The hottest Research Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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A New Chapter At FreakTakes

FreakTakes • 43 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
💼 Business Research
  1. FreakTakes is evolving as a research platform to help people build and grow organizations focused on research and development. The main goal is to connect ambitious researchers with the resources they need.
  2. The blog will expand to include interviews and proposals aimed at fostering new R&D organizations. This expansion is meant to create more opportunities for innovative projects and collaborations.
  3. The author expresses gratitude for the supportive community around FreakTakes and looks forward to translating historical research insights into real-world action at Renaissance Philanthropy, while maintaining the core essence of the blog.

New report: How altered states shape our minds

Monomythical • 53 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. The jhanas are meditation practices that can create strong, blissful experiences similar to psychedelics. Many people who try them report significant changes in their lives and well-being.
  2. There is still limited research on the jhanas, which makes studying their effects challenging. Most researchers have not yet focused on these practices, making it harder to find participants for studies.
  3. A new report highlights the experiences of people who attended jhana retreats, providing valuable insights. It aims to spark more questions and research into how these meditation states influence our minds.

Weekly Top Picks #64

The Algorithmic Bridge • 116 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. New AI models like Google Gemma and Mistral Large are making waves in the tech world.
  2. Google Genie is an AI focused on game creation, showcasing the versatility of artificial intelligence applications.
  3. Ethical considerations, such as the Gemini anti-whiteness problem, are gaining attention within the AI community.

Abstraction Merchants

Systems Approach • 176 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The debate about conference practices is rooted in how we define research goals.
  2. SIGCOMM community may be more focused on improving mechanisms within current architectures than exploring new abstractions.
  3. Clarifying and valuing goals is essential to shaping conference practices.
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Nanopore Fireside Chats

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🔬 Science Research
  1. Fireside chats are popular and provide a relaxed way to discuss important topics. They create a friendly space for engaging conversations.
  2. Device placements for some products may have faced challenges recently. It's worth exploring how these changes affect business and strategy.
  3. The discussion highlighted differing views on the outlook for certain technologies, showcasing the importance of diverse opinions in business discussions.

Higher-Weight Patients and Obstetrics

Weight and Healthcare • 119 implied HN points • 26 Mar 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Pregnancy risks for individuals with higher weights are often labeled 'high risk' based on BMI without clear evidence of increased risk across all studies.
  2. Statistics around pregnancy complications for individuals with higher weights can be misunderstood and exaggerated, leading to unnecessary fear and anxiety.
  3. Research lacks definitive causative factors to explain increased risks for pregnant individuals with higher weights, often leading to biased care and stigmatization.

Gaia Network: An Illustrated Primer

Engineering Ideas • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The Gaia Network aims to improve science by making research more efficient and accountable.
  2. The Gaia Network can assist in funding science by providing quantitative impact metrics for awarding prizes and helping funders make informed decisions.
  3. Gaia Network serves as a distributed oracle for decision-making, aiding in a wide range of practical applications from farming operations to strategic planning and AI safety.

🔍 Perplexity 101: Ultimate Guide to Deep Search, Labs, Templates & 53 Pro Prompts

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi • 16 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Perplexity AI is a powerful search tool that shows you the actual information instead of just links to it. It helps you get quick answers, making your research faster and easier than traditional searches.
  2. With its Deep Search feature, Perplexity can automatically generate related searches and analyze multiple sources. This means it can create comprehensive reports, saving you a lot of time on complex questions.
  3. Perplexity isn't just for everyday queries; it can also handle advanced research tasks, like literature reviews or competitive analysis. This flexibility makes it a great tool for both students and professionals.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #80

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 114 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. The Vesuvius Challenge unlocked ancient knowledge by digitizing old scrolls using AI and 3D technology.
  2. The O'Shaughnessy Fellowships offer $100K for individuals to work on ambitious projects for a year.
  3. AI chatbots in mental health increased patient referrals, showing potential in closing accessibility gaps in treatment.

Walter and other stories

Gradient Ascendant • 11 implied HN points • 26 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. A new paper was written about teaching a small AI model to be good at social media in a way that could help with real-world problems. This AI, called Walter, aims to improve the quality of journalism through better writing.
  2. The author recently started a job at Meta Superintelligence, but clarifies that their personal opinions on AI won't reflect the company's official stance. They have also written several research papers this year, highlighting a shift in their work focus.
  3. The culture in the AI field is heavily influenced by academic traditions, unlike other software industries. The author speculates about whether this close connection to academia was inevitable for AI, and suggests that future advancements could come from new ideas.

The Current State of Social Psychology

Unsafe Science • 171 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Social psychology sheds light on human nature and behaviors through research by prominent figures.
  2. The current state of social psychology is threatened by close-minded social activism that hinders open debate and research.
  3. There is a concern that the discipline may become irrelevant if trends towards censorship and ideological control continue.

The Sequence Engineering #464: OpenAI’s Relatively Unknown Agent Framework

TheSequence • 42 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. OpenAI Swarm is a new framework designed for multi-agent systems. It helps coordinate the actions of several agents to create complex behaviors.
  2. This framework is mainly for learning and experimenting, not for real-world production use. It doesn’t come with official support from OpenAI.
  3. The Sequence is launching various series on AI engineering, research, and insights to explore important topics and advancements in the AI field.

Literature Reviews and Innovation

New Things Under the Sun • 144 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Literature reviews tend to be more highly cited than traditional research articles in academia and policy.
  2. Literature reviews help consolidate isolated niches of research into more central ideas in academia.
  3. Academic literature reviews can influence policy-making by providing a broader and more accurate picture of scientific findings.

How to Write a Book

The Analog Family • 39 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
📚 Literature Research
  1. Writing a book requires a clear proposal that outlines your ideas and structure. It helps you think deeply about what you want to say and who will read it.
  2. Research is crucial and can be organized effectively using physical notes like index cards to help you remember important information.
  3. The writing and editing processes are intense but rewarding. It can feel like a long journey, but it's an opportunity to share something you love with the world.

The New Expanded Illustrated Orwelexicon: DSM 666

Unsafe Science • 48 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. The New Expanded Illustrated Orwelexicon introduces new words to highlight biases and issues in psychology and academia. It aims to make these concepts clearer and more accessible.
  2. This resource shows how language can shape our understanding of societal problems. By using specific terms, it helps pinpoint dysfunctions within various fields.
  3. Overall, the Orwelexicon encourages critical thinking about psychology and social science. It invites people to reflect on how words influence perceptions and beliefs.

AI Roundup 094: Pixtral et Le Chat

Artificial Ignorance • 46 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Mistral AI launched a new model called Pixtral that is strong in handling different tasks while using fewer parameters than some big competitors. This showcases advancements in AI technology.
  2. Le Chat, Mistral's popular chatbot, is now comparable to ChatGPT, offering features like web search and image generation for free during its beta phase.
  3. The DOJ is pushing for changes in Google's AI partnerships due to antitrust concerns, which could affect how AI technology develops and is shared among companies.

What Distinguishes Great Software Engineers?[StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 11 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Mastery in software development can lead to significant career growth. Understand concepts deeply to excel in tech.
  2. Great software engineers possess specific traits that can be cultivated effectively. Avoid cardinal sins that bad engineers make.
  3. Research by Microsoft delves into what distinguishes great software engineers, providing valuable insights for students, mid-level developers, and seniors in the field.

Potato Riff Study: The Quicksort of science?

Experimental Fat Loss • 120 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Computer science is more about algorithms and data structures than just computers.
  2. Riff trials aim to test multiple hypotheses efficiently in science experiments.
  3. The Potato Diet Riff Trial resembles Quicksort in computer science by breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts.

Unfortunately, OpenAI and Google have moats

Democratizing Automation • 174 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Companies like OpenAI and Google have competitive advantages known as 'moats' through data and user habits.
  2. Creating and fine-tuning chatbots based on large language models require extensive data and resources, posing challenges for open-source development.
  3. Consumer behavior and association biases often prevent users from switching to alternative platforms, reinforcing the dominance of tech giants like Google.

A user researcher's guide to secondary research

UX Psychology • 99 implied HN points • 04 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Secondary research involves using existing data to answer research questions rather than gathering new data directly. It helps deepen understanding of the problem space and can save time by guiding primary research.
  2. Conducting secondary research starts by defining the research question, identifying potential sources, evaluating source reliability, conducting the search, and creating a report or summary. This process is crucial for gathering reliable information.
  3. Using academic principles like literature review can enhance the quality of secondary research in UX projects, helping to shape research questions and hypotheses based on existing knowledge.

Detecting Deepfakes in a cheap and effective way [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 04 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Deepfakes have serious legal and social consequences, especially with advancements in creating synthetic audio and video.
  2. There are cheap and effective ways to detect Deepfakes by looking for 'fingerprints' left by image tampering.
  3. Research shows promise in using simple models to detect Deepfakes by identifying differences between generated and real images.

Edge 372: Learn About CALM, Google DeepMind's Method to Augment LLMs with Other LLMs

TheSequence • 98 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Knowledge augmentation is crucial in LLM-based applications with new techniques constantly evolving to enhance LLMs by providing access to external tools or data.
  2. Exploring the concept of augmenting LLMs with other LLMs involves merging general-purpose anchor models with specialized ones to unlock new capabilities, such as combining code understanding with language generation.
  3. The process of combining different LLMs might require additional training or fine-tuning of the models, but can be hindered by computational costs and data privacy concerns.

Better Call Geoff

The Ruffian • 172 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Geoffrey Hinton resigned from Google due to concerns about AI safety
  2. Neural networks are essential in AI advancements
  3. Governments should fund research into AI safety similar to a Manhattan Project

New ways to make scientific advancements?

Digital in bio • 19 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Technological progress is advancing at an unprecedented rate, driven by diverse sources like companies and academia.
  2. Institutions like Bell Labs in the past and present-day industrial R&D labs showcase the benefits of structured, well-funded research initiatives.
  3. Non-profit organizations focusing on open science are emerging as crucial players in the scientific community, promoting collaboration, transparency, and interdisciplinary advancement.

America's Two-Front War on Science

Critical Mass • 10 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🔬 Science Research
  1. There are two big problems affecting science in the U.S. One comes from inside universities, where some groups are interfering with research and free speech.
  2. The other problem is a direct attack from the current government on science and research systems, which could harm the integrity of higher education.
  3. Both these issues are serious, and we need to fix them to protect the quality and reliability of scientific knowledge in America.

Abrus Bio, Inc.

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🔬 Science Research
  1. Abrus Bio is working on technology involving DNA sequencing for analysis. This means they are using DNA to read information, similar to what other companies are doing.
  2. There is a discussion happening in an online community about Abrus Bio, showing that there is interest and curiosity in their work.
  3. The author is researching patents related to Abrus Bio to understand more about their technology and innovations. This shows the importance of looking into legal documents to learn about new developments.

Tsunami invariant

Model Thinking • 39 implied HN points • 18 Dec 22
🔬 Science Research
  1. This post explores how factors like remittances, capital stocks, and immigrant effects on productivity impact the population trajectory under open borders.
  2. The analysis shows that the case for open borders remains robust even with substantial negative impacts on productivity, suggesting significant population growth under various scenarios.
  3. Limitations of the model include the lack of consideration for certain effects on total factor productivity in origin countries and the absence of estimates on global welfare and utility changes due to migration.

The Funniest Gene Name in History

Eat Shit and Prosper • 79 implied HN points • 08 Nov 22
🔬 Science Research
  1. Gene names can be funny, like fucose mutarotase, which has an amusing history behind it. Naming genes can be tricky, so in 2020, standards were set to avoid confusion from auto-formatting in software like Excel.
  2. Scientists found that the fucose mutarotase gene affects behavior in mice. Knockout mice without this gene behaved like males, showing how genes can influence sexual behavior.
  3. The research suggests hormones during fetal development, specifically estradiol, play a key role in shaping behavior. This highlights the complex relationship between genetics, hormones, and behavior.

The Sequence Knowledge #463: Wrapping Up our Series About Knowledge Distillation: Pros and Cons

TheSequence • 35 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Knowledge distillation is a method where a smaller model learns from a larger, more complex model. This helps make the smaller model efficient while retaining essential features.
  2. The series covered different techniques and challenges in knowledge distillation, highlighting its importance in machine learning and AI development. Understanding these can help when deciding if this approach is suitable for your projects.
  3. It's useful to be aware of both the benefits and drawbacks of knowledge distillation. This helps in figuring out the best way to implement it in real-world applications.

Everything Wrong with Mouse Studies (Kinda)

Asimov Press • 180 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Many scientific results from mouse studies do not translate well to humans.
  2. Various factors like cage location, scientist's sex, and even odors can impact mouse studies.
  3. Considerations like using more female mice or adjusting environmental factors can improve the reliability of mouse studies.

Robotic insect, navigation, and scientific discovery strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 17 implied HN points • 19 May 25
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Roboticists are learning from insects to improve robot designs, especially in how they land. By studying how crane flies land, they can create safer landing techniques for flying robots.
  2. Insects have different methods for landing safely, like using controlled flights or soft body impacts. Scientists are using these methods to design robotic limbs that help drones land softly on various surfaces.
  3. The work on robotic insects shows how nature can inspire technology. By looking at how real insects behave, engineers can create smarter and more efficient machines.