The hottest Engineering Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Now synthesize your FIR filters using high-school algebra

filterwizard • 19 implied HN points • 27 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. You can create FIR filters by breaking them down into smaller parts using simple math. This makes it easier to understand how each piece works together.
  2. The sharp notches or deep points in a filter's response happen because of certain factors in the polynomial. Each notch can be traced back to specific frequencies based on these factors.
  3. To improve a filter's performance, you can add more mathematical pieces to make the response smoother in certain areas. This way, you can customize how the filter behaves at different frequencies.

The Birth of Transmission Line Theory

Fields & Energy • 279 implied HN points • 09 Aug 24
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. The first Transatlantic Telegraph Cable in 1858 was crucial for developing transmission line theory. It helped researchers understand how to send messages over long distances.
  2. Lord Kelvin created an early model for long cables, focusing on how to evenly spread resistance and capacitance. This helped explain why the first cable failed.
  3. Oliver Heaviside later added the concept of inductance to the equations, which improved the understanding of transmission lines even further.

Reading List 02/08/2025

Construction Physics • 7933 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Ship-mounted lasers are being developed by the military to counter drone threats. These directed energy weapons may become crucial as drones are more widely used in conflicts.
  2. Santorini is experiencing a series of small earthquakes, leading to most residents evacuating. Authorities are on alert as they prepare for the possibility of a stronger quake.
  3. Ford is facing significant losses in its electric vehicle division as high costs for development and low sales numbers are piling up. The company estimates it could lose up to $5.5 billion this year on EVs.

The Chronicles of GND, Part 2

filterwizard • 19 implied HN points • 25 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. In modern circuits, many designs operate on a single supply instead of a split supply. This means they only use a positive voltage and treat ground as the reference point, which changes how we think about electrical connections.
  2. It's important to create separate nets for ground and a '0V' reference in circuit layouts. Mixing currents from both can lead to problems, even if they seem similar in potential.
  3. Using a low-impedance ground plane isn’t always the best solution. In sensitive systems, small voltage drops and current flow can significantly affect performance, so careful design is essential.

Icesteading: Executive Summary

Transhuman Axiology • 178 implied HN points • 11 Sep 24
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Icesteading is the idea of creating colonies on artificially insulated icebergs in warm ocean waters. These 'ice-islands' could serve as places for living, working, or even launching space missions.
  2. The insulation around these icebergs can make them last for decades or even centuries before melting. This involves using materials like air or foam to keep the ice from warming up too fast.
  3. Building on these ice-islands avoids the legal and political issues on land. They offer more freedom and the chance to create underground spaces, making them a unique alternative to traditional islands.
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Don't Shut Up And Calculate; Read Fields & Energy and Understand

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 2194 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Electromagnetism has traditional theories that might be based on incorrect ideas. Revisiting older theories from scientists like Faraday and Maxwell can help clear up confusion.
  2. The current approach to electromagnetism often ignores practical applications and leads to contradictions. A new understanding suggests that fields guide energy, changing how we think about radiation and charge behavior.
  3. There's a push against conformity in science, with traditional peer review sometimes hindering innovation. Exploring new ideas, even outside typical channels, can revitalize scientific thought.

Physical Intelligence Sweeps Humanoid Olympics

General Robots • 348 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Physical Intelligence submitted robots for 11 humanoid Olympic events. They achieved these capabilities much sooner than expected, showing rapid progress in robotics.
  2. Many tasks that seemed to need special touch sensors or extra finger joints were actually solvable with standard grippers and cameras, and wrist force-torque sensing appears to help. This suggests clever hardware-software integration can overcome perceived limits.
  3. Teams make different trade-offs: some use more dexterous hands to collect teleoperation data while others add wrist force-torque sensors humans can’t provide. Those choices change what sensor data and training each approach can use.

Mission Control Center - brains of the Space System. How does it work?

Space Ambition • 319 implied HN points • 26 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The Mission Control Center (MCC) is crucial for managing spacecraft. It collects data, controls systems, and predicts emergencies.
  2. Different specialists work in the MCC, each focusing on specific parts of the spacecraft. The center’s size varies based on the mission's complexity, from small setups to large control rooms.
  3. New technology, including AI, is changing how MCCs operate. AI helps with monitoring systems and predicting spacecraft movement, making the process more efficient.

Brainstorming Solutions for Aerospace Sector Challenges

Space Ambition • 259 implied HN points • 02 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. An online brainstorming session is being organized to find solutions for challenges in the aerospace industry. Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of their experience level.
  2. The discussions will be moderated by someone with a strong background in aerospace and venture capital. This helps ensure the session is productive and insightful.
  3. There are two scheduled sessions on August 10 to accommodate different time zones, making it easier for people around the world to participate.

My weekly tech industry intake routine as a Staff Engineer

High Growth Engineer • 642 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Staying updated on industry trends helps you make better decisions at work. Regularly reading articles can keep you informed and improve your skills.
  2. Organizing your reading materials into a special inbox can make it easier to find important articles. Using tools like split inboxes and email groupings can really cut down on your reading time.
  3. Taking action after reading is crucial. Simply saving what you've learned or adding tasks based on it can help you retain more information and apply it effectively in your job.

Vibe-Coding a PCB - surprisingly good

atomic14 • 2598 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Vibe-coding a PCB is about using AI to design hardware from natural language prompts. It's a fun way to simplify the building process.
  2. Using a tool like Atopile and an AI assistant can yield surprisingly good results, even if there are small mistakes. Just a little guidance can help fix issues.
  3. This method is close to changing how we create hardware, making it easier for people without engineering skills to get involved in tech projects.

The Story of Titanium

Construction Physics • 26933 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Titanium is abundant in the earth's crust but took time to be utilized due to its bonding properties.
  2. The development of titanium as an industrial material was heavily supported by government research and funding.
  3. The story of titanium showcases the importance of serendipity in scientific discoveries and the critical role of manufacturing in technology advancement.

"Cache me" if you can!

System Design Classroom • 659 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The type of caching strategy you choose depends on your read and write ratios. If you read a lot, caching is very helpful, but if you write often, you need a more complex approach.
  2. Data consistency is crucial for some applications. Using methods like Write-Through helps keep data in cache and databases aligned, while other methods, like Write-Behind, prioritize speed over immediate consistency.
  3. To see if your caching is effective, you should track metrics like how many times data is successfully retrieved from the cache versus not retrieved. This will help you understand how well your caching is working.

4.3.1 Skin Depth & Litz Wire

Fields & Energy • 299 implied HN points • 17 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Skin depth refers to how electric current mainly flows close to the surface of a wire, especially at high frequencies. This means most of the current doesn't penetrate deep into the conductor.
  2. Litz wire is made up of many fine strands that help reduce resistance by allowing current to flow through a larger area. This is especially useful at high frequencies where skin depth is very small.
  3. Using litz wire not only reduces energy loss due to resistance but also makes wires more flexible and less likely to fail mechanically compared to solid wires.

A 15-minute intro to involute gears

lcamtuf’s thing • 6938 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Involute gears are used in many everyday items like toys and cars. Their special shape helps them work smoothly and efficiently.
  2. These gears have specific properties that reduce friction and vibrations, allowing them to transfer motion without problems. This ensures they work together seamlessly.
  3. Understanding the design of involute gears helps in creating various gear types, even unique shapes, making it easier to innovate in mechanical engineering.

The End of Simplification: Intel Abandons X86S

The Chip Letter • 2402 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Intel has introduced APX, which includes several new features to improve its architecture. This means that Intel is aiming to enhance performance and efficiency.
  2. The company planned to simplify its architecture by removing some older features with X86S. However, they decided to abandon this simplification due to the importance of maintaining backward compatibility.
  3. Backwards compatibility is essential, as it allows older software to run on new systems. This decision shows Intel's commitment to supporting their users and legacy applications.

Who does what and how to support them

Leading Developers • 125 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Match resources to missions by balancing immediate company efficiency, engineers' growth and challenge, and the team's long-term durability and flexibility.
  2. Build a simple knowledge map of tech, systems and soft skills to spot single points of failure and to surface clear development opportunities.
  3. Support people based on task-relevant maturity — how experienced they are with the specific task — not just job title, and reduce inertia by lowering activation energy with small, deliberate steps when rotating ownership.

A 15-minute intro to resin casting

lcamtuf’s thing • 4693 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Resin casting involves making a mold and pouring liquid plastic into it. This method allows you to create exact replicas of items, capturing all their details.
  2. Compared to 3D printing, resin casting can produce stronger and more durable parts. It also gives a finer finish since the liquid can fill every tiny detail of the mold.
  3. The process includes making a flexible mold from silicone, applying a release agent, and carefully pouring in the resin. It's important to manage air bubbles for the best results.

Welcome to the EM Diary!

Diary of an Engineering Manager • 159 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
💼 Business Engineering
  1. This blog shares real-life experiences of an Engineering Manager to help others grow into leadership roles. It's based on practical stories rather than high-level advice.
  2. It's aimed at senior engineers, team leads, and new engineering managers, providing actionable advice without any confusing jargon.
  3. Readers can expect weekly posts that are easy to understand and filled with insights about the daily life of an Engineering Manager in tech.

4.3 Actions at a Distance: Fluids or Fields?

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 10 Jul 24
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Electricity can't really be thought of as a fluid. It has unique properties that can't be explained by the fluid model, especially in AC systems.
  2. Capacitors and inductors operate using electric and magnetic fields rather than fluids. This makes it easier to understand how they work.
  3. Transformers also rely on these fields. Their functionality shows that electric effects can occur at a distance, which a fluid model fails to explain.

The Power of Limit Thinking

Asimov Press • 515 implied HN points • 06 Nov 25
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Limit Thinking helps us figure out the best possible performance of a system. It focuses on the essential features and gives a clear measure of efficiency.
  2. This way of thinking has driven major improvements in technology, like in engines and information theory, by establishing concrete limits to what can be achieved.
  3. In biology, applying Limit Thinking can lead to new discoveries by helping scientists understand the fundamental processes, even in complex systems.

Choosing an op-amp for your project

lcamtuf’s thing • 4081 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. When selecting op-amps for projects, avoid using older models like LM741 and LM324, as modern options perform much better and are easier to use.
  2. Look for op-amps with rail-to-rail input and output capabilities, which allow for better voltage range handling and simplify your circuit design.
  3. Focus on key parameters like bandwidth, output current, and noise specifications, but remember that many modern op-amps have decent performance that meets the needs of most hobby projects.

Against the hydraulic analogy

lcamtuf’s thing • 4081 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The hydraulic analogy, which compares electrical circuits to water systems, is often misleading. It can create confusion, especially when learning complex components like semiconductors.
  2. While analogies can aid in understanding, they need to remain accurate as you learn more advanced concepts. The hydraulic analogy can break down and lead to misunderstandings.
  3. When students encounter flaws in the hydraulic analogy, it may cause them to forget the basics and start over, making the learning process harder than it needs to be.

The marvelous disappearing capacitor

lcamtuf’s thing • 4285 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Bootstrapping can significantly improve photodiode amplifier performance by minimizing the impact of parasitic capacitance. This helps in amplifying fast-changing signals better.
  2. A voltage follower in the circuit helps keep the photodiode at the same voltage, preventing internal charging and making it act like an ideal current source.
  3. While bootstrapping boosts performance, real-life limitations exist, like bandwidth and impedance, which need to be considered for accurate designs.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 557

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 25 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. AI models can break down when trained on data that is generated by other models. This can cause problems in how well they work.
  2. There is scientific research about the history of Italian filled pasta. It shows that most types likely came from a single area in northern Italy.
  3. There are new resources and guides available for improving predictive modeling with tabular data. These can help you build better models by focusing on how data is represented.

The 5 levels of communicating impact as an engineer

High Growth Engineer • 1285 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
💼 Business Engineering
  1. When communicating your work as an engineer, it's important to go beyond just saying what you did. Focus on showing the impact and results of your actions.
  2. Use clear and specific numbers to explain how your work improved outcomes. This helps leadership understand the significance of your contributions.
  3. The best way to showcase your impact is to tie it to business goals and finances. If you can show how your work saves money or increases revenue, it makes your achievements even more valuable.

The one framework every engineer should know

High Growth Engineer • 3744 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The MECE principle helps you organize your thoughts clearly. It stands for Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive, which means breaking down problems without overlap while covering all possibilities.
  2. Using MECE in interviews shows your problem-solving skills. Instead of jumping straight to the answer, outline different approaches and explain your reasoning to demonstrate structured thinking.
  3. Applying MECE during team communication helps keep everyone on the same page. Whether it's giving updates during an investigation or explaining a process, a clear structure makes it easier for others to understand.

It's a Great Time to be a Software Engineer

Bit Byte Bit • 130 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Embrace AI as a core tool — it makes you a faster, more effective engineer and not using it will leave you behind.
  2. Shift your focus from typing code to higher-level software and product decisions like architecture, design principles, and trade-offs, because human judgment matters more than implementation now.
  3. Invest in better workflows: manage context and memory, use multi-agent tools for reviews and refactoring, keep tests and documentation current, and choose models by cost and complexity.

Complain & Propose

Software Design: Tidy First? • 3026 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Always offer a solution when you raise a complaint. This helps others see the way forward and saves time.
  2. Consider things from the other person's point of view. Everyone has their own valid perspective, and understanding that can improve communication.
  3. Don't let emotions cloud your judgment about others' intentions. Assume people mean well, even if they lack experience.

Hardcore Debugging

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2842 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Bugs in apps can sometimes be easy to fix, but some problems are hidden deep in the system and harder to find. These serious issues can cause crashes that are tricky to solve.
  2. When dealing with a crash, you can use tools like Git Bisect to look back in time or symbolicate crash logs to find out what went wrong. These methods help narrow down the problem.
  3. Understanding how crashes occur in the kernel memory management can take time, but specific techniques exist to make debugging easier and faster. It's all about using the right tools at the right time.

The Miracle Man of Suez

Kvetch • 43 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
💾 History Engineering
  1. A single leader's stubborn, relentless will can push an audacious engineering project past political and technical barriers.
  2. Monumental success required new machines, massive labor, and clever engineering, but it came at a terrible human cost and nearly bankrupted local authorities.
  3. Selling shares to thousands of small investors can raise huge sums and build public support. But relying on that and on personal confidence while downplaying engineering and financial risks can lead to ruin.

Adhesion, symbiotic rivalry & stress management strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 866 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Scientists are studying how remora fish stick to larger fish to create better underwater adhesives. This natural inspiration helps develop stronger glues for various challenging conditions.
  2. The new Mechanical Underwater Soft Adhesion System can stick to many soft surfaces, adjusting to different textures and strengths. This versatility makes it useful for many practical applications.
  3. Researchers are constantly looking to nature for solutions to complex engineering problems, showing how nature can guide innovation in technology.

"Oliver Heaviside. An Appreciation : The Personal Equation : The Work of a Genius Elucidated"

Fields & Energy • 279 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Oliver Heaviside was a genius who contributed greatly to electrical science but was often misunderstood and neglected during his life. His work wasn't acknowledged until long after he had passed away.
  2. Heaviside developed important theories on cable signaling and electromagnetic waves, introducing many key terms that are still used today. His insights helped improve how signals could be transmitted over long distances, which was crucial for communication.
  3. Despite his brilliance, Heaviside lived a reclusive life and struggled financially. He preferred to work alone and only began to receive recognition later in life, which made him a complex figure in the world of science.

Clean Water For Everyone?

Everything Is Amazing • 1031 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. A new type of aerogel can purify seawater using only sunlight. This means it could help provide clean water in areas that really need it.
  2. There is a huge problem with water scarcity around the world, and most of Earth's water isn’t drinkable. This breakthrough could change that by making desalination cheaper and more accessible.
  3. The process of using this aerogel might create waste, but there’s potential for that waste to be used in making batteries. This could solve multiple problems at once.

EUV With Fewer Mirrors?

The Asianometry Newsletter • 3214 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. A new proposal suggests using fewer mirrors in EUV lithography machines to improve efficiency. This could help capture more light and reduce costs in the chip-making process.
  2. The new system builds on existing technology and aims to complement rather than compete with ASML's machines. It's about making improvements instead of replacing what's already working.
  3. There's still a long way to go before this new design can be a reality. Many technical challenges need to be solved before it can be tested in actual lithography machines.

Cybersecurity predictions for 2025

Frankly Speaking • 152 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Security budgets are changing, focusing more on hiring skilled people rather than just buying tools. This shift means companies want to solve problems with real expertise instead of relying heavily on tech alone.
  2. AI is expected to breathe new life into older security areas that haven't kept up with changes in technology. By understanding context better, AI can help improve outdated solutions in data and application security.
  3. The role of security operations centers (SOCs) is likely to change significantly. Companies may reconsider the need for large SOCs and look for more efficient ways to manage security functions, especially using AI.

3.4.1 Ohm's Law

Fields & Energy • 519 implied HN points • 03 Apr 24
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. Ohm's Law shows that voltage is equal to current times resistance, which is key to understanding how electrical circuits work.
  2. Georg Simon Ohm faced a lot of criticism during his time for his ideas, but later scientists recognized his important contributions to physics.
  3. Henry Cavendish had discovered concepts similar to Ohm's Law before Ohm, but much of Cavendish's work went unnoticed because he rarely published his findings.

Developer Productivity Metrics: Education Necessary

Software Design: Tidy First? • 2098 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Metrics can help improve productivity, but they can also be misunderstood or misused. It's important to communicate them clearly and use them to support developers instead of pressure them.
  2. Goodhart's Law reminds us that when a measure becomes a target, it can lose its value. This means we need to be careful about how we use metrics to avoid gaming the system.
  3. It's crucial to focus on improving the developer experience, not just making them happy. Measuring effectiveness can help identify and eliminate roadblocks that slow down productivity.