Top stories

2025: The Year in LLMs
simonw about 8 hours ago

2025: The Year in LLMs

The article provides an overview of the major developments in the field of large language models (LLMs) in 2025, including advancements in areas such as improved performance, increased accessibility, and the emergence of specialized LLMs for different domains and use cases.

simonwillison.net
393 212
Summary
I canceled my book deal
azhenley about 14 hours ago

I canceled my book deal

The article discusses an author's experience with a book deal being canceled, highlighting the challenges and uncertainties faced by writers in the publishing industry. It explores the author's perspective on the situation and the broader implications for aspiring authors.

austinhenley.com
433 254
Summary
picture about 5 hours ago

Flow5 released to open source

The article discusses the latest release notes for the Flow5 platform, detailing new features, improvements, and bug fixes that have been implemented to enhance the user experience and functionality of the platform.

flow5.tech
51 2
Summary
jbaptiste about 8 hours ago

Show HN: BusterMQ, Thread-per-core NATS server in Zig with io_uring

bustermq.sh
70 13
Luc about 10 hours ago

Resistance training load does not determine hypertrophy

physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
113 113
Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO after six decades
ValentineC about 11 hours ago

Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO after six decades

Warren Buffett, the renowned investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, steps down as CEO after leading the company for over six decades. Greg Abel, Berkshire's vice chairman, is named as the new CEO, marking the end of an era for the iconic 'Oracle of Omaha'.

latimes.com
535 369
Summary
Pixar's True Story
kristianp about 6 hours ago

Pixar's True Story

The article explores the origins and early history of Pixar, the acclaimed computer animation studio behind beloved films like Toy Story and Finding Nemo. It chronicles the company's humble beginnings as a technology research group and its journey to becoming a pioneering force in the world of computer animation.

computerhistory.org
33 4
Summary
Demystifying DVDs
boltzmann-brain 3 days ago

Demystifying DVDs

The article discusses the development and release of Shadow the Hedgehog, a spin-off title in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise. It explores the game's controversies, such as its mature themes and the challenges faced during its production.

hiddenpalace.org
155 14
Summary
coldpie about 15 hours ago

Web Browsers have stopped blocking pop-ups

The article discusses how major web browsers have stopped blocking pop-ups, allowing websites to display these advertisements more freely. This shift in browser policies could impact the online user experience and raise concerns about privacy and data collection.

smokingonabike.com
133 102
Summary
Ÿnsect, a French insect farming startup, has been been placed into liquidation
fcpguru 5 days ago

Ÿnsect, a French insect farming startup, has been been placed into liquidation

The article discusses the downfall of Ynsect, a French startup that had raised over $600 million to farm insects for animal feed and food production. It examines the challenges the company faced, including technical difficulties, regulatory hurdles, and market realities that ultimately led to the collapse of its ambitious plans.

techcrunch.com
100 102
Summary
My role as a founder-CTO: year 8
ridruejo 6 days ago

My role as a founder-CTO: year 8

The article explores the role and responsibilities of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in a tech company, highlighting the evolving nature of the position over the past 8 years. It covers the key skills and expertise required for the CTO role, as well as the shift in focus from technical to strategic responsibilities.

miguelcarranza.es
124 105
Summary
PaulHoule about 10 hours ago

Scientists unlock brain's natural clean-up system for new treatments for stroke

Scientists have discovered a new mechanism in the brain's natural clean-up system that could lead to the development of treatments for stroke and other neurological diseases. This discovery provides insights into the brain's ability to remove waste and repair damage, which could have important implications for the development of therapies for various neurological conditions.

monash.edu
142 31
Summary
schappim about 19 hours ago

Tell HN: Happy New Year

307 170
QueensGambit about 12 hours ago

All-optical synthesis chip for large-scale intelligent semantic vision

A study reveals a new type of magnetism in a material made of iron, cobalt, and platinum atoms. The findings suggest this material could have potential applications in energy-efficient magnetic devices and memory storage.

science.org
68 13
Summary
dinerville 4 days ago

Build Software. Build Users

The article explores the concept of building software to serve users, rather than just focusing on technology. It emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and designing software solutions that address those needs effectively.

dima.day
11 1
Summary
GoGoGrandparent (YC S16) Is Hiring Tech Leads
davidchl about 7 hours ago

GoGoGrandparent (YC S16) Is Hiring Tech Leads

GoGoGrandparent, a Y Combinator-backed startup from the S16 batch, is hiring for technical lead positions. The company provides a platform to help seniors access on-demand services like ridesharing, meal delivery, and more.

ycombinator.com
1 0
Summary
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (1923)
thomassmith65 4 days ago

Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (1923)

This article provides a detailed analysis of the history and development of the United States from the colonial era to the early 20th century, examining the political, economic, and social changes that shaped the nation's growth and emergence as a global power.

gutenberg.org
14 7
Summary
Observed Agent Sandbox Bypasses
m-hodges 4 days ago

Observed Agent Sandbox Bypasses

The article explores the integration of the YOLO (You Only Look Once) object detection algorithm into the Sandbox virtual world, allowing for real-time object recognition and tracking within the game environment. It discusses the potential applications and benefits of this technology in the context of gaming and simulation.

voratiq.com
42 31
Summary
PyPI in 2025: A Year in Review
miketheman about 13 hours ago

PyPI in 2025: A Year in Review

This article provides an annual review of PyPI, the Python Package Index, highlighting key changes, updates, and trends in the Python ecosystem during 2025. It covers topics such as package growth, user adoption, and platform improvements.

blog.pypi.org
63 18
Summary
todsacerdoti about 14 hours ago

On privacy and control

This article discusses the importance of privacy and personal control in the digital age. It explores the challenges of maintaining privacy in an increasingly interconnected world and the need for individuals to have greater control over their personal data and online experiences.

toidiu.com
161 90
Summary
based2 about 17 hours ago

The compiler is your best friend

The article discusses the importance of writing code that is honest and transparent to the compiler, as the compiler can be a powerful ally in optimizing and improving code performance. It emphasizes the need to embrace the compiler's capabilities and work collaboratively with it, rather than trying to outsmart or trick it.

blog.daniel-beskin.com
154 105
Summary
tosh about 22 hours ago

Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design (2011) [pdf]

The article presents 'Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design', a set of principles and guidelines for designing successful spacecraft. The laws cover various aspects, including the importance of simplicity, understanding the system, and considering the entire lifecycle of the project.

ece.uvic.ca
285 87
Summary
Xyra 1 day ago

Show HN: Use Claude Code to Query 600 GB Indexes over Hacker News, ArXiv, etc.

Paste in my prompt to Claude Code with an embedded API key for accessing my public readonly SQL+vector database, and you have a state-of-the-art research tool over Hacker News, arXiv, LessWrong, and dozens of other high-quality public commons sites. Claude whips up the monster SQL queries that safely run on my machine, to answer your most nuanced questions.

There's also an Alerts functionality, where you can just ask Claude to submit a SQL query as an alert, and you'll be emailed when the ultra nuanced criteria is met (and the output changes). Like I want to know when somebody posts about "estrogen" in a psychoactive context, or enough biology metaphors when talking about building infrastructure.

Currently have embedded: posts: 1.4M / 4.6M comments: 15.6M / 38M That's with Voyage-3.5-lite. And you can do amazing compositional vector search, like search @FTX_crisis - (@guilt_tone - @guilt_topic) to find writing that was about the FTX crisis and distinctly without guilty tones, but that can mention "guilt".

I can embed everything and all the other sources for cheap, I just literally don't have the money.

exopriors.com
329 117
Summary
ingve 5 days ago

So I started cloning the Wii U gamepad [video]

youtube.com
27 2
YouTube
When square pixels aren't square
PaulHoule about 19 hours ago

When square pixels aren't square

The article explores the history and evolution of square pixels in digital media, discussing how the shift from traditional aspect ratios to square pixels has impacted photography, video, and user interfaces. It examines the technical and aesthetic implications of this change, as well as the societal and cultural factors that have driven the adoption of square pixels in various digital platforms.

alexwlchan.net
125 57
Summary
fork-bomber about 18 hours ago

Iron Beam: Israel's first operational anti drone laser system

The Israeli Ministry of Defense and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have delivered the first operational High-Power Laser system, called Iron Beam, to the Israeli Defense Forces. The Iron Beam is a laser-based air defense system designed to intercept and destroy incoming threats such as rockets, mortars, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

mod.gov.il
125 222
Summary
a1k0n about 17 hours ago

Scaffolding to Superhuman: How Curriculum Learning Solved 2048 and Tetris

The article discusses the application of curriculum learning to the game of 2048 and Tetris, demonstrating how this technique can improve the performance of reinforcement learning agents in complex environments by breaking down the task into smaller, easier-to-learn subgoals.

kywch.github.io
127 30
Summary
phoenix_ashes 6 days ago

Microtonal Spiral Piano

This article explores the concept of a spiral as a fundamental pattern in nature, examining its presence in various natural phenomena, including galaxies, seashells, and plant growth. The author discusses the mathematical principles and mathematical beauty underlying the spiral form and its significance in understanding the natural world.

shih1.github.io
94 13
Summary
The Delete Act
weaksauce about 8 hours ago

The Delete Act

The article discusses the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), also known as the California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act (CPRE), which expands consumer privacy rights and establishes a dedicated privacy enforcement agency in the state. The summary highlights the key aspects of the CPRA, including its provisions for consumer data rights, business obligations, and the creation of the California Privacy Protection Agency.

privacy.ca.gov
158 66
Summary
vismit2000 about 20 hours ago

The most famous transcendental numbers

The article discusses the concept of transcendental numbers, which are real numbers that cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers. It explores the history and significance of these enigmatic numbers, which have applications in various fields of mathematics and science.

sprott.physics.wisc.edu
153 99
Summary