The hottest Physics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

No, Sora has not “learned physics”

Marcus on AI • 3589 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Physics Modeling
  1. Sora is not a reliable source for understanding how the world works, as it focuses more on how things look visually.
  2. Sora's videos often depict objects behaving in ways that defy physics or biology, indicating a lack of understanding of physical entities.
  3. The inconsistencies in Sora's videos highlight the difference between image sequence prediction and actual physics, emphasizing that Sora is more about predicting images than modeling real-world objects.

Epistemic Hell

Secretum Secretorum • 1768 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🔬 Science Health Physics Medicine Biology Research
  1. Through history, reasoning based on limited information has led to dangerous outcomes, like chronic cyanide poisoning and scurvy.
  2. Some scientific problems, like understanding heredity, have been challenging due to complexity and the need for exceptional datasets.
  3. To escape epistemic hells, radical ideas, serendipity, unlearning prior knowledge, and persistence are vital.

The Stars, Our Destination?

Everything Is Amazing • 1425 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Physics Fiction Technology Astrophysics
  1. Space exploration faces challenges like the vastness of space and technological limitations.
  2. JPL has a track record of extending mission goals for spacecraft, showcasing innovation and efficiency.
  3. Theoretical concepts like FTL drives and warp drives may be intriguing, but the feasibility remains uncertain due to scientific principles and practical challenges.

Numlock News: January 18, 2024 • Stellar Streams, Tetrapods, Richard Feynman

Numlock News • 766 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🔬 Science Space Biology Data Privacy Astronomy Physics
  1. The National Baseball Hall of Fame faced a significant financial decline in revenue and attendance in 2022.
  2. Walmart's financial services became a target for scammers, leading to billions of dollars in fraud.
  3. Biologists are concerned about the extinction of tetrapod species, with around 856 currently missing and presumed extinct.
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Energy in electronic circuits

lcamtuf’s thing • 1833 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🔬 Science Physics Electronics Energy Circuits
  1. Designing electronic circuits has become more stringent over the years due to advancements in technology.
  2. Understanding how energy travels through electronic circuits is crucial for circuit stability and efficiency.
  3. High-speed signals in electronic circuits can lead to significant energy expenditure and signal integrity issues.

Fast Biology

Asimov Press • 270 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🔬 Science Biology Physics Mathematics Experimentation
  1. The concept of viewing time differently through the lens of the Minute Man and the Millennium Man prompts questions about our understanding of speed and time in the world.
  2. Biological processes at the cellular level can occur at astonishing speeds, with enzymes performing millions of chemical reactions per second and protein 'motors' spinning thousands of times a minute.
  3. Scientists use innovative experiments to directly observe rapid biological processes, such as watching ATP synthase spin or tracking ribosomes moving along messenger RNA strands, to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate workings of life.

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.

The Trouble with Fusion

Gordian Knot News • 183 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🔬 Science Energy Technology Engineering Physics
  1. Fusion faces difficult technical challenges like damage to the first wall, intense heat transfer, and high maintenance due to activation of materials.
  2. Achieving economic viability in fusion is a major hurdle, with immense parasitic loads and a fusion gain ratio that can be a significant challenge to achieve.
  3. Standard fusion processes like using deuterium and tritium result in energy losses due to the need for high quality energy input, which makes fusion less self-sustaining than fission.

The unlit space between the stars

lifeboat • 530 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Physics
  1. Darkness can reveal different kinds of understanding and truths that are often hidden in the light.
  2. The universe is much wilder and darker than we once thought, with most matter invisible and elusive like dark matter.
  3. Dark matter, although invisible, plays a crucial role in creating stars and light, showing that the source of substance and energy is found in the unlit spaces between things.

Emerging Stars

Compounding Quality • 216 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Physics Mathematics
  1. Isaac Newton is famous for his Laws of Motion in physics and mathematics.
  2. Newton's Laws of Motion are fundamental to classical mechanics and still widely used today.
  3. This post about Newton's Laws of Motion is for paid subscribers.

From Ore to Core

Doomberg • 115 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🔬 Science Nuclear Energy Physics Technology
  1. This post discusses the importance of nuclear energy as a baseload power source.
  2. The session with physicist James Krellenstein provides insights into the technology and its value chain.
  3. The content is exclusively available for subscribers in the Doomberg Pro plan.

The devil is old

Wednesday Wisdom • 113 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Mathematics Physics Concurrency Software Development
  1. Experience and age often bring wisdom, knowledge, and a unique perspective.
  2. In technology, while tools and capabilities have evolved, fundamental principles like people dynamics, math, and physics remain constant.
  3. Despite advancements, people still struggle with basic math, concurrent programming, and effective communication in group settings.

On RFK Jr., Atrazine and WiFi. Plus a puzzle for you!

An Insult to Intuition • 1454 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🔬 Science Technology Medicine Research Biology Physics
  1. Kennedy discussed the potential effects of Atrazine on organisms like frogs and mammals, sparking a debate on environmental toxins.
  2. The story shared analogies between a hypothetical alien civilization and current human societal challenges, emphasizing the importance of humility and balance.
  3. There was a discussion on the perceived health risks of WiFi radiation, highlighting the need for thoughtful consideration and humility in scientific discourse.

River as a verb

The Egg And The Rock • 963 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🔬 Science Nature Space Physics Time
  1. A river is more than just a static object, it is a dynamic process that is constantly changing and flowing.
  2. Our language often limits our understanding of the world by categorizing things as objects rather than actions.
  3. The river is part of a larger cycle, influenced by natural forces like gravity and the sun, showing the interconnectedness of all elements in nature.

All Part of Science's Rich Tapestry

Counting Atoms • 58 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science History Biography Physics Politics Innovation
  1. The book 'The Making of the Atomic Bomb' by Richard Rhodes provides a comprehensive history of the Manhattan Project and includes a lot of vivid scientific details.
  2. Leo Szilard plays a central role in the story, from inspiring the idea of nuclear chain reactions to trying to prevent the use of atomic bombs.
  3. The book can be overwhelming due to the multitude of people and organizations involved, but it offers a rich tapestry of science and history.

Last-minute gravitational wave predictions, June 28th 2023, hot damn

The Egg And The Rock • 589 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Physics Astrophysics
  1. Tomorrow there will be an announcement about predictions on gravitational waves from the International Pulsar Timing Array.
  2. Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating masses; they're detected by length changes.
  3. The International Pulsar Timing Array uses pulsars and telescopes to hunt for supermassive black hole mergers, with the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.

A Bridging of Dimensions

ᴋʟᴀᵾs • 628 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🔬 Science Physics Mathematics Biology Neuroscience Consciousness
  1. Former government officials have revealed details about UFO crash retrieval programs involving non-human intelligence and advanced materials.
  2. The use of topological materials in UFO technology could explain exotic properties, like strange isotopes and materials able to deform into higher dimensions.
  3. Connections between the human brain's multi-dimensional functions and UFO phenomena could suggest a link between consciousness and unexplained aerial phenomena.

WORM MOON 2023

The Lunar Dispatch • 648 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🔬 Science Physics Quantum Computing History Ethics Technology
  1. Progress in creating theoretical spacetime tunnels like wormholes has been slow.
  2. Albert Einstein, known for his scientific achievements and humanitarianism, had a complex private side.
  3. With the advent of quantum computers, concerns arise about privacy and the need for mutual forgiveness in the face of revealed dark sides.

Are Stars Conscious?

Secretum Secretorum • 707 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🔬 Science Metaphysics Cosmology Physics Evolution
  1. Some scientists challenge the traditional definition of life, suggesting that stars exhibit life-like behaviors such as metabolism and reproduction.
  2. There are radical theories proposing that stars possess consciousness and engage in purposeful actions, influencing life on Earth.
  3. The concept of cosmological natural selection suggests that black holes may play a role in giving rise to new universes, embodying evolutionary principles at a cosmic scale.

A Cult of Lost Technology

ᴋʟᴀᵾs • 393 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🔬 Science Archaeology Physics Space Exploration
  1. Ancient structures like Stonehenge and the pyramids across the world raise questions about lost technology and potential ancient civilizations' advanced knowledge.
  2. Nazi scientists explored antigravity technology based on different physics approaches than the West, leading to speculation on advanced tech development during World War II.
  3. The concept of a cargo cult relates to ancient cultures integrating advanced technologies into their beliefs, like indigenous tribes using airdrops as inspiration for rituals.

The Devil and the Cerulean Sweater

Maximum Effort, Minimum Reward • 127 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🔬 Science Physics Color Theory Optics
  1. The color cerulean comes from the Latin word for sky and should represent the color of the sky.
  2. Rayleigh scattering explains why the sky appears blue - shorter wavelengths scatter more.
  3. Calculating the color of Anne Hathaway's cerulean sweater using physics resulted in a color close to the original, proving Meryl Streep's character in 'The Devil Wears Prada' was correct.

(Ad-free Video). A Conversation with Irwin Shapiro: Scientist Extraordinaire from the Earth to the Stars, and at 94, still going strong.

Critical Mass • 8 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🔬 Science Physics Biology Research
  1. Irwin Shapiro made a significant discovery related to General Relativity known as the Shapiro Effect, which became the 4th test of the theory.
  2. Despite his age of 94, Irwin Shapiro continues to teach, conduct research, and play tennis, showing remarkable dedication and passion for his work.
  3. Irwin Shapiro is praised for not only his scientific contributions but also his kind and encouraging nature, making him a respected and admired figure in the scientific community.

Geometric Constraints on Computing

Bzogramming • 30 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Computing Physics Architecture Optimization Future Trends
  1. The physical constraints of computing, such as distance and volume, significantly impact performance and efficiency.
  2. Parallelism at different scales within a program can affect latency and performance, offering opportunities for optimization.
  3. Considerations like curvature of computation, square-cube law, and heat generation play a crucial role in the design and limitations of computer chips.

The Economics of Oppenheimer

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 7 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🔬 Science Physics Economics Innovation Public funding
  1. The Oppenheimer movie explores the economics of science and how political beliefs can impact a career trajectory.
  2. Scientific progress is becoming harder and slower, influenced by factors like declining population growth and changing incentives for scientists.
  3. Cluster areas, like El Alamo for nuclear physics, play a significant role in scientific breakthroughs, showing the importance of collaboration and location in innovation.

Links for 2024-02-10

Axis of Ordinary • 19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🔬 Science AI Neuroscience Physics
  1. AI advancements are progressing rapidly, with more agents leading to better performance in Language Models.
  2. Neuroscience is evolving with innovations like sensors enhancing sensation in prosthetic limbs and brain control enabled by neural networks.
  3. Physics research reveals insights such as gravity showcasing the strong force in the proton and implications of linearity in quantum mechanics.

Calibrating circuits

Only Wonder Knows • 19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🔬 Science Physics Chemistry Engineering Technology Research
  1. Calibration of circuits can be a useful solution but it's important to know when it is necessary and when it's not.
  2. Understanding how components like sensors and resistors behave in different conditions is crucial before considering calibration.
  3. Before deciding to calibrate electronic components, a detailed technical and economic analysis should be conducted to ensure it is a suitable solution.

A review of "Don’t forget the boundary problem..."

Unstabler Ontology • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Consciousness Brain Physics Cognitive Science Metaphysics
  1. The article discusses the binding problem in consciousness theories, which is about combining different features into a unified awareness.
  2. Functionalism is challenged by the boundary problem, questioning why there are limits to our conscious experiences.
  3. Electromagnetic theories of consciousness are explored, considering the role of EM fields in demarcating conscious entities and potential solutions using field topology.