The hottest Mathematics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Deep-Tech Newsletter #10 | December 2020

Deep-Tech Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 20
🕹 Technology Mathematics
  1. Advanced research talks have become more accessible online, offering learning opportunities globally.
  2. Online quantum computation courses are increasing, emphasizing the importance of mathematical knowledge over programming.
  3. Providing free foundational quantum formalism modules has empowered professionals to delve deeper into quantum computation.

The Power of Mathematics: Can we turn Software Engineers into Quantum Founders?

Deep-Tech Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 18 Aug 20
🕹 Technology Mathematics
  1. Future coders will need to embrace mathematics and data analysis for problem-solving.
  2. Quantum computing requires a solid mathematical background for significant contributions to quantum algorithms.
  3. Efforts are being made to train engineers in mathematics to create new quantum software companies and challenge the current academic dominance in the quantum startup ecosystem.

The Three Blessings of Musa

Outlandish Claims • 0 implied HN points • 21 May 24
💾 History Mathematics
  1. The story of Musa and the three wishes shows the importance of being cautious when dealing with offers that seem too good to be true.
  2. The tale of Mansa Musa highlights the lesson that wealth can be a fleeting possession and emphasizes the value of wisdom over riches.
  3. The narrative of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi demonstrates how a name can become synonymous with wisdom and the lasting impact of contributions to knowledge.

A model for computing goals as signals

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Mathematics
  1. Detecting the position of a particle is crucial, as it helps decide if action is needed or not. A good detection system can distinguish between being inside or outside a boundary.
  2. The effectiveness of an actuator is important too. It should reliably apply force when needed, helping to keep the particle within the desired area.
  3. Adding more detectors and actuators can enhance the chances of success, but they still can't guarantee it. Each added component improves the probability but only approaches success asymptotically.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Godel and Chabad

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jul 21
📖 Philosophy Mathematics
  1. Chabad believes that God is everywhere and always present. This idea emphasizes that God existed even before the universe began.
  2. Godel's proof suggests that any system can't truly understand itself from the inside. To gain insight, you have to look at a bigger system, but then you're still in the same situation.
  3. Math and religion share thoughts about infinity, but in math, it's a puzzle to solve, while in religion, it's essential for understanding existence. This might be the deeper connection explored in the book G.E.B.

Turing's Yearning, Part 2.

Technohumanism • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Mathematics
  1. Alan Turing's question, 'Can machines think?' opens up a bigger discussion about what we mean by 'machines' and 'thinking.' It's important to really define these terms before jumping to conclusions.
  2. The Turing Test, which Turing created to check if a machine can imitate a human, can be seen as unconvincing. Just because a machine can fool someone, doesn’t mean it actually thinks or understands.
  3. Turing’s paper shows his strong desire for machines to think, but it raises the question of whether digital computers are the right tools for this job. We might want to ask ourselves if they really can think at all.

Jean-Batiste Joseph Fourier: The Analytical Theory of Heat

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 22
🔬 Science Mathematics
  1. Joseph Fourier greatly impacted how scientists understand heat transfer and functions. His work introduced new equations that describe how heat moves through solids.
  2. Fourier was not just a mathematician; he was also deeply involved in the political scene during the French Revolution, even ending up in prison for his beliefs.
  3. In his studies, Fourier explained how the Earth gets its heat from the sun, stars, and its own core. He was one of the first to bring attention to the concept of the greenhouse effect.

The Problem with Language: Fuzzy Categories and Central Members

Divergent Futures • 0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 24
📖 Philosophy Mathematics
  1. Language is a tool that helps us communicate but is not always perfect in representing ideas. It evolved to be useful but can lead to misunderstandings because categories are often fuzzy.
  2. When we think of a category, like 'cat', we picture a common example based on our experiences. This average image may overlook other varieties and details.
  3. Using math can improve our understanding of complex ideas. It helps us avoid confusion in discussions and see the world in a clearer, more precise way.

The LM Type System

Andrew’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Mathematics
  1. Lambda Calculus is about functions and variables, and it doesn't use fixed types, making it more flexible.
  2. The LM Type System builds on this by adding type distinctions, allowing for clearer function roles and hierarchies among types.
  3. It also includes logical properties for types, which means we can ensure that certain conditions are met for a type to be valid.

Algorithms for Optimization (Explained Simply): Part 2 - Line Search and the Trust Region Method

Photon-Lines Substack • 0 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Mathematics
  1. The Line Search method helps find a minimum by choosing a direction to step and adjusting step size until a local minimum is reached. It's like walking downhill one small step at a time.
  2. Approximate line search is quicker and doesn’t require finding the perfect step size. Instead, it focuses on taking good enough steps to keep moving closer to the minimum without wasting time.
  3. The Trust Region method keeps steps within a 'trust zone' where the function behaves predictably. If the prediction is accurate, the zone expands; if not, it shrinks, helping to avoid large, risky moves.

Total and Partial Ordering

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🚌 Education Mathematics
  1. Total ordering means you can rank all your options from best to worst. For example, you can see which forex provider offers the best deal for your money.
  2. Partial ordering is when you can compare some options, but not others. Like, you might know one car is better than another, but you can't say how a car compares to a scooter.
  3. In total ordering, you end up with one best choice, while in partial ordering, there can be multiple good choices without a clear best.

Help me decide the topic of the upcoming course

The Palindrome • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🚌 Education Mathematics
  1. You can choose the topic of an upcoming course. This is a chance for you to influence what will be taught.
  2. There are two potential topics for the course: Mathematics of Machine Learning and Neural Networks from Scratch.
  3. The goal of the Mathematics of Machine Learning course is to focus on practical coding instead of just theory.

How Planes Take Off, Cruise, and Land: A Few Surprising Numbers

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🔬 Science Mathematics
  1. Planes take off and land at speeds between 250 and 310 kph. In places like Bangalore, the altitude makes the takeoff speed a bit faster because the air is thinner.
  2. When cruising, planes fly at around 39 to 41 thousand feet and can travel at speeds of about 800 kph. From up there, you can even see highways on clear days.
  3. Planes begin to descend over 200 kilometers before landing. Once they go below 10,000 feet, it usually takes just over 9 minutes to touch down.