Res Obscura

Res Obscura, by UC Santa Cruz history professor Benjamin Breen, explores the interplay between history, technology, medicine, art, and drugs through the lens of hidden or obscure narratives. The newsletter also delves into the application of AI in historical research and education, examining how it can simulate historical contexts, enhance teaching methods, and assist in analyzing historical texts.

History of Technology Medicine and Science in History Art History Drug History Empire and Colonial Studies AI in Historical Research Educational Innovation Historical Narratives Digital Humanities

The hottest Substack posts of Res Obscura

And their main takeaways

I talked to Terry Gross!

2106 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
  1. Author's newsletter took a break due to Covid and book promotion.
  2. Author spoke with Terry Gross for NPR's 'Fresh Air' about his new book.
  3. Book received positive reviews in 'New York Times' and 'Los Angeles Times'.

"He spoke of computers with some awe"

221 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI History Podcasts
  1. John von Neumann was pondering the idea of the simulation hypothesis back in the years just after World War II, earlier than commonly thought.
  2. Margaret Mead discussed the 'prehistory of AI' in a 1968 interview, touching on topics such as self-improving AI systems and the fear of computers.
  3. The conversation between John von Neumann and Margaret Mead offers insights into early considerations of global AI policy and cultural attitudes towards technology.

The (history of) spice must flow

71 HN points • 08 Feb 24
  1. Spices and drugs have played a significant role in human history, blurring between culinary and medicinal use.
  2. Exotic substances like spices and drugs have been traded for thousands of years, shaping long-distance trade routes and cultural interactions.
  3. The pursuit of exotic substances like spices and drugs was driven not only by practical reasons but also by a desire for social status and unique experiences.

Role-playing with AI will be a powerful tool for writers and educators

154 HN points • 12 Dec 23
  1. Role-playing with AI can be a powerful tool for writers and educators to explore and engage with alternative versions of the world.
  2. Using generative AI for historical simulations in education can greatly enhance students' understanding of different time periods.
  3. Generative AI tools can help boost historical empathy and imagination in writing and teaching by creatively engaging with the source material.

Margaret Mead, Technocracy, and the origins of AI's ideological divide

149 HN points • 21 Nov 23
  1. Margaret Mead was a significant figure in promoting techno-optimism and the concept of existential risk.
  2. She sought a middle ground between extreme techno-optimism and existential risk concerns, but may not have been successful.
  3. Mead believed in a global approach to shaping the future culture, rather than being led by a single culture or group.
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Why drug history?

53 HN points • 01 Feb 24
  1. Drug history is a backdoor to cultural history with constantly changing boundaries around the concept.
  2. Drugs offer insights into how historical figures envisioned their own minds, influencing intellectual history.
  3. The history of drugs is messy, contradictory, and contentious, shedding light on cultural and social changes.

Res Obscura is now on Substack

443 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
  1. Res Obscura is now on Substack
  2. The newsletter will launch in July 2023
  3. Expect weekly posts about hidden history

Simulating History with ChatGPT

175 HN points • 12 Sep 23
  1. Using large language models like ChatGPT for simulating historical settings in university assignments can be a novel and exciting educational tool.
  2. LLMs can help elevate the importance of humanities in higher education by emphasizing textual analysis and historical research skills.
  3. Implementing history simulations with LLMs can engage students, spark creativity, and help develop valuable skills for future job markets.

Before psychedelic therapy for wartime trauma, there was narcosynthesis

86 HN points • 10 Oct 23
  1. Narcosynthesis, a wartime trauma therapy using sedatives, inspired modern psychedelic therapy for PTSD.
  2. Lessons from narcosynthesis include the risks of uncontrolled abreaction, dulling emotions with drugs, and the importance of consent and integration.
  3. AI tools like Claude can help analyze historical materials to draw insights for modern psychiatric treatments.

When technology follows art

49 HN points • 29 Nov 23
  1. Artists have historically played a significant role in inspiring technological innovation.
  2. The use of optical technologies by Renaissance artists influenced advancements in the science of optics.
  3. Artistic expressions in history have influenced the development of technology, showcasing a meaningful relationship between art and innovation.

The open-stack library: a futuristic technology from the 18th century

57 HN points • 08 Nov 23
  1. The open-stack library was a unique historical invention from the late 18th century that displayed books for public browsing.
  2. The shift to digital information risks losing the tangible experience and organization of knowledge provided by open stacks.
  3. Open stack libraries allowed for public browsing, individualized interests, and a social framework not replicated by digital systems.

Simulating History with Multimodal AI: an Update

53 HN points • 18 Oct 23
  1. Generative AI offers a new, engaging way to teach history by creating interactive historical fiction.
  2. Large language models can now interpret and create images, making historical simulations more immersive and detailed.
  3. AI simulations can encourage empathy with other people and help us reflect on our own lives and histories.

Kikkuli!

63 HN points • 26 Sep 23
  1. Some people from the distant past become memes because they offer a mix of familiarity and mystery.
  2. Online fandom around ancient figures is a way to engage with history through relatable and intriguing stories.
  3. The popularity of historical figures like Enheduanna and Ea-nāṣir is due to their stories being both relatable and mysterious.

How to use generative AI for historical research

37 HN points • 14 Nov 23
  1. Generative AI can enhance historical research by analyzing data from texts and images, helping researchers identify historical content and themes.
  2. It's important to view AI as a tool for augmenting research abilities, not replacing them completely.
  3. AI tools like GPT-4 can assist in tasks like text transcription, translation, image analysis, and data visualization, offering new possibilities for historical research.

Wilfrid Voynich: Bookseller, Revolutionary, Amateur Cryptologist... Suspected Spy?

74 HN points • 18 Jul 23
  1. Wilfrid Voynich, a rare book dealer, was mistakenly investigated as a German spy during World War I.
  2. Voynich's mysterious life story includes revolutionary activities, escapes from Siberia, and associations with spies and cryptologists.
  3. His obsession with the Voynich manuscript led to serious attention from codebreakers, sparking interest in its potential value.

How well can AI imitate a 17th century doctor?

3 HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Generative AI AI Models
  1. Long-distance traveling in the premodern world was incredibly dangerous and interesting, taking years from one continent to another.
  2. Generative AI tools like customized GPTs are being used in historical research and as educational tools to simulate historical scenarios.
  3. Comparison between different AI models, like GPT-4, Gemini, and MonadGPT, showed various levels of success in simulating a 17th century doctor's mental models, advice, and speech patterns.

The most interesting things I read in 2023

2 HN points • 05 Dec 23
  1. The post shares a list of interesting novels, biographies, history books, articles, and newsletters from 2023.
  2. The recommended readings cover a wide range of topics, such as finance, mental illness, World War II, and biography of historical figures.
  3. The author includes Wikipedia pages on unique topics like citogenesis incidents and Merseburg charms among the interesting readings.

Res Obscura Newsletter: December, 2019

0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 19
  1. The Lithuanian artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis created intriguing paintings and music that evoke a mysterious feeling.
  2. Francis Spufford's novel 'Red Plenty' offers engaging insights into Soviet economics and life in the Kruschev era.
  3. Rebecca Lemov's book 'The World as Laboratory' explores the history of human engineering with a focus on behavioralist experiments.

Simulating an LSD trip in 1963 with GPT-4

0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
  1. The simulation explores a fictional trip on LSD in 1963 Los Angeles using AI technology.
  2. The simulation introduces playable character options like a young researcher, a journalist, and a budding artist.
  3. The experience delves into the immersive journey of the chosen character, Leo Mitchell, as he navigates a controlled study with intriguing twists.