The hottest Technology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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veDeFi: Novel Innovation or Liquidity Trap?

DeFi Education • 759 implied HN points • 30 Jan 22
🔮 Crypto Technology
  1. veTokens are a special type of token created by Curve Finance that many other projects are now using. They help in giving users more control over their governance.
  2. There's a concern that veTokens could trap liquidity, meaning it might be hard to pull out funds once they're invested. This makes some people cautious about using them.
  3. Analyzing veToken designs can help understand their benefits and risks, which is important for anyone looking to invest in or use these types of tokens.

This Week in Marketing: Pinterest vs. Snap, Meta's scam ads, AI Search, and teen safety in 2025

The Social Juice • 22 implied HN points • 09 Nov 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Pinterest's user growth was strong, but its stock took a big hit due to lower ad revenue from tariffs. It's important for companies to adapt their strategies in response to changing market conditions.
  2. Meta is making a lot of money from scam ads, which raises concerns about trust and integrity in digital advertising. Brands need to be careful about where they invest their marketing dollars.
  3. Discord is focusing on teen safety by introducing new features, showing that companies are becoming more aware of their responsibilities to protect young users online.

Coder Subculture: An Exploration

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Software coders form a unique subculture that plays a significant role in our digital world, with problem-solving at the core of their activities.
  2. Coders infuse cultural influences into their code, showcasing their problem-solving abilities and dedication to efficiency, sometimes shaping their lifestyle around coding.
  3. Understanding the values and mindset of coders is essential for society to harness their creativity for developing software products that benefit humanity.

On Mystery Science Theater 3000

Banana Peel Pirouette • 98 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. The humor and appeal of Mystery Science Theater 3000 was deeply rooted in the unique media environment of late twentieth-century cable television.
  2. The evolution of viewing habits from channel surfing to deliberate selection has influenced the way audiences engage with TV shows like MST3K, affecting its continued relevance.
  3. The technological and cultural changes in media consumption over time play a significant role in how audience reception and appreciation of older cultural artifacts like MST3K evolve.
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#120 Hands-on design 🤲

Design Lobster • 319 implied HN points • 17 Oct 22
🪑 Design Technology
  1. Sketching can help advance design thinking by bridging the gap between our minds and reality.
  2. Designs like the Mi.Mu gloves show how technology can enable more expressive ways of interaction.
  3. Consider infusing designs with elements that allow people to express themselves intuitively and creatively.

'We realised our business model is now obsolete'

Make Work Better • 81 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. AI technology is quickly changing the way businesses operate, and traditional business models may not work as effectively anymore. Companies need to train their employees on these new technologies to stay relevant.
  2. Surveys show that many people find AI more compassionate than humans in roles like therapy. This highlights that while we value human empathy, AI can sometimes provide a better experience.
  3. Work culture is affected by social connections among employees. Having better relationships at work can lead to safer and more successful workplaces, as seen in aviation studies.

Living in a Lucid Dream

Wild Information • 98 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Lucid dreaming techniques like reality testing can help control your dreams
  2. Dreams can be as real to our brains as waking experiences
  3. Writing may inadvertently reveal truths, blurring the lines of reality and fiction

The Coming Skillmageddon

Bojan’s Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
💼 Business Technology
  1. The future of work is being shaped by the commodification of skills
  2. Leaders need to do more to prepare knowledge workers for the impact of automation
  3. There is a lack of understanding on how to adapt to a future where skills can be easily replaced by machines

Is Technology Shrinking Our Brains?

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Our brains have been shrinking for thousands of years, and one theory suggests this could be due to technology advances, posing questions about our future evolution.
  2. Research indicates that our brains began shrinking around 100,000 years ago, potentially linked to the rise of agriculture and the shift in human lifestyle habits.
  3. As we continue to rely on technology for cognitive tasks like AI and information storage, we may be rewiring our brains, raising ethical concerns and possibilities for a more powerful future of human evolution.

Uniswap Part 2 - Valuation and Q&A

DeFi Education • 999 implied HN points • 26 Jul 21
🔮 Crypto Technology
  1. Understanding Uniswap's valuation helps investors see its financial health and growth potential.
  2. Different investors may have different opinions on ownership and exposure in Uniswap, which can affect decision-making.
  3. Having a clear view of how Uniswap works can lead to better investment choices in the DeFi space.

Kingdom of characters

The Global Jigsaw • 79 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. China's core identity is maintained through its unique written language and food.
  2. The written Chinese language has remained largely unchanged for 2200 years.
  3. Challenges arise in making Chinese characters compatible with modern technology like keyboards.

The Monthly Salon: January

The Abbey of Misrule • 153 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. There are several upcoming events in 2025 in Ireland, England, and the USA focused on topics like Christianity, culture, and nature. These events include discussions, talks, and community activities.
  2. People are experiencing significant changes in technology, politics, and climate this year. Many are reflecting on how these changes make them feel and what they want to achieve in the new year.
  3. The author is curious about readers' thoughts and resolutions for the new year. They encourage open conversation about feelings surrounding current events and personal goals.

Innovation Job Market Papers 2024 (3/3)

New Things Under the Sun • 192 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. Many new PhD researchers are studying innovation topics in their job market papers. These papers are valuable for understanding current trends in technology and business.
  2. Some research focuses on how companies adapt their innovation strategies in response to challenges like climate change and competition. This shows that innovation is not just about new ideas but also about practical responses to real-world issues.
  3. There is growing interest in how digital platforms influence entrepreneurship. These platforms can help small businesses thrive and increase diversity in the market, which benefits consumers.

The Land of Confusion

Malt Liquidity • 10 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Nostalgia and simple pattern recognition make formulaic TV and procedural stories pleasurable, and modern engagement-driven incentives are pushing shows toward easier, less nuanced writing.
  2. AI-generated text often produces plausible but flat patterns that tempt people to overinterpret and can trigger a referential, feedback-loop style of thinking.
  3. A practical defense is to treat beliefs like market positions: put stakes or predictions on them, balance conviction with measurable outcomes, and accept that many things are ultimately unknowable.

Edwin Cohn and the Harvard Blood Factory

Asimov Press • 174 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Edwin Cohn greatly advanced medical treatments during World War II by developing blood products that helped save soldiers' lives. His team created more stable albumin solutions that could be used in emergencies, proving crucial for treating wounded soldiers.
  2. Cohn transformed his lab from a focus on theoretical experiments to practical applications during the war. He implemented pilot plants that increased efficiency, allowing for the quick transition from lab findings to actual medical products.
  3. Cohn's approach shows the importance of combining solid funding, teamwork, and a clear vision to tackle big scientific problems. His success reflects how having the right infrastructure and support can allow researchers to make impactful discoveries.

My Kids Will Fancy Generative AI, I Choose to Fight It

The Algorithmic Bridge • 445 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. The advancements in AI will impact job opportunities - some will be lost while others will be created, resulting in a nuanced narrative of change over time.
  2. As technology evolves, historical professions such as writing have faced transformation and adaptation, oftentimes leading to loss, but also gain.
  3. Individuals hold power to influence the future direction of technology and writing, emphasizing the importance of human creativity and intent in a world dominated by AI.

Overcoming challenges in Martian and Earth agriculture: a path to sustainable food production

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🔬 Science Technology
  1. Growing food on Mars will be challenging. Scientists need to consider energy needs, special farming techniques, and the importance of making the environment attractive for all settlers.
  2. For a permanent Mars colony, it’s better to produce most food on-site rather than bringing it from Earth. This means finding ways to efficiently grow food using available Martian resources.
  3. Advancements in technology, like genetic engineering and farm automation, are crucial. These innovations can help make food production sustainable both on Mars and here on Earth.

Pace Yourself

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 495 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. In a fast-paced world, embrace varying speeds and allow different layers to move at their own pace.
  2. Building a strong foundation of knowledge allows for better understanding of new ideas and innovations.
  3. Consider pace layering when analyzing businesses and technologies, focusing on long-term impacts and deeper context.

The DeFi Roundup (October 15, 2022)

DeFi Education • 399 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
🔮 Crypto Technology
  1. The DeFi Llama team is continuously improving and adding new features, so it's good to stay updated on their site and social media.
  2. Regular weekly roundups help paid subscribers catch up quickly on important market events in just five minutes.
  3. Uniswap is raising funds, which is noteworthy for those interested in DeFi developments.

Oracle Manipulation: What You Need to Know

DeFi Education • 599 implied HN points • 10 Apr 22
🔮 Crypto Technology
  1. Oracles are important because they bring outside data into blockchains, helping many DeFi services work properly. Without them, these services would struggle to function.
  2. Due to their importance, oracles can be targeted by hackers and exploiters who want to manipulate the prices or information they provide. This creates risks for all users relying on that data.
  3. Understanding how oracle manipulation works is crucial for anyone involved in DeFi. It helps you protect your investments and make informed decisions.

Happy Christmas with Giraffes

SCIENCE GODDESS • 78 implied HN points • 25 Dec 23
🔬 Science Technology
  1. AI training sets have too many images of giraffes, raising the question of the right amount for training sets.
  2. Tech researchers contributed to the abundance of giraffes in AI training sets due to their interest and photos from safaris.
  3. It's a fun philosophical conundrum, wishing a merry Christmas with Santa, wise-men, and giraffes.

What Do You Do With an Idea?

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 216 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Technology
  1. Good ideas aren't hard to find; they just need to be used. Many solid concepts from the past are still waiting to be applied today.
  2. Ideas aren’t getting harder to discover but are harder to implement due to regulations and risk aversion. It's about making those ideas actionable.
  3. To make real progress, we need skilled people who can take old and new ideas and bring them to life, along with policies that lower the cost of innovation.

what does durability even mean?

Superfluid • 53 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. In the AI market, just being fast and focused isn't enough anymore. Companies need to act quickly and take risks to stay competitive.
  2. Timing in launching a product is really important, as demonstrated by the different growth rates of Lovable and Replit. Even having a great product doesn't guarantee success if you miss the right moment.
  3. To succeed, AI startups should focus on unique strategies and strong processes because traditional advantages aren't as effective. They need to stand out rather than just copy what others are doing.

What is creativity?

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Creativity involves mixing different ideas and using randomness, which everyone can try doing in their own way. It's fun to combine things, even if the results are silly.
  2. Iteration, or making improvements over time, is a key part of creativity. Trying something out, checking if it's good, and tweaking it again helps develop better ideas.
  3. As technology like LLMs improves, creativity might be redefined. What we see as creative today could change as machines get better at combining and generating ideas.

Peter and the Basilisk

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Technology
  1. Western cultures have a deep-rooted belief in prophecy, with expectations of history culminating in certain ways.
  2. Marx's economic theories remain relevant, but his prophetic visions of global communism are more an issue of faith than science.
  3. The clash between tech utopianism and eco-pessimism highlights how different ideologies shape views of the future, from Singularity to climate crisis.

The Cleavage and Technologization of Knowing

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🚌 Education Technology
  1. Specialization of labor and the rise of a literate elite led to a cleavage of knowledge across societies, with information monopolies and limited access to learning.
  2. The printing press and now the internet have transformed how we handle information, shifting towards automated thinking but potentially limiting deep understanding and critical thinking.
  3. Progress in human intelligence and virtue through technology has been a long debate, as greater access to information doesn't necessarily equate to greater wisdom or reason.

A 3-Part Series: Thriving Across the Worlds of Finance, Business, Data, and Technology

The Data Score • 118 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
💼 Business Technology
  1. Problems in the fields of finance, business, data, and technology are becoming more interconnected and complex.
  2. There is a need to break down silos and create alignment among stakeholders to make more impactful decisions.
  3. Increasing overlap between business, data, and technology requires expertise from multiple domains to navigate high-risk environments.

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. The movie 'Overdrawn at the Memory Bank' showcases a blend of ambition and incomprehension in its attempt to imagine a futuristic world, highlighting a theme of technological advancement outpacing individual understanding.
  2. Specialization in modern society has led to increased complexity and automation, resulting in individuals having limited understanding of the technology that surrounds them.
  3. The advancement of high technology has ironically led to a decrease in general technical knowledge among the populace, making society more ritualistic in its approach to technology and the world.

Artificial intelligence and mRNA vaccines are not going to cure cancer

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 156 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Technology
  1. Artificial intelligence and mRNA vaccines are not expected to cure cancer. Both technologies have limitations that make them less effective in treating this complex disease.
  2. Cancer therapeutic vaccines have been studied extensively, but only one has received FDA approval, and it shows only a slight benefit in survival. Overall, these vaccines often do not work as hoped.
  3. AI struggles to diagnose cancer accurately and often lacks the needed data to improve this. Simply detecting cancer is not enough; finding the right treatment for each specific case is much more complicated.

My Laptop Has No Smell

Thoughts on a Typewriter • 117 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. Digital devices like laptops have no smell, unlike traditional items like typewriters.
  2. Despite the convenience of ebooks, many people still prefer physical books due to the sensory experience they offer, such as smell, feel, and sight.
  3. Humans are drawn to sensory experiences like smell, and it influences our behaviors and preferences.

The Friday Focus: Issue 74

The Weekly Update • 117 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
💰 Finance Technology
  1. K33 Research is rebranding and moving to a new platform, launching a research subscription service.
  2. Coinbase, Paxos, Google, and Microsoft are making headlines in the cryptocurrency space.
  3. Layoffs in the industry continue, while partnerships and investments in crypto-related ventures are also on the rise.

Chips For America

Investing 101 • 46 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
💼 Business Technology
  1. Investing in domestic semiconductor manufacturing is crucial for the US. It helps ensure that the country can produce its own technology safely.
  2. Despite America's challenges, there is optimism about its potential for solutions and growth. This positive outlook is important for progress.
  3. Research on creating an American semiconductor company highlights its significance in global stability and future conflicts. It shows how interconnected technology and national security are.

🍿 A stan-tastic show and tell.

New_ Public • 117 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Technology
  1. New team members at New_Public shared interesting projects and discoveries.
  2. The importance of creating shared experiences in digital spaces was highlighted.
  3. Exploring the intersection of moral philosophy, public policy, and technology.

The Path Forward

DeFi Weekly • 117 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
💰 Finance Technology
  1. All value on earth will shift to public chains in the next decade
  2. The speed of crypto adoption is likely faster than internet adoption due to existing infrastructure
  3. Believing in the future of crypto is crucial, regardless of specific catalysts for growth