The hottest Physics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Subroutines Are Not Functions

Paul’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Programming Paradigms Physics
  1. Subroutines are not functions designed to support functional paradigms, but rather to save code space at the cost of extra CPU cycles. They are non-reentrant and not thread safe.
  2. Physics teaches the technique of 'divide and conquer' using simplifying assumptions to focus on areas of interest, pushing aside unnecessary details.
  3. Different problems, involving time like video sequencing, robotics, gaming, etc., may benefit from using programming languages with paradigms other than the function-based one, like Prolog for relational paradigm.

Observers and entropy

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 10 May 24
🔬 Science Physics Information Theory Entropy Thermodynamics Cognition
  1. Entropy is a way to measure the uncertainty or disorder in a system. It can be understood through different models, and how we define our system affects how we calculate entropy.
  2. The concept of entropy relates to information as well. It’s about how well we can predict outcomes based on the information or 'alphabet' we use to understand a system.
  3. Both living organisms and neural networks try to minimize surprise and uncertainty by adjusting their internal models. This process helps efficiently process energy and information from their environment.

A model for computing goals as signals

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Computing Physics Mathematics Modeling
  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.

Physics of intention and action

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🔬 Science Physics Biology Energy Information Causality
  1. Thought needs to have some effect on the world to be useful. If it doesn't change anything, we can't test or notice it.
  2. Actions often require more energy than the intention behind them. Like how a tiny joystick can move a heavy crane, we need stored energy to make big movements happen.
  3. The energy involved in our actions connects back through history. Every time we move, we are using energy that has been stored and transformed, showing how life's history influences what we do.

Diamonds, Quantum and Beyond

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🔬 Science Physics Quantum Materials Technology Research
  1. Diamonds could play a big role in quantum computing, which is very cool because they are not just pretty stones.
  2. Scientists have found that diamonds can hold and preserve quantum states for a while, making them useful for data storage and calculations.
  3. This area of research is still developing, and there’s so much more to discover about how diamonds can be used in technology.
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Exploring Time Beyond the Technological Singularity

The Future of Life • 0 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🔬 Science Cosmology Physics Philosophy Technology Future studies
  1. The universe is much older than human civilization, and its history shows a trend of increasing complexity. We might soon face a singularity, which could change everything very rapidly.
  2. After the singularity, the rate of change may slow down due to physical limits. There's a question about whether complexity could reach a peak and stay there for a very long time.
  3. The idea of time might be different if we reach a level of intelligence that allows us to manipulate reality itself. This could lead to a future that is very strange and beyond our current understanding.

Increasing complexity as a fundamental property of the universe

The Future of Life • 0 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🔬 Science Physics Complexity Thermodynamics Cosmology Evolution
  1. The universe naturally trends towards more complex systems. Even when things seem to get simpler, like cleaning a desk, the overall complexity still increases elsewhere.
  2. Simple rules can create complex systems over time, like how stars form and lead to heavier elements. This shows how new complexity builds on what already exists.
  3. As systems develop complexity, they do so faster. For example, it took billions of years for Earth to form, but less time for humans to develop culture and technology.

When the tide goes out

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🔬 Science Physics Biology Neuroscience Complex Systems Thermodynamics
  1. We all have internal rhythms that control our daily life, like how we breathe and sleep. These rhythms have critical points where they shift from one state to another.
  2. When something shifts between two states, like being calm and angry, it’s similar to how systems in nature move from order to disorder. This helps us understand how change happens.
  3. Counting breaths can help us manage our emotions better. Instead of saying 'I'll see you later,' we can measure time in breaths for more peace and balance.

Discovering the Stratosphere

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 22
🔬 Science Atmosphere Meteorology Environmental Science Physics
  1. The atmosphere is crucial for life on Earth. It keeps our planet warm and protects us from harsh conditions.
  2. Léon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort discovered the stratosphere by launching balloons to measure temperature at high altitudes. This showed that the air doesn't always get colder as you go higher.
  3. Teisserenc de Bort named the layers of the atmosphere, calling the lower part the troposphere, which holds our weather, and the upper part the stratosphere, where the temperature starts to rise due to the ozone layer.

John Tyndall: An Insatiable Thirst For Knowledge

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 22
🔬 Science History Physics Environment Education Research
  1. John Tyndall is known for his work on the greenhouse effect, explaining how gases in the atmosphere trap heat and make Earth livable.
  2. His early education came from a Catholic teacher, John Conwill, which greatly influenced Tyndall despite his family's Protestant background.
  3. Tyndall was dedicated to learning, attending lectures and pursuing a Ph.D. in natural sciences, which led him to significant discoveries in physics and chemistry.

Jean-Batiste Joseph Fourier: The Analytical Theory of Heat

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 22
🔬 Science Mathematics Physics Climate History Theory
  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.

Biotech Needs Its Hydrogen Atom

Niko McCarty • 0 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology Physics Molecular Biology Genomics Research Methods
  1. Biotechnology needs a common foundation, much like how hydrogen is essential to physics. This foundation would help scientists work together more effectively and share their findings.
  2. If scientists could collaborate and understand life better, they could design solutions for diseases and other challenges. This could lead to a future where we have more control over creating living organisms for our needs.
  3. Focusing on studying a simple organism like Mycoplasma genitalium could be key to building this foundation. By deeply understanding it, we could create models that help us predict how other cells function.

Bodies Bodies [3]

The Author Is Dumb • 0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🔬 Science Space Physics Astronomy Biology
  1. There is a giant humanoid figure in the stratosphere, which is really huge and looks like a human but we don't know what it's made of. It's just sitting there and not moving at all.
  2. No one knows how this figure got there or if it's dangerous. It might even affect the weather and air travel because it's blocking the sky.
  3. Everyone is puzzled and scared about this thing, and scientists are trying hard to figure out what it is and where it came from. Governments are meeting to plan what to do next.

Harnessing Voltage from a Height

Satisologie: Systems//Creativity • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🔬 Science Energy Physics Environment Innovation Technology
  1. There is a natural voltage difference in the atmosphere that grows with height, meaning higher points can collect more electricity. It's like how a tall radio tower picks up signals from far away.
  2. You could theoretically collect this energy by hanging a wire high up in the air. The challenge is finding a way to lift that wire without using much energy.
  3. One idea is to use a corkscrew shape in moving water; as the water flows, it could help raise the wire. It’s a mix of creative thinking and natural forces working together.

EDX-720

Everyday Thing • 0 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🔬 Science Physics Materials Engineering Technology Analysis
  1. The EDX-720 is an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer used to analyze materials by firing X-rays at them.
  2. This kind of instrument has a heavy metal shield because it uses X-rays, making it safe for users.
  3. A lot of pictures of the EDX-720 have been shared, showing its various parts and features.