The hottest STEM Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Advanced Math for Kids: Geometry and Algebra Are Secretly the Same

Kids Who Love Math • 83 implied HN points • 24 Mar 26
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Algebra can describe geometry: coordinates give points, equations like y = x make lines, and formulas like x^2 + y^2 = 25 make circles.
  2. Geometry and algebra are two languages for the same ideas, so switching between pictures and equations helps you understand and solve problems in physics, graphics, and engineering.
  3. A simple hands-on way to see this is to plug numbers into equations and plot the points so kids can watch shapes like parabolas and circles appear and build intuition.

Is This STEM?

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1383 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🚌 Education STEM
  1. The definition of STEM seems to be shifting, and some jobs that don't require advanced math or science are being labeled as STEM. This might make it easier for people to claim they're part of this field.
  2. Women are increasingly represented in STEM degrees and the tech industry, but many roles in healthcare are being counted as STEM without needing crucial skills like calculus or organic chemistry.
  3. It's important to ensure that a clear understanding of what constitutes a STEM job exists. Not all technical jobs necessarily fit this definition, and redefining it could impact workforce training and economic competitiveness.

Goodbye, real electronic lab kits?

lcamtuf’s thing • 4285 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🕹 Technology STEM
  1. Traditional electronic lab kits are disappearing, replaced by newer products like Snap Circuits
  2. The older kits offered a hands-on, educational experience with detailed schematics and components
  3. Newer products like Snap Circuits focus more on quick gratification than teaching electronics concepts

My School Experimented with ‘Education Equity.’ It Failed.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1381 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Mixing high-achieving and low-performing students in the same classes didn't work as intended. It led to negative outcomes for students who were doing well.
  2. The idea behind the 'multilevel classrooms' was to help students transition easily between different levels of difficulty. However, it was challenging to teach when students had very different skill levels.
  3. Though the mixed-class approach had some success in certain subjects, it struggled in STEM and language classes where a strong foundation is needed. Teachers found it hard to meet everyone's needs.

Maths Olympiad Update

By Reason Alone • 114 implied HN points • 08 Nov 25
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Stripe is now the main sponsor of the Irish Maths Olympiad, helping secure funding for the next three years. This is a huge boost for promoting maths in Ireland.
  2. More training camps and classes for students are being created, which means more young people will have opportunities to excel in maths. This includes new centres for junior maths enrichment across several locations.
  3. Ireland performed exceptionally well in the International Maths Olympiad this year, achieving its best results ever. This shows the positive impact of the recent support and funding.
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Putting the "M" in STEM

The Bell Ringer • 239 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Math is really important in STEM fields, but schools need to focus more on improving math skills. We need better math education to succeed in science and technology.
  2. Many people talk a lot about STEM, but they often overlook how crucial math is to it. If we want to see progress, math achievement needs to be a priority in education.
  3. To get students excited about STEM, we should encourage a strong foundation in math from an early age. This can help build confidence and interest in science and technology careers.

Can parents save math?

The Bell Ringer • 159 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
🚌 Education STEM
  1. More math education can help get more students into STEM fields. Parents believe that improving math is a fair way to provide opportunities.
  2. A group of parents in California is advocating for better math programs in schools. They think this will help kids who want to succeed in science and technology.
  3. Investing in math education is seen as important for the future. Parents want to ensure all students have the chance to excel in these subjects.

Soviet Lessons on Ethnic Disparities in STEM

Heterodox STEM • 220 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Soviet efforts in STEM education showed mixed results. They successfully promoted education for women and some minorities but struggled with significant under-representation of certain ethnic groups.
  2. The Soviet Union's focus on broad access to quality STEM instruction helped elevate educational standards, but the emphasis on equity didn't always lead to equal outcomes for all ethnicities.
  3. High-performance recognition and a strong commitment to STEM were central to the Soviet identity, but their rigid systems sometimes limited the potential of certain groups and led to brain drain as talent emigrated.

The science of reading, a sense of urgency

The Bell Ringer • 119 implied HN points • 12 Apr 24
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Schools need to focus on what really helps students learn. It's important to prioritize the most effective methods for teaching reading.
  2. There is a pressing need to improve education practices based on solid research. Educators should act quickly to implement what works best.
  3. Understanding how reading works can lead to better teaching strategies. This knowledge can help create a better learning environment for all students.

International Gender Disparities in Math

Heterodox STEM • 135 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Boys generally perform better than girls in high-level math, but the difference is small. At the lower end, girls often do just as well or better.
  2. Socioeconomic status and nationality have a bigger impact on math performance than gender does. Countries with more resources often show better overall math scores.
  3. Equal representation of genders in math isn't necessary or realistic. Focusing on improving math education and training for all students is more important than pushing for gender parity.

Replay: Putting the "M" in STEM

The Bell Ringer • 59 implied HN points • 17 May 24
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Math is an important part of STEM education and needs more focus. It's often overlooked, but it is essential for understanding science and technology.
  2. Encouraging students in math can help close the achievement gap. When students feel supported in math, they tend to perform better overall.
  3. There are resources and strategies available to help improve math learning. Schools and educators can use various tools to make math more engaging for students.

In defense of curiosity driven research

Heterodox STEM • 120 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🔬 Science STEM
  1. Curiosity-driven research is essential for advancing science and understanding complex theories. It helps discover fundamental truths that may not have immediate practical applications.
  2. Recent funding cuts to foundational research, especially in STEM fields, can harm the growth and competitiveness of scientific knowledge in the U.S. These cuts prioritize immediate economic gains over long-term scientific exploration.
  3. Mathematics plays a crucial role in science and technology, influencing discoveries and innovations that impact everyday life. A strong focus on mathematical ideas can lead to transformative advances in various fields.

Making Math

SCIENCE GODDESS • 98 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration STEM
  1. Crochet Coral Reef project combines art, craft, and STEM to engage people in science communication
  2. Bias against material play and embodied cognition can hinder funding for alternative STEM engagement methods
  3. Using hands-on activities like crocheting can help make math and science more accessible and engaging for a wider audience

The Palindrome in 2026

The Palindrome • 3 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
🚌 Education STEM
  1. The focus this year is on deep technical teaching: finishing a hands-on machine learning book and publishing algorithm implementations, with more explainer and animated videos alongside written posts.
  2. Paid subscribers will get exclusive, intensive 4-6 hour workshops that compress course content into single-day sessions, starting with a mathematics of machine learning workshop and later a neural networks course.
  3. The operation is scaling by hiring regular contributing educators and investing in tooling like the open-source nb2wb to automate publishing Jupyter Notebooks and speed up production.

“Merit-Based Science Is Effective and Fair”: How Such a Banal Idea Has Become Controversial

Heterodox STEM • 213 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
🔬 Science STEM
  1. Merit-based science has significantly improved our lives by leading to important inventions and medical advancements. It relies on rewarding talent and hard work, enabling people from various backgrounds to succeed.
  2. There is a growing concern about the influence of ideology on science, especially with movements pushing for diversity and equity. Some believe these changes hinder the scientific process and meritocracy.
  3. Despite claims of bias in science, studies suggest that many of these allegations lack strong evidence. Some researchers argue that society has made progress in creating equal opportunities in STEM fields.

Women in Space: #EmbraceEquity

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🔬 Science STEM
  1. Women make up only about 20-22% of the space industry workforce, and only 12% of all astronauts have been women. We need to work together to change this.
  2. Successful women in space and tech inspire others to join the field. Recognizing their achievements can encourage girls to explore careers in these areas.
  3. Organizations are helping to support women in space careers, showing that having more diverse voices leads to better innovation and exploration in the industry.

The Royal Society at a Crossroads: Scientific Merit versus Political Conformity

Heterodox STEM • 106 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🔬 Science STEM
  1. There is a debate about whether someone like Elon Musk should be kept as a Fellow of the Royal Society due to his political statements and actions. Some people believe his scientific achievements should matter more than his opinions.
  2. The discussion raises concerns about mixing politics with science. It highlights the importance of judging scientific work fairly, based on its merit, rather than personal beliefs.
  3. The Royal Society faces pressure to prioritize political views over scientific excellence. How they respond could set an important example for scientific communities everywhere.

How STEM is Sleepwalking into Wokery

Heterodox STEM • 270 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🚌 Education STEM
  1. STEM education is facing challenges with the introduction of ideologies like 'Indigenous science', leading to a shift in traditional approaches.
  2. University environments are becoming increasingly focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion, which can sometimes lead to conflict with academic freedom and rational discourse.
  3. There is a concern among some STEM professors about the impact of ideological pressures on teaching quality, mental health, and innovation within academic environments.

I Finally Listened to You and I’m So Glad I Did

The Palindrome • 3 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🚌 Education STEM
  1. A YouTube channel now hosts video versions of fan-favorite educational posts, with three "greatest hits" videos already uploaded.
  2. Subscribing is a quick, zero-cost way to support growth and help the channel reach more machine learning practitioners.
  3. The project aims to teach the fundamentals of math and machine learning clearly and steadily, avoiding hype and short-lived trends, with big plans for 2026.

STEM teaching deserves recognition

Science Forever • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🚌 Education STEM
  1. Recognizing STEM teaching as a distinct workforce is important for addressing issues like racism, sexism, misconduct, and underrepresentation in the science field.
  2. Institutions struggle to balance the value of research and teaching, often favoring research in resource allocation and decision-making.
  3. Defining undergraduate teaching staff as a separate workforce could improve governance, professional development opportunities, and evaluation criteria, ultimately benefiting both educators and institutions in the long run.

Interview with Alondra Nelson

Science Forever • 39 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics STEM
  1. Alondra Nelson focused on improving trust and transparency in science policy during her leadership at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, emphasizing the importance of restoring trust and being more transparent in government work.
  2. She highlighted the need for scientists to engage with broader societal contexts, advocating for scientists to consider the social implications of their work, especially in the intersection of science and society.
  3. Nelson prioritized advancing equity in the scientific workforce and grant-making, underscoring the significance of coordinated efforts across various government agencies and partnerships to drive meaningful change towards STEM equity and inclusion.