Archive - Genes, Minds, Machines

Python is not a great language for data science. Part 2: Language features

It may be a good language for data science, but it’s not a great one.

Nov 17, 2025 • Claus Wilke

Python is not a great language for data science. Part 1: The experience

It may be a good language for data science, but it’s not a great one.

Nov 13, 2025 • Claus Wilke

LLMs excel at programming—how can they be so bad at it?

My explanation for the mystery of why LLMs can be both exceptionally good and quite terrible at programming.

Nov 6, 2025 • Claus Wilke

October 2025

1000 subscribers feedback and AMA thread

A few days ago I broke 1000 subscribers here on Substack.

Oct 26, 2025 • Claus Wilke

Random seeds and brown M&Ms

Your first mistake was assuming people actually understand how random numbers work.

Oct 23, 2025 • Claus Wilke

If your random seed is 42 I will come to your office and set your computer on fire🔥

Figuratively. More likely you'll get a stern talking to.

Oct 22, 2025 • Claus Wilke

Most graduate students propose to do too much

No thesis proposal has ever been critizied for lack of ambition

Oct 16, 2025 • Claus Wilke

We still can’t predict much of anything in biology

Biology is hard. Yes, even for AI.

Oct 7, 2025 • Claus Wilke

How to write an NSF GRFP research plan

This is my second post about the NSF GRFP.

Oct 2, 2025 • Claus Wilke

September 2025

How to write an NSF GRFP personal statement

The personal statement can make or break your application.

Sep 29, 2025 • Claus Wilke

Cancel your paid subscriptions right away

I'm not calling for a boycott. By all means, take out paid subscriptions, but also, cancel them. Do it right away, so they don't renew. Do it while the…

Sep 26, 2025 • Claus Wilke

Have you ever seen a man with whiskers?

A 100-year trend can't possibly be caused by technology that is less than 20 years old.

Sep 23, 2025 • Claus Wilke

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