The hottest Research Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Why PhDs aren't easy

Theory Matters • 9 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🚌 Education Research
  1. PhDs require a lot of hard work and persistence, not just high intelligence. Many people think it's easy, but it takes years of focus on a single problem.
  2. Funding and support for PhD students can be difficult to find, making the journey even tougher. Many students struggle with financial challenges while balancing their studies.
  3. Completing a PhD is complicated, with many potential setbacks along the way. It's not just about finishing; it's about the journey and the effort put in to achieve that goal.

Natural Trans Fats

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Trans-fats in dairy products from ruminants are naturally occurring and include conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid, produced by bacterial action in the rumen.
  2. Putting seed oils in cow food can lead to the transformation of fats into trans-fats as a detoxifying defense mechanism by gut bacteria.
  3. Vaccenic acid found in human orbitofrontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia raises questions about its role in these conditions.

Science Reveals the Secret to Long Lasting Happiness

Psych • 39 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Researchers from the Harvard Study of Adult Development found that relationships and happiness greatly impact health.
  2. The study followed men over 80 years and found that taking care of relationships is a form of self-care.
  3. Early experiences do not determine health outcomes; paths can change based on various factors.

Hmmm, Danone

Thoughts on Writing • 419 implied HN points • 25 Oct 21
💼 Business Research
  1. The research study found that purpose-driven campaigns were less effective than non-purpose campaigns, but after filtering out 'weaker' cases, the best purpose campaigns showed more positive results.
  2. The response to the research was split, with purpose advocates emphasizing the positive findings, while purpose skeptics pointed out flaws in the methodology.
  3. The involvement of Danone in funding the purpose research highlights the importance of understanding the context and motivations behind research findings in the corporate world.

A 600-Year-Old Scientific Mystery and a Never Ending Battle of Egos

Pryor Questions • 336 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
📚 Literature Research
  1. The Voynich Manuscript is a 600-year-old mysterious book with unknown language and unique illustrations.
  2. Researchers have been unable to decipher the manuscript or reach a consensus on its origin or purpose.
  3. The never-ending battle of egos among scientists persists in trying to unlock the secrets of the manuscript, with various theories and attempts ultimately proving inconclusive.
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Extremely Open Science

Rabbit Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. The author will work on a scientific project completely in the open in 2024, streaming and recording sessions for an hour per week.
  2. The project aims to show the process from scratch to help junior researchers understand and learn from the experience of dealing with minor issues.
  3. The author is choosing a question for the project that can be followed along at home with just a personal laptop or desktop computer.

Humanity: Collective Information Overload?

The Digital Anthropologist • 59 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Humans are facing unprecedented global information flows, possibly leading to collective cognitive overload.
  2. Technology has drastically increased our connectivity and information exchange, contributing to the feeling of being overwhelmed.
  3. As a species, we are navigating through a new era where the constant influx of information requires us to find ways to manage and offload the overload.

TSMC OIP Forum: Fabs, N3/N2+BSPN

More Than Moore • 303 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. TSMC is a leading foundry with a focus on developing cutting-edge technologies and hosting events to showcase their advancements and collaborations.
  2. TSMC's current focus is on production, including expanding fab capabilities and advancing in process nodes like N3 and N2 with improved performance and power efficiency.
  3. In addition to process nodes, TSMC is also working on advancements in memory technology like HBM3 and HBM4, as well as expanding analog design tools and focusing on 3D integration for complex chip packaging.

The Sequence Radar #549: Google, Microsoft and Anthropic Monster AI Week

TheSequence • 49 implied HN points • 25 May 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Google is making big strides towards creating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with new models like Gemini 2.5 and features such as a universal AI assistant called Project Astra.
  2. Microsoft is focusing on 'agentic AI', which means they're developing AI that can work independently to complete complex tasks, supported by their new Azure AI Foundry.
  3. Anthropic introduced the Claude 4 series, which improves reasoning abilities in AI models and emphasizes safety and ethical behavior, helping developers build smarter AI systems.

Why Do We Fall Sleep When We Are Bored?

Psych • 39 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. Feeling sleepy when bored is linked to a brain part for feeling good and motivation.
  2. Adenosine may be responsible for the sleep effect in the brain part that makes us sleepy.
  3. Activating specific parts in the brain linked to sleep could help treat insomnia.

✅ Edelman and the trust business

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 19 Jan 23
💼 Business Research
  1. People are losing faith in institutions due to disinformation and economic issues. Only businesses are seen as ethical and competent right now.
  2. Edelman uses its Trust Barometer to guide public relations practices, but it also faces criticism for not being transparent about its own issues, like its work with high-emission clients.
  3. While Edelman’s Trust Barometer is valuable for the PR industry, it's important to also question its methods and ethics to ensure trust and understanding.

The Abyss and The Gulp

Austin Kleon • 399 implied HN points • 14 Dec 21
📚 Literature Research
  1. There is a big gap between doing research and actually writing. Many people find it easier to keep researching instead of starting the writing process.
  2. Once you finish writing, there is another challenge in getting it published or shared. The transition from writing to publishing can feel overwhelming.
  3. Creativity often involves facing these gaps and challenges. Understanding them can help people overcome obstacles in their creative work.

For-Profit Academic Publishers Love LLM Garbage

Never Met a Science • 116 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. For-profit academic publishers are more focused on making money than helping science. They charge high fees for publishing papers, leading to a system that doesn't prioritize true academic progress.
  2. The move to Open Access journals has created financial burdens, especially in social sciences and humanities. Many academics end up paying significant fees just to publish their research.
  3. There's growing concern that using AI tools to write academic papers can dilute the quality of research. Scholars need to ensure that the focus remains on meaningful work rather than just producing more papers.

Summer haze comes with ink

Vesuvius Challenge • 34 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
🔬 Science Research
  1. Researchers are using advanced scanning techniques to read ancient carbonized scrolls. They hope to find ways to read more ink that isn't visible to the naked eye.
  2. They are experimenting with different scanning methods and technologies to better capture the details of the scrolls.
  3. The research team is committed to sharing their findings more often to keep the community updated on their progress.

Robot startups need to 'Start Telling People' plus highlights from BARS 2023

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Robot startups should focus on 'Start Telling People' - effectively communicating their products and ideas is crucial for success
  2. BARS 2023 featured the latest robotics research showcasing the use of transformers and the rapid pace of innovation - a hub for cutting-edge robotics and AI insights
  3. Subscribe to Robots & Startups for access to in-depth posts and archives, with a 7-day free trial available - stay updated on the latest in robotics and startup trends

mRNA Covid jabs often cause long-term thyroid damage, a big new study shows

Unreported Truths • 49 implied HN points • 16 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Research
  1. A new study shows that people who got mRNA Covid vaccines had a 30% higher chance of developing thyroid disease after a year compared to those who didn't get vaccinated. This means many might be facing thyroid issues globally.
  2. The risk of thyroid problems grows over time, and those who received fewer shots in a year had an even higher risk of developing these issues. This suggests that the vaccines might cause long-term autoimmune reactions.
  3. The thyroid plays a crucial role in our metabolism and health, and these newly found connections could lead to serious issues for many people, like heart problems or anxiety, over time.

Science Fictions links for January 2024

Science Fictions • 248 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. Bad science continues to be published despite scandals and fraud being uncovered.
  2. AI tools hold promise for scientific research but there are challenges in implementation and potential overclaiming.
  3. Evidence of unethical practices like journal bribery and scientific fraud highlight ongoing issues in the scientific community.

Edge 441: SSMs Beyond Language

TheSequence • 119 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. SSMs can be used in areas beyond just language, like audio processing. This makes them very useful for handling complex and irregular data.
  2. Meta AI is researching how SSMs can improve speech recognition, showing their potential in understanding spoken language better.
  3. The Llama-Factory framework helps in pretraining large language models, making them more efficient and powerful.

Garbatrage: for sustainable robotics

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. A paper presented at the Association for Computing Machinery conference highlighted repurposing old hoverboards for robotics, showcasing sustainability in the field.
  2. Robots in New York City made from discarded hoverboards emphasize the potential for innovative recycling in creating sustainable robotics.
  3. Subscription to Robots & Startups offers a 7-day free trial, granting access to exclusive content and archives for deeper insights into the realm of robotics.

What Science Can Learn from Car Mechanics

Asimov Press • 251 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. Applying the Five Whys technique helps to identify the root cause of complex problems effectively.
  2. Investigating and understanding the root cause of diseases like diabetes requires in-depth research and methodology.
  3. In science, it's crucial to focus on finding root causes in biology and medicine to advance our understanding of complex diseases.

auditing academia

bad cattitude • 254 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🚌 Education Research
  1. Bill Ackman is calling for auditing academia due to questionable publications.
  2. Academic publications reveal widespread issues beyond just plagiarism.
  3. The content of academic papers may shock readers with its poor quality and ideological focus.

Innovation Job Market Papers 2024 (2/3)

New Things Under the Sun • 96 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
💼 Business Research
  1. Many recent PhD papers are focused on innovation, covering a wide range of topics like technology policy and its impact on economic growth.
  2. Some studies show that environmental regulations can spur innovation among suppliers in industries like automotive, leading to more technological advancements.
  3. There is a growing recognition of how social media affects the spread of economic research, highlighting its importance in sharing knowledge.

The crisis of scholar-activism

The Path Not Taken • 264 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🚌 Education Research
  1. Scholar-activism has faced a crisis lately, especially concerning left-wing positions like support for Palestine.
  2. There is tension between the original ideal of activism and its progression into institutionalized careerism.
  3. The future of scholar-activism is uncertain, with some scholar-activists falling silent and facing challenges in balancing their activism with their academic careers.

Of Experts And Echo Chambers

Good Reason • 284 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Experts can be wrong and have been wrong throughout history, like medieval doctors with bloodletting.
  2. Expert communities often become echo chambers, reinforcing shared beliefs and resisting change.
  3. Challenging experts and subjecting beliefs to testing, even within scientific-minded groups, is important to avoid falling into the trap of groupthink.

The Sequence Knowledge #468: A New Series About RAG

TheSequence • 84 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Retrieval Augmented Generation, or RAG, helps AI models use outside information to improve their answers. This makes the responses more accurate and relevant.
  2. RAG works in two steps: first, it finds useful information, and then it uses that information to create better responses. This method is great for applications that need quick and correct answers.
  3. A key paper introduced RAG and showed that combining different types of memory can lead to better results in language tasks, like answering questions or generating text.

Unbundling the University, Part 3

The Good Science Project • 33 implied HN points • 05 Jul 25
🚌 Education Research
  1. Universities started as places to train clergy, gradually expanding to incorporate broader educational roles. They have evolved a lot over the centuries, shifting from teaching philosophy to becoming centers for research and technology.
  2. During the 20th century, the role of universities changed significantly, with them becoming major players in producing scientific research and technological innovation, especially after World War II. This boosted their importance in the economy and changed how they interact with industries.
  3. Today, universities serve many roles beyond just education, like acting as credentialing agencies, think tanks, and even investment firms. They are crucial in shaping cultural and professional pathways for many individuals.

The Ramanujan Machine

A Piece of the Pi: mathematics explained • 90 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. Srinivasa Ramanujan was a brilliant mathematician known for his unique insights and identities, many of which he discovered in unconventional ways.
  2. The Ramanujan Machine is an AI project that helps generate new mathematical conjectures, making it easier to discover complex equations related to fundamental constants.
  3. The odd double factorial is a useful concept in pairing problems and can be calculated by multiplying all odd numbers up to a certain point, making it easier to understand how to pair off groups.

Fear not the Chinese bots

Nonzero Newsletter • 417 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The 'Because China' argument against AI research slowdown is not convincing due to China's cautious approach to AI development.
  2. Centralized control in China may slow AI progress compared to the decentralized innovation in America.
  3. Considering 'Because China' as a reason to regulate AI can be a valid argument to prevent chaos and maintain stability in America.

Science Fictions links for November 2023

Science Fictions • 275 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. The Science Fictions Substack shares interesting, amusing, and depressing bad-science links.
  2. Scientific fields like Alzheimer's and physics face issues with scientific fraud and retractions.
  3. Open Science practices like pre-registering studies can lead to high replication rates.

The Forthcoming Future: MIT Students and Desired Number of Children

Heterodox STEM • 78 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🚌 Education Research
  1. MIT students on average want around two children. The desire varies across different demographics and can be influenced by factors like gender and relationship status.
  2. Women at MIT generally desire fewer children, with many expressing concerns about balancing family and career. In contrast, men tend to prefer slightly larger families.
  3. Religious beliefs can affect how many children students want, with religious individuals generally preferring more children than those who identify as non-religious.

Does Using Social Media Cause Mental Health Problems?

Mind & Mythos • 119 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Using social media doesn't seem to cause more mental health issues, according to a large study.
  2. The research looked at many studies and found no strong link between smartphone use and negative mental health effects.
  3. It's important to keep exploring how social media affects people since the findings can be different in various situations.

Talking science with the UKRI CEO

Science Forever • 59 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) is an organization formed by merging various research councils and bodies to drive progress in research and innovation across disciplines efficiently.
  2. UKRI CEO, Ottoline Leyser, discusses the importance of associating with Horizon Europe for research collaborations and the challenges of aligning UK & EU funding mechanisms.
  3. Focusing on expanding research excellence and innovation nationwide, UKRI implements programs like the Strength in Places Fund and Innovation Accelerator pilots to drive local capacity building and economic growth.

Censorship’s Impact on China’s Chatbots

ChinaTalk • 207 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Chinese AI chatbots are subject to strict censorship by the Cyberspace Administration of China, affecting their responses to political questions.
  2. There is a noticeable tradeoff between content control and value alignment in Chinese chatbots, highlighting a balance between censorship and quality of output.
  3. Censorship in Chinese chatbots involves value alignment training and keyword filtering, showing how Chinese regulators influence the responses of AI models to favor Beijing's values.

Productive Struggle, Q&A

Pershmail • 58 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🚌 Education Research
  1. Productive struggle has different definitions in research, leading to confusion and debate.
  2. Research on productive struggle focuses on the importance of struggle as a component of learning.
  3. It's crucial to dig deeper and understand the specific mechanisms through which struggle can lead to learning.

Unbundling the University, Part 2

The Good Science Project • 33 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
🚌 Education Research
  1. Universities hold a lot of power over research, making it hard for new technologies to develop outside of these institutions. This limits the ability to change how research works.
  2. Most funding for research goes through universities, which creates barriers for people and organizations trying to do innovative work. It makes it tough to get money unless you're linked to an academic institution.
  3. Academic rules shape how research is done and valued. The focus on novelty can lead to creating interesting ideas that may not always be useful, which isn't helpful for advancements in technology.

Ideas for angel investors #3

The Odin Times • 58 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Be clear on your reasons for investing, focus on interesting journeys with great people, and aim for good overall returns.
  2. The craziest ideas can lead to big returns, so don't dismiss wild ideas right away. They may surprise you.
  3. When angel investing, figure out how you can provide valuable support to founders beyond just financial backing.