The hottest Research Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics
Mike Talks AI 58 implied HN points 13 Jun 23
  1. Supply chain professionals can use ChatGPT as a 'loss leader' to educate leaders about AI's potential for supply chains.
  2. ChatGPT can help supply chain teams build more AI algorithms by breaking down syntax barriers and expanding team capabilities.
  3. Exploring how ChatGPT can turn vast supply chain data into valuable insights is an important research opportunity.
Knowledge Problem 58 implied HN points 06 Apr 23
  1. Large language models like ChatGPT and Google Bard struggle with interpreting academic research questions accurately.
  2. Coase's analysis in 'The Problem of Social Cost' emphasizes the importance of well-defined property rights and bargaining in resolving externalities.
  3. Specific, focused queries help improve the accuracy of responses from large language models.
AI safety takes 58 implied HN points 27 Aug 23
  1. Understanding the origin of dangerous behavior in AI models can lead to training safer AI through the use of influence functions.
  2. Gradient-based attacks have become effective in breaking into language models and can even transfer between different models.
  3. Evaluating moral beliefs encoded in large language models can reveal inconsistencies and uncertainties, with safety-tuned models showing stronger preferences.
Embracing Enigmas 58 implied HN points 21 Mar 23
  1. AI systems might lose the ability to create novel content if the rate of true signal decreases.
  2. Data poisoning in AI systems poses a serious cybersecurity threat and may reduce the effectiveness of AI models.
  3. Implementing validation systems early is crucial to prevent disruptions caused by AI system vulnerabilities.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:
Elvis's Blog 58 implied HN points 17 Mar 23
  1. New web version of Prompt Engineering Guide launched with lectures, notebooks, and latest AI papers.
  2. Added section on models like GPT-4 and ChatGPT to showcase capabilities and limitations.
  3. Includes notebooks for starting with prompt engineering using tools like openai and LangChain.
Baptiste’s Substack 58 implied HN points 15 May 23
  1. The author is an independent researcher specializing in Strategy, Wargaming, and Artificial Intelligence.
  2. The author aims to make academic writings more accessible through this Substack platform.
  3. The majority of content will be free to access, with a weekly newsletter for paid subscribers.
Paola Writes 58 implied HN points 21 May 23
  1. Researchers are discussing the risks of AI anthropomorphism and the importance for designers and developers to take responsibility.
  2. The novel 'Manna' by Marshall Brain explores two contrasting views of humanity's future with AI.
  3. Various perspectives from writers and researchers highlight the intersection of AI with society and capitalism, urging policymakers to take action.
Cremieux Recueil 229 implied HN points 31 Jan 24
  1. Fraud can happen in scientific research through deliberate misrepresentation of results.
  2. Being critical in research is important, but it's crucial to back up claims with thorough analysis and evidence.
  3. Failure to fully analyze data and make accurate conclusions can indicate either fraud or incompetence in a study.
Hypertext 19 implied HN points 27 Mar 24
  1. Challenges in evidence-based policy include interpreting research results, dealing with luck, p-hacking, and external validity.
  2. Pre-registration of RCTs and requiring data/code sharing help combat issues like luck and p-hacking in research.
  3. Scaling effective programs poses challenges of logistics, resources, and ensuring successful reproduction in multiple settings.
The DisInformation Chronicle 205 implied HN points 28 Feb 24
  1. Publisher Taylor & Francis has been criticized for unethical behavior in scientific publishing, such as ignoring concerns about a commentary related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic
  2. Instances of questionable scientific behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be uncovered, raising concerns about the integrity of research findings
  3. Criticism has been directed towards Science Magazine for publishing a study with flawed statistics regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic
ASeq Newsletter 21 implied HN points 25 Aug 25
  1. Illumina's DNA sequencers, especially the NextSeq 2000, are highly advanced compared to competitors. They have made significant improvements over time, focusing on speed and imaging technology.
  2. The NextSeq 2000 features a unique fluidic system that keeps reagents separate from the instrument, making it more efficient. This system might allow for the reuse of reagents, which is an interesting development.
  3. There's speculation that Illumina is working on reagent reuse technology as mentioned in their patents. This could change how we approach sequencing in the future.
The Good Science Project 74 implied HN points 23 Jan 25
  1. Innovation funding is struggling because it often favors older, established ideas over new and creative ones. This means that new and exciting projects may not get the support they need.
  2. Many young scientists and entrepreneurs are finding it harder to get funding. They face longer waits and tougher competition, which can hold back breakthrough ideas that could change the world.
  3. New funding models are trying to support fresh ideas, but they often end up using the same old criteria for judging who gets funded. This makes it tough for unconventional thinkers to get recognized and backed.
TheSequence 91 implied HN points 05 Dec 24
  1. Microsoft has introduced a new framework called Magentic-One for building multi-agent systems. It allows different AI agents to work together on tasks that can change or evolve.
  2. This framework is built upon another Microsoft technology called AutoGen, which helps agents collaborate effectively. It aims to manage tasks using information from the web and files from various fields.
  3. Magentic-One is part of a growing trend in AI where multi-agent systems are gaining popularity. This reflects the diverse and innovative landscape of AI development today.
Pryor Questions 373 implied HN points 11 May 23
  1. There is a collection of 9,479 preserved brains in a university in Denmark, the largest in the world.
  2. The brains were collected from psychiatric patients in the past to study mental illnesses.
  3. The preserved brains serve as important research resources to understand mental health disorders.
jonstokes.com 391 implied HN points 30 Mar 23
  1. The AI safety debate involves technical details about AI systems like GPT-4 and cultural dynamics around the issue.
  2. The discussion includes concerns about regulating and measuring AI capabilities, as well as the divisions and allegiances within different groups.
  3. Some groups, like the Intelligence Deniers, have strong beliefs about AI being a scam and hold firm against AI progress, leading to potential divisions among AI safety proponents.
Engineering Enablement 7 implied HN points 26 Nov 25
  1. Use a simple need-vs-use map to decide where to invest in AI, so you can spot high-need, low-use opportunities to build and high-need, high-use areas to harden.
  2. Developers welcome AI for repetitive operational work, use it cautiously for high-stakes technical tasks to reduce effort or check mistakes, and limit AI in mentoring or identity-defining work that requires human judgment.
  3. AI tools must be safe, reliable, private, transparent, and easy to control, with more experienced or AI-savvy developers especially valuing transparency and steerability.
Weight and Healthcare 259 implied HN points 05 Jan 22
  1. The study findings on weight loss linked to psychiatric medications may have been misleading and lacking in specific data like actual weight loss numbers.
  2. Dropout rates in weight loss studies are often overlooked, impacting the validity of success rates reported.
  3. Published research on weight loss programs can be influenced by conflicts of interest and may not always provide accurate representations of outcomes.
Vesuvius Challenge 38 implied HN points 23 May 25
  1. New techniques for analyzing scroll shapes are improving the way we handle and segment data. This means we can understand and work with historical documents much better.
  2. There have been exciting updates in scroll deformation methods, which can help in restoring the original shapes of ancient scrolls. This makes analyzing them easier and more accurate.
  3. The new developments in fiber analysis provide important information that can help reconstruct ancient writing surfaces. This can lead to better ways to unroll and study papyrus materials.
Taipology 69 implied HN points 24 Jan 25
  1. DeepSeek-R1 is a new AI model from China that performs on par with top models at a much lower cost. This is surprising and changing the AI landscape.
  2. It uses a special 'DeepThink' mode that makes it think about responses more deeply, which helps it give better answers compared to other models.
  3. The competition is heating up, with concerns that Chinese AI could take over. DeepSeek aims not just to match the West but to innovate and lead in technology.
Teaching computers how to talk 62 implied HN points 28 Feb 25
  1. AI playing games like Pokémon can show us how smart it really is. It might be better than other tests because games need quick thinking and problem solving.
  2. Recent projects like Claude playing Pokémon on Twitch highlight how slow and confused current AI can be. It took Claude a long time to beat just one part of the game.
  3. Today's AI tests often focus on math or coding, but playing games might give a clearer picture of intelligence. We should use games to see if AI can think and adapt like humans do.
Eat Shit and Prosper 139 implied HN points 31 Jan 23
  1. Natural bacteria like _Bacteroides_ can do important tasks in our bodies better than engineered ones. They have evolved over millions of years and have a complex understanding of their role in our ecosystem.
  2. Engineering probiotics may seem like a safe option, but it often overlooks the richness of existing microbes that might serve our needs without modification.
  3. Working with natural bacteria could lead to breakthroughs in health similar to how domesticated animals have changed human life in the past; there's so much potential waiting to be explored.
TheSequence 84 implied HN points 15 Dec 24
  1. Several major tech companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft launched new AI models in a single week. This shows how quickly AI technology is progressing.
  2. OpenAI's Sora model allows users to create videos from text descriptions, but it has some limitations. It's an exciting step for video generation!
  3. Google's Gemini 2.0 has improved capabilities, allowing it to handle more complex tasks and interact more effectively with users.
Gordian Knot News 95 implied HN points 06 Nov 24
  1. The Fukushima workers faced very high radiation levels, especially near the damaged reactors, sometimes exceeding 100 mSv/h. Despite this, they showed remarkable bravery to manage the crisis.
  2. Research on the health of over 5,000 Fukushima workers found no significant health issues by the end of 2019. This suggests that the body's systems are good at repairing damage from radiation exposure.
  3. Distance from a radiation source is crucial for safety. Being more than 2 kilometers away from a nuclear release greatly reduces the risk of harm, similar to how staying a safe distance from fire keeps you safe.
Human Programming 77 implied HN points 03 Jan 25
  1. Human programming research is shifting focus to work with AI models instead of humans. This means developing systems that help AI operate more efficiently.
  2. The author has been involved in several software projects, including a consulting role where they created tools to enhance AI and web products. These experiences allowed them to explore different collaborative environments.
  3. They plan to take some time for exploration and research in AI, particularly focusing on self-modifying programs. This will allow them to deepen their understanding of both AI concepts and practical product development.
Asimov Press 232 implied HN points 17 Dec 23
  1. Biology evolved from a field of study to a problem-solving tool in the last century.
  2. Advancements in biotechnology are making impactful changes, such as reducing energy in laundry.
  3. Asimov Press aims to spread ideas on biology, emphasizing simplicity, high-impact solutions, and mechanistic reasoning.
Vesuvius Challenge 20 implied HN points 15 Aug 25
  1. They are using very small scans to understand why some layers of ancient papyrus look blurry. This helps them figure out how to get clearer images.
  2. The blurriness in the scans seems to come from the structure of the papyrus fibers, which scatter the X-rays. Identifying this can help improve future scanning methods.
  3. The team is developing tools to manage and analyze the huge amounts of data from their scans. This makes it easier to work with and improves their chances of reading the ancient texts.
bad cattitude 212 implied HN points 12 Jan 24
  1. There are upticks in cancer cases among young people globally.
  2. The study mentioned in the article only goes up to 2019, excluding data from the COVID era.
  3. There are concerns about the impact of mRNA vaccines on cancer rates and overall health.
The Gradient 87 implied HN points 16 Nov 24
  1. Mathematics is playing a bigger role in machine learning by connecting with fields like topology and geometry. This helps researchers create better tools and methods.
  2. It's not just about scaling up current methods; there's a need for new approaches based on mathematical theories. This can lead to more innovative solutions in machine learning.
  3. Mathematicians should view advancements in machine learning as chances to explore and deepen their theoretical work, not as threats to their field. Embracing these changes can lead to new discoveries.
Weight and Healthcare 259 implied HN points 08 Dec 21
  1. Weight loss doesn't necessarily lead to greater health. Behavior changes and health improvements may happen simultaneously.
  2. Fitness and mobility improvements are often wrongly attributed to weight loss. Programs and effort play a significant role.
  3. Confidence changes attributed to weight loss might be societal conditioning. Weight loss doesn't guarantee long-term success and can lead to giving up on other goals.
Let Us Face the Future 178 implied HN points 23 Jun 23
  1. Neuromorphic computing is inspired by the biological brain and integrates memory and processing, leading to more efficient computing systems.
  2. Neuromorphic chip designs are expected to win 20% of the edge AI hardware market by 2030.
  3. RRAM development is crucial for viable neuromorphic chip production, enabling cost-effective fabrication and addressing memory technology requirements.
ASeq Newsletter 29 implied HN points 02 Jul 25
  1. Protein sequencing is harder than DNA sequencing because it involves single molecules and many different amino acids, making detection tricky.
  2. Despite the challenges, protein sequencing is often about counting the same sequences many times, which might ease some of the technical demands.
  3. With advancements like nanopore technology, the future of protein sequencing could become more practical and efficient for researchers.
UX Psychology 39 implied HN points 01 Dec 23
  1. Consider implementing gamification with elements like points, badges, and leaderboards to boost creativity more effectively than relying solely on monetary rewards.
  2. When motivating for creativity, excess monetary rewards may not yield better results. Focus on fostering meaning, autonomy, and purpose in tasks instead.
  3. Applying moderate pressure through aspects like performance penalties or time constraints can increase focus, effort, and creative output when used thoughtfully.
TheSequence 70 implied HN points 10 Jan 25
  1. Microsoft's Phi-4 is a new language model that's smaller in size but powerful in performance. It shows that high-quality data can make a big difference in AI.
  2. Phi-4 has 14 billion parameters, which means it can handle complex language tasks effectively. This model builds on the success of earlier Phi models.
  3. The innovations in Phi-4 come from its unique approach to training, focusing on pre-training, mid-training, and post-training stages to enhance its capabilities.