1. Show HN: I built a hardware processor that runs Python
Total comment counts : 61
Summary
PyXL is a custom hardware processor that executes Python code directly, bypassing interpreters and achieving high speed and determinism. Running on a Zynq-7000 FPGA, it compiles Python code to assembly and executes it in silicon at 100MHz, significantly faster than traditional Python environments. GPIO operations are directly wired to the processor, enabling immediate hardware execution. In tests, PyXL demonstrated a performance advantage of approximately 50 times over a PyBoard running MicroPython due to reduced overhead. The toolchain is Python-based and allows seamless integration with standard development setups, facilitating real-time hardware interaction.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the limitations on code execution beyond memory and OS interactions, expressing interest in the design process of custom processors for dynamic languages like Python, Ruby, Lisp, and Java. The author is keen to learn about the rationale for focusing on this approach, its benefits, and the overall implementation strategy in a broad sense.
Top 2 Comment Summary
I developed a hardware processor capable of executing Python programs directly, bypassing traditional virtual machines or interpreters. Initial benchmarks show a GPIO round-trip time of 480ns, which is 30 times faster than MicroPython on a Pyboard, even at a lower clock speed. A demo is available at runpyxl.com/gpio.
2. Show HN: I made a web-based, free alternative to Screen Studio
Total comment counts : 46
Summary
ScreenRecorder.me allows users to create product demos and tutorials directly in their browser without a login. Users can capture, edit, and share recordings quickly. Features include customizable wallpapers, adjustable screen styles, webcam effects, and stunning animations using automatic mouse-follow or manual positioning, ensuring fluid and professional results.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author finds a screen recording tool less useful than Windows’ built-in option due to its tendency to zoom in and cut off screen portions with mouse movements, without a way to disable this feature. They suggest a potential enhancement: implementing a masking feature for private details that could follow as the screen scrolls, which they believe could be achievable with AI technology.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author expresses a desire to self-host a specific tool, indicating willingness to purchase a license for it. They prefer to avoid having the tool run on external hardware and suggest that encapsulating it in a Docker container for easy deployment would be ideal.
3. AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer’s and identify a therapeutic candidate
Total comment counts : 23
Summary
A study from UC San Diego has identified phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) not just as a biomarker but as a causal factor for Alzheimer’s disease due to its dual function. Researchers used artificial intelligence to explore PHGDH’s role in gene regulation, discovering that higher levels of this gene correlate with disease progression. They established that lowering PHGDH expression can slow the disease and identified a mechanism by which PHGDH disrupts cellular gene control, contributing to spontaneous Alzheimer’s. This research could lead to new therapeutic strategies to combat Alzheimer’s.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article criticizes the marketing of a research paper that claims “AI Discovers Something New.” It argues that the majority of the authors’ work is standard biochemistry without significant computational contributions from AI. The AI analysis using AlphaFold3 is minimal and did not influence the selection of small molecule inhibitors. While AlphaFold is transformative for structural biology, the article suggests that the hype surrounding AI detracts from the actual value and contributions of the research.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Researchers used AI to visualize the three-dimensional structure of the PHGDH protein. They found that it contains a substructure resembling a known DNA-binding domain from specific transcription factors, based solely on structural similarity rather than protein sequence. This observation highlights the potential of visual representation in understanding unfamiliar datasets.
4. New material gives copper superalloy-like strength
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
Researchers from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Lehigh University have developed a pioneering nanostructured copper alloy, Cu-Ta-Li, which excels in high-temperature stability and strength. This alloy combines the excellent conductivity of copper with the durability of nickel-based superalloys, making it suitable for aerospace, defense, and industrial uses. Supported by a $25 million agreement and collaborations with other universities, this innovative material is poised for future applications in hypersonic technologies and advanced propulsion systems. The project showcases the significant impact of federal investment in materials science and technological innovation.
Top 1 Comment Summary
A new copper-tantalum-lithium alloy (96.5% Cu, 3% Ta, 0.5% Li) has been developed, creating a matrix where tantalum forms shells around Cu3Li particles. This alloy boasts a yield strength of ~1000 MPa, comparable to high-temp nickel superalloys, though weaker than cobalt-base alloys and the strongest steels. It is less robust than the expensive copper-beryllium alloy but more cost-effective than beryllium. Its thermal and electrical properties could make it a versatile material, potentially replacing nickel and cobalt alloys in various applications.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article suggests an alternative to beryllium copper for the spring contact element in high-current electrical connectors, though it doesn’t specify what this alternative is. It implies that this new material could provide benefits over traditional beryllium copper in this application.
5. I just want to code (2023)
Total comment counts : 39
Summary
The author reflects on the internal conflict between their passion for coding for fun (represented by an angel) and the pressure to pursue profit-driven projects (represented by a devil). They recount their journey from enjoying video games and robotics to feeling the influence of societal expectations around entrepreneurship. While the angel encourages curiosity and enjoyment, the devil promotes ambition and financial success. Ultimately, the author recognizes the need to balance these opposing forces, acknowledging that maintaining personal interest is essential to avoid burnout while still being mindful of the practical demands of life.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author works a standard 8-4 job from Monday to Friday and prioritizes fun and personal interests after work hours. They engage in activities like running, climbing, and coding for enjoyment rather than profit, emphasizing that their post-work time is solely for satisfying curiosity and pursuing passions, separate from their money-making responsibilities.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the detrimental mindset some hobbyists adopt, approaching activities like coding or playing guitar with the pressure to achieve entrepreneurial success or create hits. This mindset leads to dissatisfaction when they fail to meet those expectations, raising questions about its origins—whether influenced by platforms like LinkedIn or other societal pressures.
6. The suburban office park that launched Silicon Valley
Total comment counts : 12
Summary
The Hustle provides bite-sized news and original reporting on business and tech, featuring educational resources like podcasts and YouTube videos. Hosts Sam Parr and Shaan Puri explore new business ideas and marketing strategies, while HubSpot offers comprehensive tools for business growth. The article also highlights Stanford Research Park, established in the 1950s as one of the first suburban office parks, which became a catalyst for Silicon Valley’s tech scene by housing influential companies and innovators. Stanford’s land utilization transformed its financial struggles into an entrepreneurial hub.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Varian Associates and Eastman Kodak marked significant industrial developments by signing leases for a $1 million headquarters and a photo processing plant, respectively. This nostalgic reference contrasts sharply with a proposed change to the Endangered Species Act in 2025, which may eliminate habitat destruction as a concern. The author reflects on personal experiences in Long Island, highlighting the transition from light industry to luxury condos and brew pubs, particularly at a Superfund site that once produced tungsten during World War II.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article advocates for re-emphasizing the importance of nature in enhancing productivity. It suggests that leveraging the outdoor green environment can inspire creativity and improve overall work performance.
7. Ask HN: What are you working on? (April 2025)
Total comment counts : 449
Summary
The article discusses two main projects. The first is a Rust-based tool with a Python frontend that predicts the locations of known asteroids, suggesting that information about the telescopes used should be included for credibility. The second project involves a system for safely planning tree removals using 3D modeling to determine optimal cuts while considering constraints, aimed at tree surgeons, leveraging physics-based methodologies for improved effectiveness. Both projects highlight innovative applications of technology in specialized fields.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author is starting a PhD in astronomy after working for three years at Caltech on code that accurately calculates asteroid orbits. This code, now open-source, is used by several NASA telescopes to project imagery of known asteroids. The project can predict the locations of all known asteroids with high precision and is built in Rust with a Python frontend. The code can be found on GitHub at this link.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The proposed tree cutting tool utilizes 3D modeling to improve tree removal. Users photograph the tree from six angles to generate a model, which is then eroded to produce a 3D graph representation. The tool suggests cutting plans while considering fall path constraints, resulting in branches being represented in their final state. Initially inspired by a challenging removal in a friend’s yard, the tool has garnered interest from tree surgeons, with plans to develop an app. Future updates will focus on applying physics and energy-minimization techniques to enhance problem-solving.
8. Widespread power outage in Spain and Portugal
Total comment counts : 97
Summary
Spain has declared a state of emergency following a massive power cut that affected large parts of Spain and Portugal. Over 30% of Spain’s power demand has been restored, but the cause remains under investigation, with no signs of a cyber attack. Chaos ensued as people faced transport delays and businesses closed. Security forces have increased deployments, urging citizens to limit mobile phone use due to network strain. Despite recovering some electricity, many trains remain stranded, and shops face empty shelves. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to provide further updates on the situation.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Restoring power after a nationwide blackout, known as a black start, is complex and slow. It involves disconnecting consumer loads and restarting generators with black start capabilities, often using a small diesel generator to power larger ones. The process is unpredictable and may take up to 72 hours in the UK, with high instability risks during the restart. Proper contingency planning can expedite recovery, but rehearsals are challenging. It’s advised to have cash at home in case of extended outages.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author argues against attributing major power outages to malicious intent, suggesting that they often result from complex systems failing without human folly. They highlight historical incidents, such as a 2005 Swiss railway outage caused by a maintenance error leading to a short circuit, to illustrate that such failures can be accidental rather than deliberate attacks. The author emphasizes the need for robust evidence before considering an outage as an attack.
9. Presentation Slides with Markdown
Total comment counts : 39
Summary
The article announces the release of Advanced Built-in Customize English version 51.6.0, which is made available under the MIT License. It is authored by Anthony Fu, with copyright spanning from 2020 to 2025.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Creating a tool that generates legitimate Microsoft PowerPoint slides from text could be lucrative. Current tools often overlook user research on practical slide design, as many professionals create dense materials intended for reference rather than simple presentations. Challenges include the need for compatibility with PowerPoint for easy edits, the lack of a layout engine, and the importance of visual layout semantics. The author seeks collaborators to develop such a tool, acknowledging that it may be more complex than it appears.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses new projects that replicate functionalities of Emacs and Org mode, highlighting the significant learning curve and aesthetic challenges of Emacs. It mentions tools like ox-beamer for creating presentations with LaTeX, org-reveal for attractive slides using reveal-js, and dslide, which runs presentations within Emacs and utilizes org-babel. These tools showcase the capabilities of Org mode in presentation creation.
10. Inference-Aware Fine-Tuning for Best-of-N Sampling in Large Language Models
Total comment counts : 4
Summary
arXivLabs is a platform for collaboration that enables users to create and share new features on the arXiv website. It emphasizes values such as openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv partners with those who uphold these principles. If you have a project idea that could benefit the arXiv community, you can learn more about arXivLabs. Additionally, users can receive operational status notifications via email or Slack.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses an approach to enhancing diversity in model responses by incorporating differentiability into the best of n choice mechanism. The promising results from Gemma 2b suggest potential benefits for larger models. However, the practical application of this method remains uncertain, as models typically produce fewer responses. Implementing parallel reasoning processes could make this technique beneficial, possibly aligning with what o1-pro is doing. The idea might be considered valuable for future training pipelines that utilize reinforcement learning.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article questions whether the BoN RL formulation is similar to DeepSeek’s GRPO algorithm, suggesting that the latter may already encompass the concepts present in the BoN RL approach.