The hottest Experiments Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Experiments that never see the light of day

Briefly Bio • 19 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🔬 Science Research Experiments Open Science Academic Publishing Discovery
  1. Many experiments go unpublished because they're too small or inconclusive. Even if they don't seem important, they really help build bigger discoveries.
  2. It's important for scientists to share these lesser-known experiments. Sharing can help the whole field of science progress faster.
  3. Open science encourages collaboration. Scientists and companies should talk to each other about new ways to share research.

Moving On

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1281 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Design Innovation Development Experiments
  1. It's important to recognize when to move on from a project that isn't working. You don't have to stick with something just because you've already invested time or resources into it.
  2. Balancing between believing in your ideas and treating them as experiments is key. If something isn't getting good feedback, it's okay to change direction and try something new.
  3. Using timeboxing can help you make better decisions about projects. Setting a time limit lets you step back and reconsider if it's worth continuing or if you should explore other options.

MBTI, If You Want Me Back, You Need to Change Too

Granted • 8705 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
🔬 Science Personality Research Psychology Experiments Evidence
  1. Consider embracing the latest data to improve the theory by moving away from antiquated ideas and focusing on more reliable traits.
  2. Demand real evidence for efficacy by conducting randomized, controlled experiments to validate the benefits claimed by MBTI.
  3. Understand that many scientists have left MBTI due to concerns about its validity and its historical associations with racism and sexism.

Embracing Experiments of Living | #284

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 121 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Lifestyle Experiments Self-employment Personal Growth
  1. Trying new things in life can lead to personal growth and discovery. It's important to run experiments to learn what works for you.
  2. Reinvention is a gradual process, not a one-time event. As you change your behaviors, you may feel lost, but that's part of finding your new path.
  3. Being self-employed allows for flexibility and exploration. It's a way to actively engage with life, rather than just following the usual routines.
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How to Get Better At Learning From Experience

Range Widely • 1336 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🚌 Education Learning Reflection Experiments Problem Solving
  1. Success is not always a good teacher, especially in unpredictable and impactful scenarios like earthquakes
  2. Differentiate between 'kind' and 'wicked' learning environments, where experience can either improve judgment or give false confidence
  3. Reflecting on and analyzing experiences can lead to better learning outcomes than relying solely on intuition or repetitive actions

Intrigue

Remote View • 334 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🔬 Science Physics Research Technology Experiments
  1. The post discusses the concept of intrigue both as a verb and a noun.
  2. The post announces a livestream on January 28, 2024, at 22:00 CET, discussing thoughts from a book by Robert Temple.
  3. The post provides various references, including books, articles, and research papers on topics like science, plasmoids, and cold war technology.

Being an Early Career Scientist

The Polymerist • 116 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🔬 Science Career development Research Methods Experiments Education Personal Growth
  1. Try new things in your career and treat them like experiments. If something doesn't work out, you can always adjust and try again.
  2. It's okay to feel uncertain at the beginning of your career. Each experience helps you learn more about yourself and what you want.
  3. Life will always bring challenges, but keep moving forward and experimenting. Enjoy the process of learning and discovering new possibilities.

Erika Update #1: Getting projects started is hard

Erika’s Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🔬 Science Research Biology Experiments Publishing Genetics
  1. Starting projects can be challenging, but perseverance and a supportive environment are key to making progress.
  2. Mistakes are common in research, but being able to identify and correct them is crucial for success.
  3. Regular updates and reflections on the progress of a project can provide valuable insights and contribute to overall success.

MK-ULTRA & The CIA's Bizarre Psychedelic Escort Service

Tripsitter • 99 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
💾 History Mind Control Conspiracies Psychedelics Experiments
  1. The CIA's MK-Ultra program involved using psychedelics for mind control and manipulation, leading to disturbing outcomes like forced confessions and personality alterations.
  2. Under MK-Ultra, experiments like Operation Midnight Climax and 'psychedelic driving' subjected individuals to involuntary drug doses, induced comas, and repeated messaging, resulting in severe negative effects on mental health.
  3. Conspiracies surrounding MK-Ultra include connections to infamous figures like the Unabomber, Charles Manson, and Jack Ruby, raising disturbing questions about the program's impact on society.

Open Friday Thread: Storytelling, Teaching Experiments, and Private Threads

The Recovering Academic • 98 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
🚌 Education Storytelling Teaching Experiments
  1. Collaboration on projects like Inner Life can help create a sense of community and engagement among contributors and subscribers.
  2. Storytelling and surprising teaching methods can have a profound impact on engagement and learning, both in traditional and experimental settings.
  3. Offering private threads or discussions for paying subscribers can enhance exclusivity and provide a more intimate space for in-depth conversations.

Learning by Doing

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🚌 Education Learning Teaching Career Experiments Mindset
  1. Doing is often better than just thinking. If you want to learn a skill, just start practicing it a lot.
  2. Trying many things and being okay with failure helps you learn faster. When you're not focused on being perfect, you can improve more easily.
  3. Having a 'beginner's mind' can lead to better results. Beginners often do well because they aren't held back by too much prior knowledge or self-doubt.

More info, more problems

inexactscience • 39 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🔬 Science Research Economics Experiments Statistics Psychology
  1. When people get more information, they often underreact instead of overreact. This means they might ignore new data instead of properly adjusting their predictions.
  2. Experiments showed that when faced with two variables, people made less accurate forecasts. Adding complexity actually made their predictions worse.
  3. Having clear instructions and understanding of the information really helps improve decision-making. If people are confused, they tend to ignore important details.

16 Jan 2024 – Libyan Sands, germ warfare on the subway, and Boeing

Outsider Art • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💾 History Warfare Experiments Aviation
  1. The book 'Libyan Sands' by Ralph Bagnold paints a poetic picture of the Libyan Desert and mentions the skeletons of camels marking certain routes.
  2. A study conducted by the US Army in 1968 on the vulnerability of subway passengers in New York City to biological agents showed how pathogens could be disseminated widely without detection.
  3. An unsettling quote from 'White Noise' by Don DeLillo offers a glimpse into the fear and chaos within an aircraft's cockpit during a crisis.

Time response of first order systems

Only Wonder Knows • 19 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🔬 Science Physics Experiments Measurement
  1. When measuring a system's response time, make sure to wait for at least five time constants to reach a stable state.
  2. First order systems have a unique time response that can be calculated using simple expressions.
  3. Extracting the time constant of a system involves analyzing data, normalizing measurements, and ensuring a good fit to confirm the system's behavior.

Start the week #61

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 8 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
📚 Literature Writing Videos Stories Experiments Letters
  1. Genuine writing should focus on conveying emotions and sentiments rather than just technical brilliance.
  2. When writing, aim to connect with the reader on a heartfelt level rather than just impressing them with technical skills.
  3. Writing with genuine emotion and sentiment can have a more profound impact on readers than technically impressive but emotionally lacking content.

Do Large Language Models have a "Reasoning Gap"?

The Irregular Voice • 2 HN points • 01 Apr 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Machine Learning Experiments Mathematics
  1. Large Language Models (LLMs) may not always exhibit true reasoning abilities, with a potential reliance on memorization instead of learning general techniques.
  2. Synthetic data generation systems like MATH() can be used to explore the reasoning capabilities of LLMs, but may introduce biases if not carefully analyzed and corrected for errors.
  3. Fine-tuning LLMs on specific problem areas can reveal insights into their reasoning abilities, but challenges with longer solutions and complex problem sets may impact performance.

A Different Approach to VR

Philip’s Newsletter • 3 HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Virtual reality Experiments
  1. The proposed VR approach focuses on detecting intention rather than actual physical motion to reduce nausea and improve the immersive experience.
  2. By immobilizing the user's head, arms, and legs, the VR system can provide realistic physical feedback for interactions like handling objects, fighting, or dancing.
  3. Challenges include addressing nausea caused by optical flow without vestibular input and compensating for lack of proprioceptive feedback, but these obstacles could potentially be overcome through further experimentation and technological advancements.

Making Hard PCBs At Home?

atomic14 • 2 HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology DIY Electronics Experiments Home
  1. DIY nickel plating on PCBs can be a surprisingly simple process, but attention to detail is crucial for successful results.
  2. Using a hard wearing coating like nickel plating on copper PCBs can improve durability and scratch resistance.
  3. Experimenting with electroplating at home requires careful setup, attention to details like cleanliness and voltage, and may lead to interesting results and improvements in PCB toughness.

6 pricing A/B tests I’ve run (and which ones worked)

I Have No Idea What I'm Doing • 1 HN point • 28 Nov 23
💼 Business Marketing Revenue Monetization Pricing Experiments
  1. Experimenting with different pricing strategies can significantly impact revenue and customer behavior.
  2. Running A/B tests on pricing changes is crucial to understand their actual impact before implementing them.
  3. Giving users options for different subscription plans can lead to a substantial increase in revenue and customer lifetime value.

🐿️ Decision Point, Montana - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Innovation Leadership Experiments Agile
  1. Lewis and Clark faced a tough choice during their expedition and used small experiments to gather information before deciding which route to take. This shows the importance of testing different options when faced with uncertainty.
  2. In tech, instead of following rigid rules or 'best practices', teams should be flexible and adapt quickly. Fast iterations and feedback from customers are key to navigating complex projects.
  3. It's essential to create a safe environment where team members can learn from their mistakes. Viewing failed experiments as learning opportunities helps drive innovation and growth.

Gary Taubes on Cherry-Picking and Paradigm Shifts (A Brief Thought on Science)

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 06 Sep 11
🔬 Science Research Experiments Data Analysis Health Studies
  1. Cherry-picking data in science is necessary to make progress in fields like obesity and nutrition. It involves selectively interpreting data to distinguish between competing hypotheses.
  2. Design experiments to be as discriminating as possible and analyze data from different angles to paint a coherent picture.
  3. There is no single definitive experiment that can prove a hypothesis true. It requires studying the hypothesis from various perspectives to develop broad support.