Discussions, summarized

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• Hacker News1Self-taught engineers often outperform (2024)Great software engineers are forged through purposeful trial and error rather than formal education alone. While mentors are valuable, mastery comes from hands-on experience, learning from failures, and persistent tinkering with real-world problems, as demonstrated by pioneers like Linus Torvalds and Margaret Hamilton.Self-taught vs formal education debate:While self-taught developers often show more passion and problem-solving ability, CS graduates bring structured knowledge. Success depends more on individual curiosity and drive than educational path.Value of university education:University courses provide crucial fundamentals and push students outside comfort zones, but their effectiveness depends on student engagement. Many successful engineers combine formal education with self-learning.Survivorship bias consideration:Discussion questions whether self-taught engineers truly outperform or if only the best self-taught developers survive in the industry, while acknowledging that passion/motivation are key success factors.
• Reddit science1Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Using scented products indoors, such as flame-free candles and wax melts, can create significant indoor air pollution comparable to car exhaust. Research by Purdue University found these products release nanosized particles that can penetrate deep into lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory health risks.Misleading title scope:Discussion about how study only focused on wax melts but title suggests all scented products, with debate about whether findings could logically extend to other scented itemsHealth concerns from chemist:A chemist's perspective against using scented products leads to sharing of personal health impact stories, from COPD to cancer cases, and debate about necessity of artificial scentsAir purification solutions:Discussion of HEPA filters and other air purification methods as solutions, with debate about effectiveness against different types of pollutants like VOCs and nanoparticles
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