Scott Alexander explores the difficulties in contextualizing statistics, providing numerous examples to show how the same data can be presented to seem significant or trivial. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the challenges of putting statistical findings into context, showing how different comparisons can make the same statistic seem either significant or trivial. He provides numerous examples of effect sizes and correlations from various fields to illustrate this point. The post aims to promote awareness of how statistics can be manipulated and encourages readers to be vigilant when interpreting contextual comparisons. Scott also acknowledges the limitations of using standardized effect sizes but argues for their utility in certain situations where more specific measures are difficult to comprehend. Shorter summary

A collection of interesting links covering topics from ancient Roman demographics to modern AI developments, criminal justice issues, and cultural oddities. Longer summary

This is a links post collecting various interesting news and articles. Topics include ancient Roman life expectancy data, Chinese censorship expanding to group chats, cruise ship pollution, AI developments like AlphaGo Zero, criminal justice issues around drug rehab work camps and police body cameras, and various other scientific, technological and cultural items. The post maintains a light tone while covering both serious topics like Puerto Rico's ongoing crisis and quirky ones like Viking reenactors and Halloween costumes. Shorter summary

The post explores how Bayesian processes in the brain might explain perception and various mental disorders, linking neurotransmitters to different aspects of Bayesian reasoning. Longer summary

This post explores the application of Bayes' Theorem to neuroscience and psychiatry. It discusses how the brain might use Bayesian processes for perception and cognition, and how disruptions in these processes could explain various mental disorders. The author first explains Bayes' Theorem and its relevance to perception, then delves into a neuroscientific model that links neurotransmitters to different aspects of Bayesian processing. The post then applies this model to explain phenomena in schizophrenia, psychedelic experiences, and autism. The author concludes by pointing out some limitations and inconsistencies in the model, while still appreciating its potential as a high-level framework for understanding brain function and mental disorders. Shorter summary

Scott shares a collection of interesting links covering various topics from American chestnut restoration to scientific findings, political events, and cultural observations. Longer summary

This is a Links post where Scott Alexander shares and briefly comments on various interesting news and findings. The post covers diverse topics including the genetic engineering of American chestnut trees, revelations about Dr. Strangelove's accuracy, malaria eradication efforts, scientific studies on topics like exercise and weight loss, and cultural observations. Scott provides his characteristic analytical commentary on each item, often highlighting surprising connections or ironies. The post maintains a mix of scientific, political, and cultural topics, with Scott's commentary ranging from serious analysis to humorous observations. Shorter summary

Scott compares two visions of a 'wirehead society' in the far future, exploring how framing affects our perception of technologically omnipotent posthuman existence. Longer summary

This post explores two visions of a far future 'wirehead society' where posthuman descendants achieve technological omnipotence. The first vision describes a world where all activities become boring and meaningless due to perfect optimization, leading to potential solutions like imposed artificial limits or wireheading. The second vision reframes wireheading as a more noble pursuit, likening it to enlightened beings in a state of blissful tranquility. Scott reflects on how his perception of these futures shifts dramatically based on presentation, despite their fundamental similarities. Shorter summary

A collection of interesting links covering history, science, economics, and culture, with Scott's commentary and observations on each topic. Longer summary

This is a links post featuring various interesting news stories, studies, and websites. The topics range from historical oddities (like King Strang's Michigan island kingdom and the Candid Camera hijacking incident), to scientific studies (about morning sickness and IQ, gene therapy), to economic analysis (about disposable income and healthcare costs), and cultural observations. Scott includes personal commentary and humor throughout, making connections between different topics and offering his perspective on various issues. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents a roundup of recent scientific and medical studies, covering topics from hallucinations to obesity genetics to schizophrenia treatment. Longer summary

This post is a collection of various scientific and medical studies and news. It covers a range of topics including hallucinations, diet and longevity, gene-environment interactions in psychiatry, life-extending drugs, fibromyalgia, chemical education, drug company tactics, sleep theories, psychotherapy effectiveness, obesity genetics, and schizophrenia treatment. Scott provides brief summaries and commentary on each item, often with a mix of scientific insight and humor. Shorter summary