The hottest Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

What We're Listening to: Robin Hood, Space Civilization, and More

drpawd • 0 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎙 Podcasts Science History Pop culture Space AI
  1. Discover the power of mental training and visualization for improved learning from The Huberman Lab Podcast.
  2. Explore the mystery of whether Robin Hood was a real person or a fictional character from Stuff You Should Know.
  3. Learn about cutting-edge research on space structures and the potential for humanity's first space civilization from StarTalk.

The hedgehog and the lobotomist

Perambulations • 0 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Research Science Innovation Education
  1. Megan McArdle highlights the complexity of Walter Freeman's character and his impact on patients despite his controversial procedures.
  2. Don't tie your fate solely to one project or idea to avoid potential downfall if it falls out of favor.
  3. Balancing the benefits and costs of being a 'hedgehog' - someone highly focused and persistent - is crucial for progress without blind spots.
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An LLM-based “exemplary actor”

Engineering Ideas • 0 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Ethics Science Research Risk Analysis
  1. The exemplary actor uses a powerful LLM and narrow AI tools to generate perfectly ethical plans aligned with scientific theories.
  2. Alignment on methodological and scientific disciplines is vital for goal alignment and plan alignment.
  3. Challenges include direct LLM access risks, alien world model influences, and the need to mitigate capability handicaps from ethical alignment.

My 2023 Year in Books

Research && Reflection • 0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
📚 Literature Fiction Philosophy Technology Science Art & Illustration
  1. The novel 'Runaway Horses' by Yukio Mishima explores revolution and conservatism in pre-WWII Japan.
  2. Ellen Ullman's book 'Close to the Machine' tells stories from her life as a software engineer in San Francisco, including her experiences with methamphetamine.
  3. 'Siddhartha' by Herman Hesse is a profound story of a prince's spiritual journey towards enlightenment.

Dark Enlightenment

Expressive Egg • 0 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature Art & Illustration Technology Science
  1. Nick Land's writing style is complex and obscure, making it hard to pin down his actual beliefs and arguments.
  2. Land's philosophy focuses on criticizing democracy, tolerance, and left-liberalism, advocating for a techno-enthusiast, authoritarian future.
  3. Land's work reflects postmodern, capitalist apogee philosophy, delving into inscrutable depths but lacking genuine depth, offering provocative notions without real substance.

ScholarAI's Future, and Welcome to Dr. Gabriel Bietz as our new Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder

Culture and Growth • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medicine Science Technology Business Research
  1. ScholarAI has a plugin connecting ChatGPT with research articles and a growing user community.
  2. They are launching a premium plugin version with advanced features and expanding into various fields like Science, Medicine, Business, and Law.
  3. Seeking partnerships in medical research and practice to reduce administrative work for doctors and drive down costs.

Turning Point in AI — Leaders Rally for a Natural AI Initiative

Spatial Web AI by Denise Holt • 0 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Science Policy Ethics Regulation
  1. A next generation of AI is emerging based on scientific principles and findings, capable of adaptive learning with less computing resources.
  2. Leaders are advocating for a model of AI fundamentally different from data-intensive systems, proposing Active Inference as a transparent, ethical, and beneficial approach.
  3. Proposals advocate for a future where AI mirrors natural neural systems, prioritizing efficiency, autonomy, and adaptability, and promoting collaboration among stakeholders for equitable, inclusive, and beneficial AI development.

social tipping points.

Douglass’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Society Education Law Internet Journalism Health Science
  1. Climate discussions often focus on physical causes and responses, but the impact of social structures on climate management is crucial.
  2. Key social factors like education, law, income systems, and journalism require thorough discussion and attention in climate action.
  3. Addressing issues such as social control of technology, finance, food, and family structures is important for sustainable climate management.

Modern Left is Doublethink

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Social Issues Free speech Science Dissent
  1. The modern left claims to champion tolerance and acceptance but often silences differing opinions, showcasing hypocrisy.
  2. Methods of the modern left can further segregate society through emphasis on identity politics rather than uniting through fundamental values.
  3. Despite portraying themselves as advocates of free speech and evidence-based decision-making, the modern left dismisses dissenting viewpoints and stifles honest discussions, hindering real progress.

Exploring the Contributions of Francis Bacon to Philosophy

Wayne's Earth • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Empiricism Science Knowledge acquisition
  1. Francis Bacon emphasized empiricism, believing that knowledge should be based on observation and experience rather than theory or speculation, paving the way for the scientific method.
  2. Bacon made significant contributions to inductive reasoning, focusing on drawing conclusions from specific observations and using patterns to make generalizations about nature, which became a core component of modern scientific research.
  3. Bacon's works laid the foundation for modern science by prioritizing observation, experimentation, and systematic inductive reasoning over speculative theories, shaping our current understanding of knowledge acquisition.

Book Review: "The Biggest Bluff" by Maria Konnikova 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 09 Aug 21
📚 Literature Book review Psychology Science Personal Development Storytelling
  1. The game of poker, particularly Texas Hold'em, is compared to the game of life, supported by insights from John Von Neumann and game theory.
  2. The book blends research on learning, decision making, and human behavior with the author's personal journey, emotions, doubts, and humor.
  3. The author's experience of learning poker from scratch, with a world-class player as her teacher, adds an engaging aspect to the book.

Session 15 Reminder

Quantum Formalism • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 21
🚌 Education Science Mathematics Physics Quantum
  1. The session covers topics like Eigenvectors & Eigenvalues, Spectrum & Eigenspaces, Diagonalization, and The Spectral Theorem for Hermitian matrices.
  2. Newcomers are welcome, but may find it challenging if they haven't covered previous sessions or don't have a background in relevant university-level physics/mathematics.
  3. The upcoming session will focus on Quantum Axioms, the Shut up & Calculate Challenge, and Study Material Comments.

Economists, at conferences, wearing masks

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Masks Vaccines Science Decision-making Community
  1. Economists at conferences are debating whether mask mandates should be enforced - valid reasons support the policy include the efficacy of high-grade masks and the encouragement of testing before attendance.
  2. Considerations around whether mask mandates should be individual choices or community decisions are being raised - the discussion extends to vaccine mandates and the public good rationale.
  3. The economy's interaction with pandemic health measures presents a nuanced debate - balancing personal freedoms with ensuring safety in large gatherings.

What cheeses me off

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jan 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Vaccination Public Health Immunity Behavior Science
  1. Vaccination has benefits beyond protection that are being overlooked, like conserving scarce vaccine doses by testing for antibodies in individuals who have already had Covid-19.
  2. Public health messages are simplistic and may not account for evolving situations, such as the potential for vaccinated individuals to spread the virus.
  3. Locking up vaccinated individuals without allowing them more freedom can hinder understanding their role in spreading the virus, and a lack of flexibility in responses may lead to behavioral challenges in the future.

Straight-up nightmare fuel

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 06 May 22
🎭️ Culture Internet Science Social Issues Media Fashion
  1. Abortion bans may force individuals to travel across state lines or turn to online pharmacies for help.
  2. Investigators could potentially use digital records, like online searches and app usage, to pursue criminal cases related to abortion.
  3. Concerns exist about increased internet surveillance and tracking of individuals seeking reproductive care.

Not-so-obvious

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Internet culture Pop culture Social media Science Entertainment
  1. Hank the Tank, a 500-pound bear, is breaking into homes near Lake Tahoe for snacks, gaining fame and support from people.
  2. Potato controversies, like Mr. Potato Head losing the 'Mr.' title, show how common sense can clash with scientific explanations, sparking debates.
  3. Fun science facts, like monkeys in Japan preferring salty sweet potatoes or evidence that knives made from frozen feces don't work, highlight the importance of funding research for interesting discoveries.

What are the appropriate ways to ignore people?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 14
🕹 Technology Internet Social media Science Culture Entertainment
  1. William Gibson predicted cyberspace and the web in his sci-fi works but did not foresee Facebook and our constant connectivity.
  2. Internet memes can have surprising longevity due to being cultural ideas studied by science.
  3. Some people have high-paying, seemingly carefree jobs like a "digital prophet" who earns six figures to travel and do very little.

I am hungry, though... not just for enchiladas.

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 14
🎭️ Culture Food & Drink Literature Science Humor Technology
  1. July 22 is a unique date with various celebrations like birthdays and National Hammock Day.
  2. Outsourcing emotional labor to machines is concerning for various reasons such as loss of human connection and care.
  3. People can have surprising passions and careers that don't align, like being a poet while working in IT.