necessary to address grievances. Shorter summary
May 04, 2016
ssc
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Myers’ Race Car Versus The General Fitness Factor

23 min • 3,458 words • 599 comments
Scott Alexander refutes PZ Myers' race car analogy against genetic engineering for intelligence, showing that high IQ positively correlates with many beneficial traits. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques PZ Myers' argument against genetic engineering for intelligence, which uses a race car analogy to suggest optimizing for intelligence might trade off against other important traits. Scott shows that, contrary to this intuition, high IQ correlates positively with many desirable traits like longevity, height, and health. He explores possible explanations for this, including heterozygosity advantages, mutational load, and trade-offs with traits important in evolutionary history but less so now. Scott concludes that while caution is warranted, the race car argument is likely less of an impediment to genetic engineering than it might seem. Shorter summary
Apr 04, 2016
ssc
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The Ideology Is Not The Movement

50 min • 7,647 words • 687 comments • podcast (47 min)
Scott Alexander examines tribalism, arguing that ideologies often serve as 'rallying flags' for tribes rather than defining their core identity. Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores the concept of tribalism, arguing that ideologies and beliefs often serve as 'rallying flags' for tribes rather than being the core of what defines them. He examines various examples including religious sects, disability communities, and online subcultures to illustrate how tribes form, develop, and sometimes dissolve. The post suggests that understanding groups as tribes with historical context rather than purely ideological entities can provide insight into many social phenomena and conflicts. Shorter summary
Mar 26, 2016
ssc
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Links 3/16: Klapaucius And URL

22 min • 3,366 words • 970 comments
A Links post presenting various interesting news and studies from different fields, with brief commentary on each item. Longer summary
This is a Links post that presents a collection of interesting news, studies, and articles from various fields. The post covers topics ranging from scientific research and academic policy to economics and social issues. It includes studies on ADHD diagnosis, income inequality, neighborhood effects, and discussion of various cultural and political events. The tone is casual and informative, with Scott providing brief commentary and connecting different ideas throughout. Shorter summary
Jan 13, 2016
ssc
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Links 1/16: Link A Thief In The Night

17 min • 2,516 words • 551 comments
Scott shares and comments on various interesting links spanning history, science, economics, and current events, with topics ranging from ancient Greek snake warfare to modern AI development. Longer summary
A collection of diverse links covering various topics, from historical anecdotes about ancient Greek warfare with snakes to modern developments in CRISPR technology and urban policy. Scott presents interesting findings about bullying interventions, Vitamin D supplementation, and mental health in different societies. The post includes commentary on various current events, including Venezuela's economic situation, drug policy debates, and AI development at OpenAI. The post maintains Scott's characteristic mix of scholarly interest and humor throughout. Shorter summary
Jun 24, 2015
ssc
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Links 6/15: Monsters, Link

15 min • 2,185 words • 287 comments
A diverse collection of links covering recent studies, news stories, and interesting facts, ranging from scientific research to policy debates to unusual historical events. Longer summary
A link roundup post covering various topics from scientific studies to current events. The post includes discussions about studies on bottled water bans, birth month effects on health, probiotics and social anxiety, Mexican drug cartels, intelligence studies, and climate change. It also covers interesting stories like Pakistan's transgender tax collectors, a 1910s plan to introduce hippo ranching in America, and various policy discussions around gun violence, university regulations, and economic studies. The post maintains a light tone while discussing serious topics, often adding humorous asides or interesting historical facts. Shorter summary
Mar 23, 2015
ssc
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Links 3/15: Linksmanship

10 min • 1,528 words • 766 comments
A collection of interesting links covering topics from science and politics to economics and culture, with commentary on each item. Longer summary
This is a links post collecting various interesting articles and news items. Topics range from online dating filters and education to scientific studies about anorexia and myopia. The post includes items about political news, economic research findings, and quirky historical facts. It maintains a light tone while covering both serious topics like the Ferguson case and humorous ones like Ireland accidentally legalizing drugs for 24 hours. Shorter summary
Jan 17, 2015
ssc
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Links 1/2014: Link, For You Know Not Whence You Came Nor Why

15 min • 2,190 words • 642 comments
A collection of interesting links covering topics like Chinese religion, economics, science, and technology, with commentary on their broader implications. Longer summary
This is a links post collecting various interesting news and studies from around the internet. Topics range from Chinese religion to Venezuelan economics, from police body cameras to psychedelics research. Notable items include studies about police body cameras reducing misconduct, BPA affecting brain development, and psychedelics potentially protecting against mental illness. The post also covers geopolitical developments like Cuba-US relations and Venezuela's economic troubles, as well as scientific advances like AI poker and mammoth cloning. Shorter summary
Dec 28, 2014
ssc
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Links 12/14: Auld Link Syne

14 min • 2,040 words • 618 comments
A collection of interesting links covering topics from werewolf-related customs in Argentina to scientific studies, economic trends, and cultural phenomena. Longer summary
This is a links post featuring a diverse collection of interesting stories and studies. It includes quirky historical facts like Argentina's president being godfather to potential werewolves and Byzantine throne customs, scientific studies about gender bias in maritime disasters and climate change controversies, and current events like Russian economic problems and protests against police brutality. The post also covers technological developments in nuclear rockets and desalination, architectural projects, and various social and economic issues. Scott presents these with his characteristic analytical commentary and occasional humor. Shorter summary
Nov 23, 2014
ssc
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Links 11/14: I Link, Therefore I Am

14 min • 2,067 words • 353 comments
Scott shares a collection of interesting links covering various topics from American chestnut restoration to scientific findings, political events, and cultural observations. Longer summary
This is a Links post where Scott Alexander shares and briefly comments on various interesting news and findings. The post covers diverse topics including the genetic engineering of American chestnut trees, revelations about Dr. Strangelove's accuracy, malaria eradication efforts, scientific studies on topics like exercise and weight loss, and cultural observations. Scott provides his characteristic analytical commentary on each item, often highlighting surprising connections or ironies. The post maintains a mix of scientific, political, and cultural topics, with Scott's commentary ranging from serious analysis to humorous observations. Shorter summary
Nov 12, 2014
ssc
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How To Use 23andMe Irresponsibly

13 min • 1,998 words • 73 comments
Scott Alexander explains how to interpret 23andMe genetic data using SNPedia, listing various SNPs and their alleged effects while emphasizing the unreliability of such interpretations. Longer summary
Scott Alexander humorously explores how to use 23andMe genetic testing data 'irresponsibly' by looking up various SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) and their purported effects. He provides instructions on how to access raw genetic data from 23andMe and interpret it using SNPedia. The post then lists several interesting SNPs associated with traits like violence, empathy, anxiety, divorce risk, and longevity. Scott repeatedly emphasizes that these associations are often unreliable, exaggerated, or misinterpreted, and should be taken as entertainment rather than medical advice. Shorter summary
Oct 16, 2014
ssc
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Five Case Studies On Politicization

38 min • 5,839 words • 824 comments
Scott Alexander examines how issues become politicized along tribal lines, preventing rational discussion and leading to counterproductive behaviors. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses how various issues become politicized and tied to tribal narratives, using examples like the Ebola quarantine debate, the Rotherham scandal, and climate change. He argues that when issues become referendums on tribal identity, it prevents rational discussion and leads to counterproductive behaviors. He suggests that framing issues in ways that respect out-group narratives could help, but notes this rarely happens due to media incentives. Shorter summary
Jul 25, 2014
ssc
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More Links For July 2014

10 min • 1,542 words • 175 comments
Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of interesting news items and links from July 2014, covering topics from philosophy and politics to science and pop culture. Longer summary
This post is a collection of interesting links and news items from July 2014. Scott covers a wide range of topics, including a plagiarism scandal involving Slavoj Zizek, a man claiming unclaimed African land for his daughter, artificial language generation, diet research, a Tumblr convention, online drug trade, religious preferences in America, and various other cultural, scientific, and political items. The post has a light, sometimes humorous tone, and often includes Scott's personal commentary on the news items. Shorter summary
Nov 01, 2013
ssc
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Links for November

8 min • 1,134 words • 30 comments • podcast (30 min)
Scott shares and comments on various interesting links, ranging from charity history and religious debates to scientific discoveries and technological developments. Longer summary
This is a link roundup post covering various interesting articles and findings. The topics range from efficient charity and religious debates to scientific discoveries about pain medication and sleep, and from unusual technological developments to curious psychological phenomena. The post includes commentary on each link, often with Scott's characteristic humor and skepticism, particularly about certain scientific claims. The links cover subjects as diverse as tiny mobile houses, digital-biological converters, and unusual seizure triggers. Shorter summary
Jul 29, 2013
ssc
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Links for July

10 min • 1,427 words • 52 comments • podcast (24 min)
A collection of interesting links from around the web with Scott's commentary, covering topics from international politics to scientific research to cultural curiosities. Longer summary
This is a link roundup post sharing various interesting articles and news items from around the web. The links cover a wide range of topics including international politics, scientific research, cultural observations, and historical events. Scott provides brief commentary and context for each link, often with a mix of humor and critical analysis. The post includes content about children's possessions worldwide, Egyptian politics, happiness rankings, creative interpretations of Star Wars, medical research transparency, and various other eclectic topics. Shorter summary
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