The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

The Red Frontier: Mars Rovers' Legacy, Opportunities, and Expert Predictions from the Pioneers of Martian Ventures

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🔬 Science Space Exploration Robotics Astrobiology Planetary Science Technology development
  1. Mars rovers are our main way to explore the planet since humans can't go there yet. These robots gather important information that helps us understand Mars better.
  2. There have been several successful Mars missions, but only a few rovers are still active today. Each rover has contributed to discovering water signs and preparing for future human visits.
  3. The future of Mars exploration involves collaboration between robots and humans. Robots will help pave the way for future missions, while humans will bring creativity and problem-solving skills to the table.

The Challenge to Human Creativity: Can AI Surpass Humans in Divergent Thinking?

UX Psychology • 218 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🔬 Science Artificial Intelligence Creativity Research Technology Human-Machine Interaction
  1. Artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging the notion that creativity is solely a human trait, with recent AI systems showcasing high-quality artistic and literary works.
  2. Comparisons between human and AI creativity, particularly in divergent thinking, demonstrate that while AI excels in some aspects, highly creative humans can still make surprising connections between concepts.
  3. Creative professionals like designers, artists, and writers may find that while AI can outperform average human creative thinking, uniquely human qualities such as intuition, emotional expressiveness, and cultural embeddedness continue to set humans apart in pushing creative boundaries.

Do People Prefer Curved Lines?

UX Psychology • 218 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🔬 Science Psychology Design Perception Cognition User Experience
  1. Research indicates that people generally prefer curved lines over straight or angular ones due to associations with grace and gentleness.
  2. Preference for curves is not just psychological, but has roots in our perception of safety and nurture, related to our evolutionary past.
  3. In design, understanding people's preference for curved lines can help create more visually appealing and effective products, but individual factors like personality and culture also play a role.
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The Great Khan was no fluke

Policy Tensor • 216 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🔬 Science Ancestry Evolution Social Dynamics
  1. Hominid catastrophism is real - population history since 1492 is typical of the Holocene pattern.
  2. The Bantu expansion is well-supported and happened between two to three thousand years ago in Africa.
  3. Male reproductive variance increased in the Holocene resulting in more powerful men controlling reproduction and shaping societies.

AI Dropped the Mic at the Nobel Party

TheSequence • 105 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
🔬 Science AI Machine Learning Computer Science Chemistry
  1. AI scientists won two Nobel Prizes, one in physics and one in chemistry, marking a big moment for the field.
  2. Some scientists are upset about machine learning winning in physics, saying it's not really physics but computer science.
  3. Many see this as a sign of how science and tech are blending together, showing that knowledge connects different fields in exciting ways.

O-Day - Wormhole

Remote View • 216 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🔬 Science Physics Archaeology Chemistry Astronomy Materials
  1. The presentation shared experimental evidence about the operation of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
  2. Macro photography gave a first look at the sample and detailed study of the disruption zone.
  3. Speculation was made about the use of iron as a possible fuel, along with other metals, in a related process.

Is AI a Silver Bullet for our Climate Problems?

This Week in MCJ (My Climate Journey) • 216 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🔬 Science Climate AI Data Education Energy
  1. AI solutions in climate problems can be biased towards easily accessible data, encouraging broader solution development is crucial.
  2. AI must quantify its confidence in recommendations for climate problem-solving due to the high cost of mistakes.
  3. Encouraging new datasets and AI methods with confidence measurement can lead to more successful projects in addressing climate challenges.

Database of IQ Estimations (DIE)

sebjenseb • 216 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
🔬 Science Academics
  1. The Database of IQ Estimations provides estimates for both groups and individuals, utilizing mathematical and arbitrary assessments.
  2. The methodology includes variables like wealth, education years, and test scores to estimate intelligence.
  3. Estimations cover categories such as Public Intellectuals, Academics, Politicians, Celebrities, Criminals, Gamers, and Fictional Characters.

Personality around the world

Vectors of Mind • 216 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🔬 Science Psychometrics Language Models Personality Traits Research Methodology
  1. Personality models show consistent traits across languages, especially the Big Two: social self-regulation and dynamism.
  2. Understanding personality across languages requires bilingual cohorts or careful translations, as words may not have direct equivalents.
  3. Research suggests that analyzing language models in multiple languages could lead to a universal model of personality, potentially superior to the Big Five.

O-Day - Explaining Frank Polifka's Windhexe

Remote View • 216 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🔬 Science Technology Physics Engineering Chemistry Biology
  1. A technology called Windhexe can turn various materials into powder, even turning gravel to dust and reducing waste into powder.
  2. The Windhexe device functions by creating a tornado-like vortex in a chamber, causing materials to be smashed and pulverized into tiny particles.
  3. Windhexe technology has been used by different companies for processing food wastes, manufacturing debris, and even for drying materials quickly.

1.3 Wait... That's All There Is To It?

Fields & Energy • 179 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🔬 Science Physics Electromagnetism Quantum Mechanics Astrophysics Chemistry
  1. To understand how fields guide energy, you need to think deeply about concepts like light and electromagnetic waves. This involves understanding how energy balances between electric and magnetic forms.
  2. There's a new way to look at electromagnetism that contradicts a lot of what we've assumed for over a century. This new view can help explain some confusing aspects of quantum mechanics.
  3. Even though electromagnetism seems fully understood, there’s still room for fresh ideas that could change our understanding. Just like a miner finding new gems in a familiar mine, new insights might be waiting to be discovered.

1.6 The Plan & Purpose of this Book

Fields & Energy • 159 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🔬 Science Physics Energy Electromagnetism
  1. The book discusses two big ideas in physics: particles versus waves and two different ways of understanding nature. This involves looking at how scientists have debated these ideas over time.
  2. It introduces a new way of thinking about electromagnetism, saying that fields and energy are separate but related. Fields behave like waves, while energy can act like particles.
  3. Finally, the book explores how this fresh perspective can change our view of quantum mechanics, suggesting that light and energy might interact in ways we don't typically understand.

Dorian Abbot: What I would change at NSF

Critical Mass • 16 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🔬 Science Research Policy Technology Education Funding
  1. The National Science Foundation (NSF) should focus more on funding high-quality scientific research. This means evaluating projects based on merit rather than identity politics.
  2. Some specific areas for change include revising the NSF's vision and core values to align them with their original purpose.
  3. There is a call to eliminate offices and initiatives that prioritize diversity and inclusion over scientific merit, like the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering.

How To See Impossible Colours

Everything Is Amazing • 733 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🔬 Science Optics Perception Color Theory Vision Neuroscience
  1. By focusing your eyes in a certain way, you can see impossible colors like red-green or blue-yellow.
  2. Seeing colors like Stygian Blue or Hyperbolic Orange challenges our understanding, as they seem darker or brighter than physically possible.
  3. Experimenting with how you view colors can lead to unique perceptual experiences, expanding the boundaries of human vision.

3 Super Powers That Actually Exist in Real Life

Pryor Questions • 336 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🔬 Science
  1. Some people have real-life superpowers like holding their breath underwater for 13 minutes
  2. Tibetan monks can raise their body temperature through meditation techniques
  3. Rarámuri people engage in persistence running to hunt by outlasting deer in long races

How to Imbue the Basic Models of Biology With a Positive Vision of the Future

Maximum Progress • 196 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🔬 Science Biology Ecology Economics Evolution
  1. Basic biological models suggest a narrative of exponential growth followed by collapse.
  2. Biology offers a positive vision of the future through sustainable population growth without new resources, like Rubisco enzyme evolution.
  3. Evolutionary innovations, such as the human brain, enable sustainable growth and prosperity, creating a bridge between ecological and economic perspectives.

Love, Attention, Patience: The Secrets of Charles Darwin's Scientific Success

Meaning || Matter • 59 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🔬 Science Evolution Naturalism Geology Biology Research
  1. Darwin's success was not just about genius; it was about his love for science, his attention to detail, and his patience in observing the world around him. He worked hard to collect data and make sense of it over many years.
  2. His groundbreaking theory of evolution came from his commitment to understanding nature and his experiences during his voyage on the Beagle. He took every opportunity to explore and study different species and their environments.
  3. Even when faced with challenges and doubts, Darwin continued to gather and analyze evidence, showing that persistence and curiosity are key to making important discoveries.

Nonhuman Intelligence

Cremieux Recueil • 199 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🔬 Science Cognition Intelligence Comparative Analysis Machine Learning Psychometrics
  1. It's challenging to compare intelligence between humans and nonhuman species like apes due to the lack of suitable cognitive tests.
  2. Machine intelligence testing is complex, and comparing it to human intelligence is not straightforward.
  3. Comparing intelligence across different groups may be hindered by factors like age and methodological barriers.

Are Stars Conscious?

Secretum Secretorum • 707 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🔬 Science Astrobiology Metaphysics Cosmology Physics Evolution
  1. Some scientists challenge the traditional definition of life, suggesting that stars exhibit life-like behaviors such as metabolism and reproduction.
  2. There are radical theories proposing that stars possess consciousness and engage in purposeful actions, influencing life on Earth.
  3. The concept of cosmological natural selection suggests that black holes may play a role in giving rise to new universes, embodying evolutionary principles at a cosmic scale.

Why Do the Brightest Minds of Our Generation Invest in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life?

Space Ambition • 179 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🔬 Science Astrobiology Space Exploration Extraterrestrial Life Planetary Science
  1. Many famous scientists and billionaires are interested in finding extraterrestrial life because it could change how we see our place in the universe. Projects like SETI are dedicated to this search, using advanced technology to listen for signals from space.
  2. There are lots of places in our solar system that scientists believe could support life, such as Mars, Venus, and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Each of these locations has unique features that make them interesting for searching for signs of life.
  3. Different methods are used to try to make contact with possible alien civilizations, like sending messages into space or looking for signals. The challenges include knowing what to look for and how to interpret any responses we might get.

What will we discover by 2050?

Europe in Space • 98 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astrophysics Technology Research
  1. ESA's Voyage 2050 missions will focus on exploring habitability potential, understanding exoplanets, and probing the early universe.
  2. The process of selecting missions involves public submissions, evaluation meetings, and expert committees.
  3. New missions like ARRAKIHS, CALICO, and THESEUS are pushing boundaries in deep imaging and studying high-energy events.

Venus Exploration: The Rationale for Investment and Missions, and the Objectives of the Search

Space Ambition • 159 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Planetary Science Astrobiology Space Exploration Atmospheric science Environmental Science
  1. Studying Venus helps us understand climate change on Earth. Venus and Earth started out similarly, so learning what happened to Venus can give us clues about our own planet's future.
  2. Exploring Venus could lead to new technologies that help us deal with extreme conditions, both in space and here on Earth. These technologies could improve things like batteries and electronics.
  3. New missions to Venus are coming soon, which will gather fresh data and improve our knowledge about the planet. These missions are key to understanding whether Venus could have supported life in the past.

LNT is prudent.

Gordian Knot News • 205 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🔬 Science Radiation Regulation Risk Assessment Public Health Nuclear power
  1. Pursuing safety in a cost-effective way is crucial to prevent harm and save lives.
  2. The Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model, while used for regulatory purposes, can come with enormous costs to humanity due to its over-conservatism.
  3. Focusing solely on minimizing radiation exposure without considering other costs may lead to unnecessary harm and consequences, such as deadly evacuations and ruined lives.

Functional protein mining with conformal guarantees

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🔬 Science Bioinformatics Molecular Biology Machine Learning Genomics Proteomics
  1. A new method is developed for predicting protein functions using something called conformal prediction. This makes the predictions more reliable and provides a clear way to understand risks when selecting proteins.
  2. The approach helps in annotating genes and predicting enzyme functions more accurately without needing new training models. This is great for speeding up research in life sciences.
  3. It also offers a smart way to reduce the number of proteins needing full analysis, making the process quicker and cheaper while still keeping good accuracy.

Transannular C–H functionalization of cycloalkane carboxylic acids

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Research Innovation
  1. New methods to make cyclic compounds called carbocycles are being developed. These methods are more efficient than traditional ones.
  2. Two new types of ligands help improve the ability to manipulate these compounds, making the process more controlled. This is especially important for challenging structures.
  3. The research shows that creating complex molecules can be done in fewer steps than before, which saves time and resources in drug development.

Behind the scenes with '24 hours in an invisible epidemic'

Big Charts • 199 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🔬 Science Research Data Analysis Social Interaction Loneliness Personal narratives
  1. The story discusses the correlation between day-to-day activities and happiness, highlighting how social interaction plays a significant role in people's well-being and happiness levels.
  2. Data visualization can sometimes present challenges in clearly conveying findings, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the visualization aligns with the story being told.
  3. Visualizing individual diaries can make the concept of loneliness feel universal, prompting important conversations about struggles with loneliness in everyday life.

Four ways of thinking

Logging the World • 199 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🔬 Science Mathematics Complexity Statistics Chaos Evolution
  1. The book 'Four Ways of Thinking' by David Sumpter discusses four philosophies that map onto the four types of cellular automata identified by Stephen Wolfram, with historical anecdotes and life lessons.
  2. The book explores statistical, interactive, chaotic, and complex ways of thinking, connecting topics like cellular automata, chaos theory, and modern statistics with practical applications.
  3. David Sumpter's book introduces the complexity of modern mathematical research, showcasing the emergence of complicated behavior from simple rules and the fascinating concept of quantifying complexity in patterns.