The hottest Research Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Why Scholars Keep Writing Æsir and Vanir "Obituaries"

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 79 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
📚 Literature Research
  1. Scholars are debating the meanings of the words \
  2. (guild/) and \
  3. \
  4. Scholars have different theories about the distinction between Æsir and Vanir, with discussions ranging from functional differences to poetic interpretations.
  5. Various scholars have delved into the debate, presenting arguments that challenge traditional views and propose new ways of understanding Norse mythology.

UX Roundup: AI Empathy | Transparency About Compute Limits | UI Modes | Seedream 4.5 | AI In/Out of Silicon Valley | Kling Speaks

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 17 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🪑 Design Research
  1. Patients tend to rate AI as more empathetic than human clinicians, and newer models are likely even better; however, empathy measures need stronger, more detailed instruments.
  2. AI inference is scarce and costly, so product interfaces must be transparently show limits and trade-offs with quota meters, graceful fallbacks, and realistic wait estimates.
  3. UI modes (like separate “AI mode”) usually reduce usability, so AI features should be integrated into workflows and avoid forcing users to switch modes.

Navigating Uncertainty: Fostering Innovation in Times of Change

UX Psychology • 138 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Uncertainty can lead to stress and anxiety, impacting individual and team performance.
  2. Reframing uncertainty positively can spark creativity, growth, and better adaptation to change.
  3. Strategies for managing uncertainty include focusing on what can be controlled, embracing experimentation, celebrating small wins, fostering psychological safety, transparent communication, and reminding of organizational purpose.

Are ultra-processed foods uniquely addictive?

Unsettled Science • 522 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Experts suggest that ultra-processed foods may have addictive qualities due to their combination of sugar, salt, and fat, similar to how tobacco affects addiction.
  2. Food addiction research has developed tools like the Yale Food Addiction Scale to understand dependencies on specific nutrients like sugar, sugar-plus-fat, and carbohydrates-plus-fat.
  3. Debates continue on whether food addiction is due to behavioral disorders or physiological dependencies, with ongoing discussions about the impact of food processing on addiction.

The Vague Future Health Threat Mistake

Weight and Healthcare • 459 implied HN points • 03 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. The Vague Future Health Threat (VFHT) is a problematic argument used against weight-neutral health, combining healthism and fatphobia.
  2. Health issues should not be used to threaten, taunt or insult someone and attributing all health problems to body size is scientifically invalid.
  3. Intentional weight loss methods often lead to weight cycling, with potential negative impacts on health, and the VFHT is not a valid justification for fatphobia.
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Governing Risky Pandemic Research

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 549 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. Experts can disagree on the risks and benefits of proposed research, impacting research sustainability and public trust.
  2. There are concerns about regulating research with pathogens due to potential risks and lack of consensus on what is considered risky.
  3. Suggestions for governing risky research include demonstrating clear research benefits, identifying alternative methods, preregistering research, indemnifying organizations, and implementing global norms.

LLM links, 11/17

In My Tribe • 243 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. AI agents are most helpful when they can repeat simple tasks many times, rather than doing complex, one-time jobs. It’s better to have them automate quick tasks consistently.
  2. Chatbots face serious challenges, especially when discussing sensitive topics like suicide. They should guide users to seek help but also create a safe conversation environment.
  3. There’s concern that new AI models may not improve in accuracy and could actually make mistakes more often. This suggests that AI will always struggle to tell the truth from lies.

The Sequence Weekly Alpha #686: Kimi K2 is a Trillion Parameter Open Source Model You Must Know About

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Kimi K2 is a huge open source AI model with a trillion parameters, which makes it very powerful. It's important to know about advancements like this, especially as they can change how we use AI.
  2. The model uses a special design called Mixture-of-Experts that improves its efficiency. This means it can perform tasks better by only activating the parts it needs to.
  3. Kimi K2 shows strong performance in areas like coding and reasoning. This highlights how rapidly AI is evolving, and we need to keep up with newer developments from around the world.

The Sequence Opinion #677: Glass-Box Transformers: How Circuits Illuminate Deep Learning’s Inner Workings

TheSequence • 84 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Circuits are important for understanding how AI works, especially in transformer models. They help researchers see how different parts of the model work together.
  2. The circuits approach looks at groups of neurons that interact to perform tasks, not just single neurons. This helps in understanding the flow of information in AI.
  3. While circuits show promise for making AI more understandable, they might not be the only solution. There's still a lot to explore about how to really interpret these complex models.

Saturday morning open tabs

Scott's Substack • 78 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The author discusses the challenge of balancing self-love with weight loss efforts.
  2. The author shares open tabs about various topics like causal inference, discrimination, and AI.
  3. The author reflects on articles they've read and their views on compassion and biased depictions of others.

The Tower of Science

The Good Science Project • 66 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🔬 Science Research
  1. Alfred Loomis was a unique figure who blended science, finance, and military roles effectively. He showed that having scientists involved in decision-making can lead to faster and better outcomes for important projects.
  2. Loomis emphasized the importance of resources, talent, and minimal bureaucracy in scientific research. His lab in Tuxedo Park attracted many top scientists because it provided freedom and support for innovative work.
  3. It's crucial to have people who understand both science and policy. These 'translators' can help bridge gaps and make scientific advancements more efficient, just like Loomis did during World War II.

The Sequence Knowledge #685: About LMArena-Type Evals, Do They Work or Don't

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. LMArena is becoming important in how we evaluate AI models. It helps compare different language models in a clear and fair way.
  2. The platform started as a research project but has grown into a successful startup worth a lot of money. This shows how valuable good benchmarking is in the AI field.
  3. The post also talks about a debated paper called 'The Leaderboard Illusion,' which raises important questions about how AI performance is measured.

Who pays ESG Hound?

ESG Hound • 981 implied HN points • 01 May 23
💼 Business Research
  1. The author clarified their financial disclosure
  2. ESG Hound will introduce a paywall for some content
  3. Sale on ESG Hound memberships with exclusive perks

Impact of 'noise' on assessing school shooting threats

School Shooting Data Analysis and Reports • 39 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🚌 Education Research
  1. Noise is the unwanted variability in decisions made by different experts looking at the same information.
  2. Variability in assessing threats leads to inconsistency and high costs, such as locking down schools and deploying officers.
  3. Conducting noise audits can reveal inconsistencies in decision-making, highlighting the importance of understanding and reducing noise in evaluating school shooting threats.

Brain Boost

Polymathic Being • 59 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. AI can be a really helpful research tool. It can help you find good information and understand complex topics better.
  2. Using AI doesn't mean you stop thinking for yourself. You should work with AI to challenge your ideas and get different perspectives.
  3. AI is like a conversation partner for your research. It can help you explore ideas, ask questions, and keep you on track.

Last Week in AI #236: Pentagon's AI fleet against China, Imbue's $200M boost for reasoning AI, AI sex worker ads invade social media, Anthropic's paid plan for Claude, and more!

Last Week in AI • 178 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The Pentagon is investing heavily in AI technology to counter threats from China and other adversaries.
  2. Imbue raised $200 million to develop AI systems that can reason and code, aiming to create practical and safe AI agents.
  3. Ads for AI sex workers are appearing on social media platforms, despite policies against sexualized content, raising questions about platform monitoring and regulation.

Anthony Fauci Defended NIH Culture Of Secrecy: The $325M Third-Party Royalty Complex... Now We Know More Details.

OpenTheBooks Substack • 779 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Research
  1. Anthony Fauci defended NIH culture of secrecy regarding third-party royalty payments.
  2. Chinese and Russian companies paid NIH for licensing technologies developed with U.S. taxpayer money.
  3. Companies like Purdue Pharma paid royalties to NIH scientists, raising questions about conflicts of interest.

Celiac Disease, the Microbiome, and the Gluten Intolerance Spectrum

Eat Shit and Prosper • 339 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Celiac disease and gluten intolerance are not just black and white. Some people may show symptoms without having full-blown celiac disease, indicating a spectrum of gluten sensitivity.
  2. There’s still a lot we don’t know about why some people can’t digest gluten. Research suggests that the gut microbiome and certain bacteria might play a role in triggering an immune response.
  3. Possible treatments for celiac disease could involve using targeted therapies, like bacteriophages, to eliminate harmful bacteria and restore a healthy balance in the gut.

Part 2: Examining UX Professionals' Attitudes Towards AI

UX Psychology • 138 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. UX professionals generally have a positive outlook on incorporating AI into their work, emphasizing the importance of AI enhancing human potential rather than overshadowing it.
  2. Even though most UX professionals display a positive attitude towards AI, there is still a degree of caution evident.
  3. Individuals with higher self-reported AI knowledge tend to have more favorable attitudes towards AI and use AI tools more frequently in their work.

Alignment in AI: Key to Safe and Beneficial Systems

Gradient Flow • 199 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Alignment in AI is crucial to ensure that AI systems behave in beneficial and secure ways by aligning goals with human values and objectives.
  2. To start aligning AI systems effectively, teams can use methodologies like human-in-the-loop testing, adversarial training, model interpretability, and value alignment algorithms.
  3. Emphasizing alignment early on in AI development can help teams avoid ethical and legal issues and build trust with stakeholders and users by formalizing existing practices and expanding alignment tools.

Autonomous AIs

Addition • 137 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Teaching AI to think its way through complex tasks can lead to more evolved AI systems.
  2. Agents in AI can iterate across tasks, enhancing their ability to handle imperfect data sets and tap into both analytical and creative sides.
  3. Autonomous AI can generate creative insights and personalize marketing, showcasing the potential for AI to be innovative and engaging.

The Research Post

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 18 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Weight-neutral care is gaining support among healthcare experts and studies show its effectiveness in improving health outcomes regardless of BMI.
  2. There are significant issues with traditional weight-loss and dieting interventions, as research suggests high long-term failure rates and minimal health benefits.
  3. Additional resources are available to combat weight stigma and healthcare inequalities based on BMI, supporting a more inclusive and holistic approach to health.

Are commercial space stations a fantasy?

Europe in Space • 137 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Operating a commercial space station is not straightforward due to high costs and limited demand.
  2. In-orbit manufacturing and satellite fueling are potential applications for commercial space stations, but their feasibility is still uncertain.
  3. Developing a European space station requires focus on crewed launch capabilities and understanding the need for sovereign presence in orbit.

Mass Value Report for May 2023

Planetocracy • 137 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. SpaceX has won the race to send mass to low Earth orbit, but the race to send mass to the lunar surface continues.
  2. Blue Origin's 'National Team' has been chosen by NASA to build a human landing system for the Artemis program, showing promise for future lunar missions.
  3. Analyzing mass value helps compare space development progress, like evaluating efficiency between Blue Origin's lunar lander and SpaceX's Starship system.

Data-Driven Ideas

Addition • 137 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. AI models like ChatGPT can turn research into creative outputs quickly.
  2. Using AI for research and idea generation can help brands stay relevant in fast-paced environments.
  3. By leveraging LLMs for research, teams can create high-quality content and insights efficiently.

Erika Update #5: DNA detective

Erika’s Newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. It's important to keep good track of custom DNA programs in biology for engineering purposes.
  2. Current DNA management lacks clear nomenclature and annotation, making it challenging to work with DNA sequences.
  3. Challenges in DNA management highlight the complexity of biological functions and the importance of handling sequences carefully and thoughtfully.

I'm Not Worried About An AI Apocalypse

As Clay Awakens • 137 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Yudkowsky imagined a scenario akin to a 'vital force' discovery leading to an AI apocalypse.
  2. Speculating about AI risks and preemptive solutions can often be futile and even harmful.
  3. In a chaotic world, decision-making for preventing AI apocalypses is currently unpredictable and wasteful.

Research papers used to have style. What happened?

Secretum Secretorum • 555 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. Scientists in the past were more open about uncertainties and used more expressive language in their research papers.
  2. Old scientific articles had a charming style with vivid descriptions and engaging narratives.
  3. The rigid structure and format of modern scientific writing may hinder creativity and the development of new ideas.

Sex in Biology Signature Campaign

Heterodox STEM • 156 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🔬 Science Research
  1. Some biology societies have stated that sex is not simply male or female, which has caused confusion.
  2. A group of biologists has written a letter saying that sex should actually be defined by gamete type, meaning there are two sexes.
  3. They are asking other biologists to sign this letter to support their view and clarify the definition of sex.

India is the New Hub for GenAI Startups

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. India is rapidly becoming a leader in generative AI, with many new startups emerging in this field. This shows that India is not just following but is ahead in innovation.
  2. Around 10 startups are focusing on generative AI research, while over 60 are developing products based on existing AI technology. This indicates a growing interest and investment in AI in India.
  3. Despite the growth in startups, many of them struggle to find customers for their products. There's a need for more businesses in India to adopt these AI solutions.

Genetic Certainty and Mechanistic Ambiguity

Holodoxa • 99 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Genetic information is essential for understanding diseases, but it is just the beginning - further research is needed to unravel how genetic errors impact proteins and disease mechanisms.
  2. Studying cancer syndromes can provide insights into tumor suppressor genes and the genetic risks associated with cancer development.
  3. The discovery of the VHL gene linked to von Hippel-Lindau disease illustrates the complexity of disease mechanisms, such as how disruption of a ubiquitin ligase can lead to cancer and the tissue-specific patterns of risk in affected individuals.

Weight Watchers Long-Term Research

Weight and Healthcare • 279 implied HN points • 16 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Weight Watchers' long-term research suggests that their program may not be as effective for sustained weight loss as claimed
  2. Studies cited by Weight Watchers showed initial weight loss, but participants often regained weight by year two
  3. Guidelines based on studies continue to recommend approaches that have not been successful in achieving long-term weight loss

Results from poll #1

The Counterfactual • 79 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. A new paid option allows subscribers to vote on topics for future articles. This way, readers can influence the content being created.
  2. This month's poll showed that readers chose a study on using language models to measure text readability. This will be the focus of upcoming research and articles.
  3. In addition to the readability study, there will be future posts about the history of AI, learning over different timescales, and a survey to learn more about the audience's interests.

The Tumor Suppressor to Rule Them All

Holodoxa • 119 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. TP53, known as the 'Guardian of the Genome,' is a crucial tumor suppressor gene frequently mutated in cancer and associated with poor prognosis.
  2. Research on TP53 and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome highlights the high cancer risk and early onset of cancers in individuals with TP53 mutations, emphasizing the need for surveillance and preventive measures.
  3. _TP53_'s intricate structure and functions, such as its role in the DNA damage response, make it a central player in cellular processes related to stress and aging.

Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery - The Basics

Weight and Healthcare • 479 implied HN points • 04 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Weight loss (bariatric) surgeries put the digestive system into a disease state through various methods like malabsorption and food restriction.
  2. Patients can fall into three outcome groups: one happy with temporary results, two miserable and regretful, and three deceased due to complications.
  3. Bariatric surgeries are heavily marketed for profit by organizations funded by profit-driven interests, creating ethical concerns due to lack of long-term outcome data and increased risks.

New Dementia Prevention

Ladyparts • 339 implied HN points • 19 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Starting exercise, like running or walking, can have long-term benefits for brain health and overall well-being.
  2. Walking daily can provide physical and mental benefits, such as a leaner body, clearer mind, and improved problem-solving abilities.
  3. Research suggests that a daily walk, with a mapped-out step count, can contribute to reducing the risk of dementia.

Welcome to Full Moon

New World Same Humans • 15 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🪑 Design Research
  1. Full Moon is a new space for deep thinking at the intersection of humans, technology, and business, aimed at designers, marketers, strategists, founders and other creative knowledge workers.
  2. It will publish a monthly deep-dive essay on each full moon and offers paid benefits like a monthly podcast, video Q&As, shorter Ideas, and early access to in-person events.
  3. The launch focuses on the future of design in an AI age, arguing that feeling, relevance, and human consequence matter, and members can gift a free year to someone aged 28 or under to bring younger voices into the conversation.

R1 is reasoning for the masses

Artificial Ignorance • 176 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. DeepSeek's new AI model, R1, is making waves in the tech community. It can solve tough problems and is much cheaper to use than existing models.
  2. The research behind R1 is very transparent, showing how it was developed using common methods. This could help other researchers create similar models in the future.
  3. R1's success signals a shift in the AI race, especially with a Chinese company achieving this level of performance. It raises questions about the future of global AI competition.