Everything Is Amazing

Everything Is Amazing is a newsletter exploring curiosity, creativity, and the joy of discovery in various contexts. It encourages asking better questions to enhance learning and experience. Topics range from personal development tips, social media strategies, and the importance of in-person interactions to the reliability of Wikipedia, space exploration, and the impact of natural phenomena.

Personal Development Social Media Communication Knowledge Sharing Space Exploration Geography Environmental Science Cultural Studies Memory Science and Technology Art and Literature Urban Planning Geology Perception Science Fiction Creativity

The hottest Substack posts of Everything Is Amazing

And their main takeaways

How To Turn Yourself Into A Lion

1843 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🔬 Science Mental health
  1. Staring at illusions can trick your brain into seeing things that aren't really there, which can be similar to a psychedelic experience without the drugs.
  2. Intense staring at mirrors or a stranger's face can lead to hallucinatory experiences, revealing how our minds fill in gaps when visual information is lacking.
  3. Regularly staring at screens can contribute to eye problems, but taking breaks to look at far distances can help relax eye muscles and prevent vision issues.

This Is Your Body On No Sleep

2157 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Sleep Effects Tips Medical Research
  1. Not getting enough sleep can lead to severe health consequences and cognitive impairments.
  2. Sleep deprivation can lead to negative impacts on decision-making, memory, and overall well-being.
  3. It is important to prioritize and maintain a healthy sleep routine to avoid the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation.

Why Go Imperial In A World Gone Metric?

1320 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🔬 Science History Standards
  1. Imperial and Metric systems both have their advantages and stories behind them, with Metric offering precision in calculations and Imperial reflecting historical ways of measuring based on human experience.
  2. The history of measurement systems shows the challenges in implementing consistent standards, like how France struggled in the 18th century with different measures and Napoleon faced resistance in enforcing the Metric system in the early 19th century.
  3. While Metric is efficient for scientific and engineering accuracy, Imperial measurements still offer unique perspectives and connections to everyday experiences that make both systems valuable.

10 Mostly Useless Tips For Going Viral On Social Media

2484 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Social media
  1. Luck plays a significant role in going viral on social media, often more than any deliberate strategy.
  2. Enthusiasm is infectious and can be a key factor in attracting and retaining audience attention.
  3. Focus on creating content that is fun for you to make, as longevity in meaningful work often stems from enjoying the process.

Why It Might Not Sink In Until You've Written It Down

1477 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🔬 Science Memory Note Taking Biology Inspiration
  1. Writing something down helps you remember it better, so it's not just about typing but also about physically writing.
  2. Observing nature can lead to interesting discoveries, like how birds charm worms using vibrations to catch them.
  3. Unexpected collaborations and interactions can lead to exciting outcomes, like gaining exposure to a wider audience through social media.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Stars, Our Destination?

1425 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Physics Fiction Technology Astrophysics
  1. Space exploration faces challenges like the vastness of space and technological limitations.
  2. JPL has a track record of extending mission goals for spacecraft, showcasing innovation and efficiency.
  3. Theoretical concepts like FTL drives and warp drives may be intriguing, but the feasibility remains uncertain due to scientific principles and practical challenges.

Why It's Good To Say It's Not Bad

1242 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Science Humor Education
  1. National Compliment Day celebrates saying pleasantly approving things to others.
  2. Praising performance can lead to higher rates of offline improvement and memory consolidation.
  3. Collaboration in science, like in the newsletter, can lead to more interesting and accurate results.

Five Weird Ways To Enjoy Witching Week

1242 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Learning
  1. Embrace the liminal period of Witching Week between Christmas and New Year to explore novel and whimsical activities.
  2. Challenge yourself by trying new things like walking home instead of using public transport, or taking daily rituals outside for a change of perspective.
  3. Declutter your space and teach something you love to someone else to broaden your horizons and deepen understanding.

Look. Look. *Look*. [Dreaded Lurgi Edition]

863 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Memory Curiosity Learning Attention Emotions
  1. The London black cab drivers must pass a tough memory test called The Knowledge to navigate the city effectively.
  2. Engage in epistemic curiosity to dive deeper into understanding by exploring various facets of a topic.
  3. Try the 'What?' game to practice paying attention and noticing details, creating a network of information for better learning and memory.

Is Wikipedia Reliable? (2023 Redux)

1425 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Knowledge Humor Internet History Social Issues
  1. Wikipedia is admired despite occasional inaccuracies because it provides constructive and inspiring information on the internet.
  2. Some Wikipedia articles have turned out to be elaborate hoaxes that fooled editors for years.
  3. While Wikipedia may have flaws and prank edits, its communal and updatable nature highlights a more dynamic and diverse approach to knowledge sharing compared to traditional encyclopedias.

"Now...Where Was I?"

836 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🔬 Science Memory Research
  1. Memories and the science behind them are fascinating and much stranger than we think.
  2. Some sea creatures, like the leaf sheep, perform photosynthesis just like plants.
  3. Learning about memory can involve tricks to store and retrieve information in our brains.

How I Learned To Read Books Again

1150 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
📚 Literature Reading Books Writing Genres Publishing
  1. Reading can be a way to find solace in difficult times and rediscover empathy and kindness.
  2. Struggling with reading can happen due to life circumstances, but it is possible to regain the ability over time.
  3. Consider investing time and effort into re-learning activities that are important to you, even if it feels self-indulgent at first.

A Call To Enchantment

1176 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Connection
  1. The post discusses the recommendation of a book by Katherine May called 'Enchantment' that focuses on wonder and mystery in everyday life.
  2. The author mentions a live conversation with Katherine May, encouraging readers to join by becoming paid subscribers of 'The Clearing'.
  3. The post emphasizes finding beauty and fascination in the mundane, protecting against cynicism and hopelessness.

The Fun Is Why

2039 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🎭️ Culture Hobbies Curiosity Adventure Leisure Exploration
  1. Find joy in embarking on quests that may initially seem 'pointless.'
  2. Embrace hobbies and activities for the fun of it, without worrying about productivity or practicality.
  3. Allow curiosity and exploration to lead you to new experiences and emotional benefits, even if they may not have a clear purpose.

Why The Sky Smells Great

1255 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🔬 Science Nature Health Biology Psychology Weather
  1. The smell of fresh air can impact our mood and health, like boosting immune cells when exposed to aromatic forest scents.
  2. Weather changes can create distinct smells, like the pre-storm smell of ozone or the earthy petrichor after rain.
  3. Our sense of smell may have deeper cultural and biological connections that we are still exploring.

“Don’t Start A Newsletter” & Other Advice For Newsletter Writers

1869 implied HN points • 28 Nov 22
  1. Consider writing about something you care deeply about, not just what's in the news.
  2. Create content that resonates with your audience by focusing on their interests and experiences.
  3. Build your own email list to have control over your audience and content distribution.

The Curious Idea That Ancient People Weren't Dimwits

1150 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
  1. Ancient people weren't stupid, they were just as smart as we are but lived with different tech and ideas.
  2. Archaeology shows that there is still much of ancient history undiscovered, creating a vibrant field for exploration.
  3. Rather than judging historical differences, assume people were equally interesting and respect those differences.

Making Them Laugh, Making Them Think

849 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🔬 Science Research Publication Awards Accessibility Communication
  1. Substack has launched a new feature called Notes, resembling Twitter but with a more positive tone.
  2. Legal language is often unnecessarily complex and difficult to read due to factors like jargon and convoluted sentence structures.
  3. The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate quirky and humorous scientific research, shedding light on interesting discoveries with a touch of lightheartedness.

"20,000": COMPLETE IDIOT UPDATE

339 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
🚌 Education Teaching
  1. The post is about an update labeled '20,000: Complete Idiot Update'.
  2. The author mentions about a paywall issue preventing free subscribers from commenting.
  3. The call-to-action at the end prompts readers to subscribe or sign in as a paid member.

How To See Impossible Colours

706 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.

What If We Could Change The Colour Of *Everything*?

470 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🔬 Science Color Theory Materials science Biotechnology Fashion
  1. The way chameleons change color can inspire future color-changing technology for surfaces and fabrics.
  2. Current advancements in color-changing materials like Fabrican and PhotoChromeleon show promise for future fashion and architectural applications.
  3. The deep meanings and social implications of colors in fashion and pigmentation mean that changing color technology may have complex impacts on society.