Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit | smath's commentslogin

I for one am happy to see an engineer at the helm.

Loved the writeup.

I'll just drop a note here to say that these spherical harmonics are also used in creating specialized neural network layers that are useful for modeling 3D objects like point clouds and moleculues, proteins, etc. Basically whenever we want to make sure that rotating / translating the object doesnt make a new object. [0] is a good reference for this.

Even more interesting is that these are the same spherical harmonics that appear as solutions to Schrodinger's equation in quantum mechanics (s, p, d, f orbitals in an atom) [1]

[0] https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.07511. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_orbital


My 2c is that it is not 'joy' or 'happiness' that kids bring to parents universally (although they might bring those things for some parents), but 'meaning'. Meaning is harder to define than joy/happiness, perhaps because it is less objective and more subjective.


Shameless plug: More than a decade ago, I wrote a paper [1] on how the random perturbations in the wireless channel between an ambient RF transmitter (FM radio, TV) to the two devices, allow nearby devices to authenticate locality because the perturbations are correlated only if they are nearby (where nearby is relative to the wavelength being monitored)

[1] https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/121443


As a kid I loved casio digital watches (metal band, digital display). But as a grown up I found I like analog watches better -- my brain is quicker at interpreting the visual image of the hands. For the last few years I wore this [1] very simple and robust casio watch and eventually gave it to my son to help him learn to tell time. Very clean crisp design and 1/3rd the price of a similar looking swatch.

[1] https://www.casio.com/us/watches/casio/product.MQ-24-7BLL/?u...


I have the exact opposite. After wearing a few automatic watches, I came back to my happy place - digital Casio watch, similar to the one I had as a kid. I think my brain is very used to reading time in that form. I wear ABL100, which is a bit bigger than usual digital Casio and therefore highly wearable.


Very very cool. I have this condition - I got it randomly ("idiopathic" as opposed to age-related) when I was 22. At the time it wreaked havoc on my mental health.


I am so sorry you went through this. How are you doing now?

I got an ICL (Intra Collamer Lens) implant at 22 (25 now) and that ruined my night vision with ghosts and glares.


Slightly tangential: this is a wonderful and deep project, that requires a lot of personal time. Lately I've been wondering what social/economic/govt conditions allow for this type of deep thinking + tinkering among working people (not academia). My very rough guess is the US of 1950-60s did, and some other countries today do, but not so much the US of today because the cost of living and time pressures are higher. I'd be curious if anyone has a more detailed answer (or a rebuttal of my thesis altogether).


1650-1750 Britain?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harrison

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton

And I'm sure lots more?

Or maybe more generally Europe circa 18th century?

Probably a lot more creativity/discovery/"personal projects" vs. the US 50s or 60's would be my guess? So we need prosperity and a monarchy?


A benevolent monarchy maybe - like some places in the east (maybe).or maybe UBI? Some way to not have to worry about basic health and needs

What places have this today? I see an answer suggesting AUS below. ChatGPT says Switzerland


Seems like from anecdotal reports on HN Western Australia might be a place where these conditions still obtain.


came here to see if anyone had read Rodney's recent essay - and to ask how does this announcement by Figure square with Rodney's essay.

The essay was long so I cant claim I read it in detail - one q in my mind is whether humanoids need to do dexterity the same way that humans do. yes they dont have skin and tiny receptors but maybe there is another way to develop dexterity?


“How the immune system works”, Lauren Sompayrac


Also (I think?):

- Govt beaureucreats spending taxpayer money - Availability of cheap credit for the US govt (the spender is other countries buying the debt) - Availabiulity of cheap student loans


Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: