Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#1

Post by crimsoneer » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 5:11 PM UTC

Hey HN! I went to an ATProto meetup last week, and as a burnt-out semi-academic who hates academic publishing, I thought there might be a cool opportunity to build on Octopus (https://www.octopus.ac/), so I got a bit excited over the weekend and built Octosphere.

Hopefully some of you find it interesting! Blog post here: https://andreasthinks.me/posts/octosphere/octosphere.html

Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing
octosphere.social

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#2

Post by verdverm » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 5:23 PM UTC

Are you aware of the current efforts by researchers on Bluesky to build a new researchers platform on ATProto? (Forget the project name at the moment)

If not, same handle over there, I can get you in touch with them. Or hit up Boris, he knows everyone and is happy to make connections

There's also a full day at the upcoming conference on ATProto & scientific related things. I think they com on discourse more (?)

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#3

Post by crimsoneer » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 5:33 PM UTC

verdverm wrote: post #2

Are you aware of the current efforts by researchers on Bluesky to build a new researchers platform on ATProto? (Forget the project name at the moment) If not, same handle over there, I can get you in touch with them. Or hit up Boris, he knows everyone and is happy to make connections There's also a full day at the upcoming conference on ATProto & scientific related things. I think they com on discourse more (?)

Ooh no, please do, but would love to hear more!

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#4

Post by Johnny_Bonk » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 5:36 PM UTC

verdverm wrote: post #2

Are you aware of the current efforts by researchers on Bluesky to build a new researchers platform on ATProto? (Forget the project name at the moment) If not, same handle over there, I can get you in touch with them. Or hit up Boris, he knows everyone and is happy to make connections There's also a full day at the upcoming conference on ATProto & scientific related things. I think they com on discourse more (?)

id also be curious to follow this if you have any links or resources

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#5

Post by verdverm » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 5:42 PM UTC

Johnny_Bonk wrote: post #4

verdverm wrote: post #2

Are you aware of the current efforts by researchers on Bluesky to build a new researchers platform on ATProto? (Forget the project name at the moment) If not, same handle over there, I can get you in touch with them. Or hit up Boris, he knows everyone and is happy to make connections There's also a full day at the upcoming conference on ATProto & scientific related things. I think they com on discourse more (?)

id also be curious to follow this if you have any links or resources

This is probably a good jumping off point

https://discourse.atprotocol.community/t/about-the-atproto-s...

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#6

Post by verdverm » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 5:42 PM UTC

crimsoneer wrote: post #3

verdverm wrote: post #2

Are you aware of the current efforts by researchers on Bluesky to build a new researchers platform on ATProto? (Forget the project name at the moment) If not, same handle over there, I can get you in touch with them. Or hit up Boris, he knows everyone and is happy to make connections There's also a full day at the upcoming conference on ATProto & scientific related things. I think they com on discourse more (?)

Ooh no, please do, but would love to hear more!

Go chime in and share your work here: https://discourse.atprotocol.community/t/about-the-atproto-s...

That'll get us connected off HN

I think Cosmik is the group I was thinking of that has also put out some initial poc like yourself

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#7

Post by gnarlouse » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 6:27 PM UTC

Integrate them peer review process and you’ve got a disrupter

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#8

Post by crimsoneer » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 6:33 PM UTC

gnarlouse wrote: post #7

Integrate them peer review process and you’ve got a disrupter

Right? This is kind of the dream.

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#9

Post by mlpoknbji » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 7:13 PM UTC

gnarlouse wrote: post #7

Integrate them peer review process and you’ve got a disrupter

Peer review should be disrupted, but doing peer review via social media is not the way to go.

Re: Show HN: Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing

#10

Post by naasking » Tue, Feb 03, 2026, 7:14 PM UTC

gnarlouse wrote: post #7

Integrate them peer review process and you’ve got a disrupter

Calling it peer review suggests gatekeeping. I suggest no gatekeepind just let any academic post a review, and maybe upvote/downvote and let crowdsourcing handle the rest.