Matthew Schwartz describes a practical approach to resolving the "impedance mismatch" between what scientists want and what large language models actually do well. Rather than forcing a model to act like a human scientist, he built BootLoops, an open-source harness that exploits Claude's strengths - wide knowledge, fast parsing of papers and data, and strong coding and numerical skills - for a class of exact, checkable quantitative problems. He applied this to scattering-amplitude research using the semi-numerical S-matrix bootstrap: Claude Fable 5 ported and improved code, reproduced prior results in minutes that had taken weeks by hand, and generalized the machinery from logarithmic to elliptic integrals. In a few weeks BootLoops completed 30 integrals end-to-end, including 15 known reproductions and 15 previously uncomputed results, all verifiable by high-precision numerics.
Because many scientific problems share mathematical structure, BootLoops discoveries translated across disciplines. Techniques for Feynman integrals mapped to Bayesian-evidence calculations in phylogenetics, finite-field reduction methods found uses in evolutionary biology, and other Claude-shaped problems arose in ecology and population genetics. Many initial outputs were technically correct but required domain experts to steer them toward questions that matter to those fields. The broader claim is practical: align problems to current LLM capabilities, combine automated high-precision computation with expert guidance, and you can accelerate verifiable advances across diverse sciences.
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.
Scientists have made progress in understanding the biology of an 'undruggable' cancer gene. This research could lead to new targeted therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. (nytimes.com)
Colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting children and teens, often presenting as aggressive and advanced tumors with no family history. The rise in early-onset cases highlights the need for increased suspicion and early diagnosis among young patients. (gizmodo.com)
Switzerland has lost nearly 20% of its glaciers in the past five years due to extreme heatwaves and reduced snowfall. The glacier retreat is linked to fossil fuel pollution and climate change, significantly reshaping the Alpine landscape. (theguardian.com)
![The Legend of von Neumann [pdf]](https://hntoday.pixelshot.io/screenshots/20261002/1f16d023ca4647b2_tn.jpeg)
John von Neumann was a pioneering mathematician and physicist known for his foundational contributions to computer science, quantum mechanics, and game theory. His work laid the groundwork for modern computing and mathematical modeling. (gwern.net)
Harvard particle physicist Matthew Schwartz has authored 36 papers with Claude. The linked content is inaccessible due to a network security block. (reddit.com)
Research on worm movements is limited, with few studies tracking their in-situ, above-ground activity. Developing modern worm detectors could fill this gap and provide valuable data on their collective and individual behaviors. (bencology.bearblog.dev)
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