How to explore Scott Alexander's work and his 1500+ blog posts? This unaffiliated fan website lets you sort and search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

See also Top Posts and All Tags.

Minutes:
Blog:
Year:
4622 tags
Show all filters
3 posts found
Sep 12, 2024
acx

Links For September 2024

35 min • 4,864 words • 1,216 comments • 211 likes • podcast (29 min)
A compilation of 50 diverse news items and links from September 2024, covering topics from politics and economics to science and technology. Longer summary
This post is a compilation of 50 diverse links and news items from September 2024. It covers a wide range of topics including politics, science, technology, economics, and social issues. Some notable items include discussions on kidney donation compensation, personality genetics, fertility rates in Israel, drug decriminalization in Oregon, AI regulation in California, and various political and economic analyses. The post also includes commentary on recent studies, books, and social phenomena. Shorter summary
Dec 22, 2023
acx

In The Long Run, We're All Dad

29 min • 3,981 words • 461 comments • 1,059 likes • podcast (24 min)
Scott Alexander recounts his journey to fatherhood, blending personal experiences with broader reflections on progress, rationality, and the future his newborn twins will face. Longer summary
Scott Alexander shares his experience becoming a father to twins, intertwining personal anecdotes with philosophical reflections on parenthood, human progress, and the future. He starts with a humorous account of his fertility clinic visit, then describes the challenges of pregnancy and choosing names. The post explores the concept of children as 'surprisal-minimization engines' adapting to the world, and reflects on the advancements in child mortality and healthcare. Scott concludes by expressing both concern and hope for his children's future in a rapidly changing world, viewing them as 'ambassadors to the singularity'. Shorter summary
Feb 17, 2023
acx

Declining Sperm Count: Much More Than You Wanted To Know

34 min • 4,719 words • 262 comments • 149 likes • podcast (27 min)
Scott Alexander reviews the evidence for declining sperm counts, discussing major studies, criticisms, and potential causes, while remaining uncertain about the true extent and reasons for any decline. Longer summary
Scott Alexander examines the evidence for declining sperm counts worldwide, discussing the major studies, potential causes, and criticisms of the hypothesis. He explores the methodology of sperm count studies, regional variations, possible explanations like plastics and pesticides, and animal data. While acknowledging the noisy data and potential confounders, he concludes that there's suggestive evidence for a decline but remains uncertain about its magnitude and causes. Shorter summary