Astera Institute
@AsteraInstitute
We empower visionary, high-leverage science and technology projects with the capacity to create transformative progress for human civilization.
At @AsteraInstitute, we've adopted a strong stance against journal publishing: We don't do it, or fund projects that contribute to it. In today's Human Readable, our cofounder @seemaychou talks about why the journal system is so broken, and why half-measures can't fix it.
The journal system isn’t just inefficient — it’s distorting science itself. At Astera, we’ve opted out. No more journals. No shaping work around “publishable units.” Just good science, published faster and more openly. Here’s why we believe publishing needs a complete rethink:…
The journal system isn’t just inefficient — it’s distorting science itself. At Astera, we’ve opted out. No more journals. No shaping work around “publishable units.” Just good science, published faster and more openly. Here’s why we believe publishing needs a complete rethink:…
We’re excited to support Energy IoT Open Source’s work to democratize access to microgrids — a decentralized, open-source platform can change lives and deliver real-world impact
⚡️Big news! @AsteraInstitute awarded a $100K grant to @EnergyIOT to expand open-source microgrids—starting with a new energy lab at Port Labs in Oakland. Decentralized. Resilient. Open for all. 🌍 👉 Learn more: eiot.energy #ClimateTech #Microgrids #OpenSourceEnergy
New Q&A from @asterainstitute on our approach to applied astrobiology: x.com/AsteraInstitut…
“Mars is galactic gardening for beginners” Astera Resident @EdwinKite is building a modern research agenda for terraforming Mars. Read the full Q&A here: asterainstitute.substack.com/p/a-night-sky-…
What are we building? Follow along with our open science updates and read about our first target microbe for Mars.
By this time next year, either: 🏆 we'll have engineered PETase enzymes actually work industrially & recycle plastic ... or we'll know that AI-for-proteins is still a bit underbaked 😜 Excited to see what happens!!!! 😬 Spread the word ⬇️
1/4 🚀 Announcing the 2025 Protein Engineering Tournament. This year’s challenge: design PETase enzymes, which degrade the type of plastic in bottles. Can AI-guided protein design help solve the climate crisis? Let’s find out! ⬇️ #AIforBiology #ClimateTech #ProteinEngineering…
one of the joys of being CEO at @AsteraInstitute is getting to partner with folks like @elidourado in this piece, he shares a thoughtful lens for deciding where to invest to drive real progress. highly recommend --
What does it take to fund a more abundant future? Our new Head of Strategic Investments, @elidourado, lays out a clear framework rooted in technoeconomics, sociopolitics, and entrepreneurship Read his perspective: asterainstitute.substack.com/p/how-we-get-t…
There is no "abundance store" you can stroll down to to buy abundance. So how are we actually going to get to an abundant future? I think this is wildly undertheorized, and I have thoughts.
What does it take to fund a more abundant future? Our new Head of Strategic Investments, @elidourado, lays out a clear framework rooted in technoeconomics, sociopolitics, and entrepreneurship Read his perspective: asterainstitute.substack.com/p/how-we-get-t…
What does it take to fund a more abundant future? Our new Head of Strategic Investments, @elidourado, lays out a clear framework rooted in technoeconomics, sociopolitics, and entrepreneurship Read his perspective: asterainstitute.substack.com/p/how-we-get-t…
Over coffee and bagels, @catehall asked me: where’s the fundraising guide that guides scientists through how the game actually works? Not the sanitized Twitter version. Didn't have one, so I wrote it with Rachel Katz.
Most advice on fundraising comes from VCs, and is written for software companies. We’ve published one that’s a little different. By @andreacoravos & Rachel Katz, who have successfully fundraised for and exited their own companies, here’s a guide for founders in healthcare and…
Most advice on fundraising comes from VCs, and is written for software companies. We’ve published one that’s a little different. By @andreacoravos & Rachel Katz, who have successfully fundraised for and exited their own companies, here’s a guide for founders in healthcare and…
We did something radical that shouldn’t feel radical: we stopped funding science built for journals so that we can reimagine scientific publishing. First at @ArcadiaScience. Now at @AsteraInstitute. More below.
I often get asked: why research sunlight reflection methods like stratospheric aerosol injection? Because we need to know if they can safely help us avoid catastrophic climate impacts. I spoke with @AsteraInstitute about applying clinical trial-like rigor to this urgent…
What if climate intervention strategies followed the rigor of clinical trials? We sat down with Astera Resident @DakotaGruener, founder of Reflective, to talk about why we need urgent, transparent research on sunlight reflection, and what’s at stake. 🌐 Read the full Q&A:…
