The hottest Data Analysis Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

5 Lessons from Stanford's COVID Conference

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 129 implied HN points • 06 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response Public Health Education & Policy Mental health Data Analysis
  1. Closing elementary schools during the pandemic may have been a bad idea because kids were not significant spreaders of COVID-19. Some experts, like Anders Tegnell from Sweden, believed this from the start.
  2. Many people now agree that long school closures were harmful, but some didn't speak up about it at the time. It shows the importance of questioning popular opinions instead of just following the crowd.
  3. Countries that had less income inequality tended to handle the pandemic better than those with more inequality. Access to basic healthcare might have played a bigger role than strict lockdowns or border closures.

Machine learning never cheats but it may play flawed games

Mindful Modeler • 259 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Data Analysis Statistics Data generation
  1. Machine learning models may use shortcuts or exploit quirks in data, but it's important to consider them as playing the game according to the rules set by the data.
  2. Detecting flaws in prediction games is crucial, as models can unintentionally learn and act on misleading information from the data.
  3. Designing prediction games effectively requires a deep understanding of the data-generating process, tools like sampling theory, design of experiments, and a statistical mindset can be valuable in shaping prediction tasks.

A data-driven insight into German transfer fraud: 7.594 cases

Altay's Blog • 1 HN point • 30 Sep 24
💰 Finance Fraud Banking E-commerce Scams Data Analysis
  1. Many people in Germany lose money to transfer fraud each year because scammers trick them into thinking their payments are safe. They use methods like fake online shops to steal money without delivering any products.
  2. Scammers often use tricks to hide their identities, like opening bank accounts under fake names or recruiting unsuspecting people to help. These tactics make it hard for banks to catch them right away.
  3. There are rules called Know-Your-Customer (KYC) that banks must follow to verify customer identities. When these rules are not strong, it can lead to more fraud, but better KYC practices can help reduce these scams.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Ill-Defined Space Spacecraft Deployment Summary: 2024

Ill-Defined Space • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Deployment Data Analysis
  1. In 2024, 2,807 spacecraft were deployed globally, which is about 1.5% less than 2023. Despite the decrease in the number of deployments, the total mass of these spacecraft actually increased by 28%.
  2. SpaceX was the leading company, responsible for around 71% of all spacecraft deployed, mainly for its Starlink internet satellites. Other nations and companies started making larger deployments, especially in China.
  3. While the U.S. led global deployments, many countries participated, though the total number of nations involved dropped significantly from 54 in 2023 to just 39 in 2024.

Something Is Getting Harder But It's Not Finding Ideas

Maximum Progress • 569 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🔬 Science Research Economic Growth Technology Data Analysis Innovation
  1. Research investments are growing but economic growth remains constant, implying declining returns on research investment over time.
  2. The metaphor of a car's acceleration and fuel use helps explain the idea that as we discover more ideas, finding new ones becomes harder.
  3. The debate on whether ideas are getting harder to find is important, but more evidence is needed to draw a definitive conclusion.

Big Tech and Generative AI Q3 '24 Update

Tanay’s Newsletter • 63 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Cloud Computing Data Analysis Software Development Tech Innovation
  1. Amazon is making big strides in AI by providing tools for developers and creating custom chips. They are seeing huge interest in their AI services, which are growing fast despite lower profit margins.
  2. Google is using AI to improve its search capabilities and has rolled out new features to enhance user experience. Their AI models, called Gemini, are being adopted widely across their products and they are investing significantly in infrastructure.
  3. Apple has launched its AI system, Apple Intelligence, focusing on privacy and enhancing the user experience of their products. Although they're investing in AI, their spending is still lower compared to competitors, but they plan to increase their efforts.

GPU peak calling for epigenetics

LatchBio • 11 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Bioinformatics Data Analysis Algorithms Computing Genetics
  1. Peak calling is crucial for analyzing epigenetic data like ATAC-seq and ChIP-seq. It helps scientists identify important regions in the genome related to gene expression and diseases.
  2. The MACS3 algorithm is a common tool used for peak calling but struggles with handling large data volumes efficiently. Improving its implementation with GPUs can speed up analyses significantly.
  3. By using GPUs, researchers have achieved about 15 times faster processing speeds for peak calling, which is vital as more genetic data is generated in the field.

Which AI should I use? Superpowers and the State of Play

One Useful Thing • 506 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Chatbots Data Analysis Autonomous Systems
  1. There are three main GPT-4 class AI models dominating the field currently: GPT-4, Anthropic's Claude 3 Opus, and Google's Gemini Advanced.
  2. These AI models have impressive abilities like being multimodal, allowing them to 'see' images and work across a variety of tasks.
  3. The AI industry lacks clear instructions on how to use these advanced AI models, and users are encouraged to spend time learning to leverage their potential.

An AWS For Sequencing?

ASeq Newsletter • 58 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Bioinformatics Data Analysis Cloud Computing Software Development Genetics
  1. Bioinformatics companies often struggle to succeed on their own, but some are finding unique ways to add value by providing analysis of sequencing data from external service providers.
  2. Just like how companies can use AWS for their server needs, the idea is to create an AWS-like platform specifically for DNA sequencing, making services easier and more accessible.
  3. Building a platform for sequencing could lower barriers for businesses and encourage new applications in the field, opening up more opportunities for innovation.

Natural selection: I still have no clue about the effect size

Wyclif's Dust • 1609 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🔬 Science Genetics Research Simulation Data Analysis Evolution
  1. The MAF/effect size slope gets steeper below MAF of 0.1, but correction becomes less trustworthy.
  2. There is a slope in the EA/fertility relationship above MAF of 0.1, so it's not constant everywhere.
  3. The relationship between EA/fertility is smaller for rare alleles, but the impact of very rare mutations remains uncertain.

This Map Might Change Where You Live

The New Urban Order • 119 implied HN points • 01 May 24
🕹 Technology Urban planning Mapping City life Sustainability Data Analysis
  1. Close is an interactive map that helps people find neighborhoods with amenities important to them, like public schools, increasing personalized walkability.
  2. Close uses free spatial datasets and user feedback to build a detailed destinations roster, showing a commitment to accuracy and continuous improvement.
  3. Close differs from tools like Walkscore by focusing on transparency, user customization, and the 'time to furthest important destination' approach to assess walkability in cities.

eBook: Mastering AI Agents

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI agents Machine Learning Automation Software Development Data Analysis
  1. You can learn to create effective AI agents with the right guidance. There's a helpful eBook that covers how these agents work and when to use them.
  2. The book reviews three frameworks for developing AI agents, helping you choose what's best for your needs. It also shares case studies to show real-life applications.
  3. It addresses common reasons AI agents fail and provides solutions to avoid these problems. This can help ensure your AI projects succeed.

Election Update #11: The race hasn't "narrowed"

Phillips’s Newsletter • 80 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Polling Data Analysis Political trends Campaigns
  1. Trump's support may be increasing, or Harris is holding her lead steady. It's not clear which one is happening right now.
  2. Polls show that despite some recent changes, Harris's overall lead is still solid according to longer-term trends.
  3. Even though the numbers seem to be tightening, this election still has one of the most stable polling environments in US history.

Week #1: Getting Started With Conformal Prediction For Classification

Mindful Modeler • 1018 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Data Analysis Predictive Modeling Python AI
  1. Model predictions should consider uncertainty to make informed decisions. Decisions relying only on point predictions can be risky.
  2. Conformal prediction is a method that can provide rigorous uncertainty scores, giving probabilistic guarantees of covering the true outcome.
  3. Conformal prediction is simple to apply, often with just 3 lines of code. It is model-agnostic, distribution-free, and comes with coverage guarantees.

455: Rolex Pricing, Jensen & Nvidia, China Chip Ban 1.5, Costco, Google Maps to Optimize Cities, Bicycle for the Mind, and Beckham

Liberty’s Highlights • 452 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Chips Algorithms Data Analysis Artificial Intelligence Tech Companies
  1. It's liberating to realize that most fields are understandable to an interested outsider, focusing on big ideas.
  2. Exploring new fields and combining knowledge from different areas can lead to rich and interesting discoveries.
  3. Taking calculated risks and thorough preparation can lead to successful outcomes in business decisions, like pushing all the chips in.

The Future of Prompt Engineering

Gradient Flow • 559 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🕹 Technology AI NLP Modeling Data Analysis Tools
  1. NLP pipelines are shifting to include large language models (LLMs) for accuracy and user-friendliness.
  2. Effective prompt engineering is crucial for crafting useful input prompts tailored to generative AI models.
  3. Future prompt engineering tools need to be interoperable, transparent, and capable of handling diverse data types for collaboration and model sharing.

Import AI 341: Neural nets can smell; technofeudalism via AI; China releases another solid open access model

Import AI • 459 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
🕹 Technology AI Research Machine Learning Language Models Data Analysis Artificial Intelligence
  1. China released open access language models trained on both English and Chinese data, emphasizing safety practices tailored to China's social context.
  2. Google and collaborators created a digital map of smells, pushing AI capabilities to not just recognize visual and audio data but also scents, opening new possibilities for exploration and understanding.
  3. An economist outlines possible societal impacts of AI advancement, predicting a future where superintelligence prompts dramatic changes in governance structures, requiring adaptability from liberal democracies.

Kể chuyện săn hacker giữa đại dịch

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 1517 implied HN points • 12 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Hacking Cybersecurity Data Analysis Investigation
  1. Solving cybercrime cases during a pandemic can be challenging but rewarding, leading to new ideas and career advancements.
  2. Investigating cyber incidents requires thinking like a hacker to anticipate their next moves and gather crucial evidence.
  3. Learning from mistakes and conducting thorough investigations are crucial in cybersecurity to prevent future attacks and uncover hidden clues.

401: Stock Indices & The Ship of Theseus, Amazon, Emergent AI, Internet Archive, Build Fast, GPT-4, and Orson Welles

Liberty’s Highlights • 452 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI E-commerce Data Analysis Digital Preservation Innovation
  1. Find things that bring joy and sprinkle them in your life for small moments of delight.
  2. Consider how multi-lingualism can influence personality and thinking.
  3. Building things quickly can lead to more value and efficiency while avoiding additional costs.

The Category Science Of Category Pirates

Category Pirates • 452 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
💼 Business Data Analysis Customer Experience Content creation Marketing Strategy Book Publishing
  1. Category Science uses broader and weirder data analysis for business growth.
  2. Understanding customer outcomes drives the Net Promoter Score and business decisions.
  3. Top-performing content aligns with factors like hyper-targeted audience, clear outcomes, frameworks, practical applications, and effective marketing.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 523

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 339 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Data science Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Data Analysis Software Development
  1. Data science is evolving quickly, and it's important to stay updated with new advances and tools. Courses and reading lists can help you catch up and enhance your skills.
  2. Using machine learning to solve real-world problems, like correctly attributing quotes, shows the practical applications of data science. Collaboration between universities and organizations can lead to innovative solutions.
  3. The job market for data scientists is challenging right now. Many applicants are competing for limited positions, so if you're looking for a job, patience is key.

For You

Conspirador Norteño • 44 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Social media Algorithms Data Analysis User Experience Content curation
  1. The 'For You' feed on X shows mostly posts from accounts you don't follow. In fact, more than half of the recommended posts come from these unfamiliar sources.
  2. Elon Musk's posts are the most frequently suggested, even to users who do not follow him. This indicates that trending figures often dominate the recommendation algorithm.
  3. Connections between suggested accounts are mostly based on repost interactions. Most recommended accounts have links to the ones you already follow, showing a network effect.

How To Fast Track Your Career As An Engineer

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 930 implied HN points • 12 Aug 23
💼 Business Career growth Software Engineering Tech industry Data Analysis Career Advice
  1. Focusing on impact in your work can accelerate your career growth and lead to more satisfying outcomes.
  2. To have more impact in tech, run towards unsolved problems, be scrappy in finding solutions, and prioritize ruthlessly.
  3. Impact can be achieved by reducing costs or increasing revenue, and understanding how your work contributes to these areas is essential for career advancement in engineering.

Interracial Dating Paper FAQ

sebjenseb • 196 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🔬 Science Research Genetics Data Analysis Psychology Relationships
  1. Assortative mating occurs between races, with individuals who date outside their race being more similar to each other in terms of intelligence, height, and risk-taking behaviors.
  2. Current literature suggests that interracial relationships may have a higher likelihood of ending or experiencing domestic violence issues, and mixed-race children might be more prone to mental/behavioral problems, possibly due to self-selection rather than social factors.
  3. Attractiveness was a weak predictor of interracial dating across all races, indicating that mate value or race exchanges based on mate value were not significant factors in interracial dating.

Selling account names in the blue, blue skies

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Social media Online Scams Data Analysis Internet culture
  1. Handle squatting is when people register social media handles to sell them later. Even though Bluesky allows custom domain names as handles, some still try to squat.
  2. Buying account names is risky and usually a bad idea. It's better to create your own accounts instead of getting them from spammers.
  3. Some recent accounts on Bluesky show repetitive bios and were created in batches, indicating possible spam activity. One such account even changed its bio to seem more legitimate.