Richard Feynman's blackboard, preserved after his death in 1988, offers a glimpse into his final thoughts and ongoing work. It features a partially completed calculation related to the quantum Hall effect, specifically concerning the motion of a single electron in a magnetic field. The board also displays a quote from "King Lear" – "What art thou that dost torment me in this world" – alongside a drawing and some seemingly unrelated calculations, hinting at the diverse range of topics occupying his mind. The preserved blackboard serves as a poignant reminder of Feynman's relentless curiosity and enduring engagement with physics.
DM is a lightweight, unofficial Discord client designed to run on older Windows operating systems like Windows 95, 98, ME, and newer versions. Built using the Delphi programming language, it leverages Discord's web API to provide basic chat functionality, including sending and receiving messages, joining and leaving servers, and displaying user lists. While not offering the full feature set of the official Discord client, DM prioritizes minimal resource usage and compatibility with older hardware.
Hacker News users discuss the Discord client for older Windows systems, primarily focusing on its novelty and technical ingenuity. Several express admiration for the developer's skill in making Discord, a complex modern application, function on such outdated operating systems. Some question the practical use cases, while others highlight the potential value for preserving access to communities on older hardware or for specific niche applications like retro gaming setups. There's also discussion around the technical challenges involved, including handling dependencies and the limitations of older APIs. Some users express concern about security implications, given the lack of updates for these older OSes. Finally, the unconventional choice of Pascal/Delphi for the project sparks some interest and debate about the suitability of the language.
The New York Times opinion piece "The Legacy of Lies in Alzheimer's Research" argues that the field of Alzheimer's research has been significantly hampered by a decades-long focus on the amyloid hypothesis – the idea that amyloid plaques are the primary cause of the disease. The article points to potential data manipulation in a key 2006 Nature paper, which solidified amyloid's central role and directed billions of research dollars towards amyloid-targeting treatments, most of which have failed. This misdirection, the piece contends, has stalled exploration of other potential causes and treatments, ultimately delaying progress towards effective therapies and a cure for Alzheimer's disease. The piece calls for a thorough investigation and reassessment of the field's research priorities, emphasizing the urgent need for transparency and accountability to restore public trust and effectively address this devastating disease.
HN commenters discuss the devastating impact of the potential amyloid beta fraud on Alzheimer's research, patients, and their families. Many express anger and frustration at the wasted resources and dashed hopes. Some point out the systemic issues within scientific research, including perverse incentives to publish positive results, the "publish or perish" culture, and the difficulty of replicating complex biological experiments. Others highlight the problematic role of the media in hyping preliminary research and the need for greater skepticism. Several commenters also discuss alternative theories of Alzheimer's, including vascular and metabolic causes, and express hope for future research focusing on these areas. A few express skepticism about the fraud itself, noting the complexity of the science involved and the possibility of honest errors or differing interpretations of data.
Esther Schindler's "Lessons in creating family photos that people want to keep" examines why some old family photos are treasured and others discarded. Through the "Old Family Photos" project, she observed that cherished photos often feature genuine emotion, candid moments, and connections between people. Technically imperfect photos can still be valuable due to their storytelling power, capturing a specific moment in time or a loved one's personality. The article encourages contemporary photographers to prioritize authentic emotion and storytelling over technical perfection when capturing family moments, recognizing that these elements contribute to a photograph's enduring value.
HN commenters largely agree with the author's premise that candid, everyday photos are more valuable over time than posed, formal shots. Several share anecdotes supporting this, emphasizing the importance of capturing genuine emotion and connection. One compelling comment highlights the value of including mundane details in photos, as those details often become the most interesting and evocative years later. Another suggests taking lots of photos, accepting that most will be deleted, but increasing the chance of capturing a few truly special moments. Some disagreement arose about digitization and organization, with some advocating for immediate curation while others prefer a "dump and sort later" approach. A few commenters mention the importance of printing photos, despite the digital age, for easier sharing and posterity.
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https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43131017
HN users discuss the contents of Feynman's blackboard, focusing on the cryptic nature of "Know how to solve every problem that has been solved." Some interpret it as a reminder to understand fundamental principles rather than memorizing specific solutions, while others see it as highlighting the importance of studying existing solutions before tackling new problems. A few users point out the irony of the seemingly unfinished thought next to it, "What I cannot create, I do not understand," speculating on what Feynman might have intended to add. Others comment on the more mundane items, like the phone numbers and grocery list, offering a glimpse into Feynman's everyday life. Several express appreciation for the preservation of the blackboard as a historical artifact, providing insight into the mind of a brilliant physicist.
The Hacker News post titled "Richard Feynman's blackboard at the time of his death (1988)" generated several interesting comments discussing the contents of Feynman's blackboard and reflecting on his genius.
Several users attempted to decipher and interpret the equations and notes on the board. One user pointed out the notation "d(amplitude)/dt," suggesting Feynman might have been working on something related to quantum mechanics, specifically, how the amplitude of a quantum state changes over time. This user also speculated about the significance of other notations like "∇ψψ*" potentially representing probability currents, further reinforcing the idea that he was engaged in quantum-mechanical calculations. Another user focused on the diagram featuring labeled points 'A', 'B', and 'C', interpreting it as potentially related to scattering amplitudes or path integrals, key concepts in Feynman's work. The discussion included some debate about whether the diagram represented an electron emitting a photon or some other particle interaction.
Beyond the technical interpretations, many comments reflected on Feynman's working style and the unique glimpse into his mind provided by the blackboard. One user remarked on the seeming randomness and exploratory nature of the notes, suggesting Feynman's process involved freely exploring ideas and connections. Another comment highlighted the simplicity of the tools Feynman used, just a blackboard and chalk, contrasting it with modern computational methods. This sparked a small thread discussing the merits of working through problems by hand versus relying on computers.
Some users shared personal anecdotes related to Feynman, including one recounting a story about Feynman's emphasis on understanding concepts deeply rather than just memorizing equations. Others simply expressed admiration for Feynman's intellect and contributions to physics, with one calling the blackboard photo a "beautiful and poignant relic."
A couple of comments offered links to further resources, such as a collection of Feynman's lectures and a discussion about the specific problem he might have been working on.
Overall, the comments provide a fascinating mix of technical analysis, personal reflections, and shared appreciation for Richard Feynman's remarkable mind. They offer a glimpse into how others interpret the remnants of his thought process and the lasting impact of his work.