VARUN JOSHI'S BLOGS

You know that feeling when your mind is racing with a thousand thoughts, and you can't quite make sense of them all? That's where journaling comes in. It's honestly one of the most underrated practices out there, and it's been helping people figure things out for centuries. Think about it—Marcus Aurelius was writing his philosophical reflections, Leonardo da Vinci was filling notebooks with his thoughts and observations, and countless everyday people have been working through their feelings on paper—there's something truly powerful about putting pen to paper. Why Journaling Actually Works Here's the thing: journaling isn't just about keeping a record of what you ate for breakfast (though that's fine too). When you write regularly, something interesting happens in your brain. Research backs this up—people who journal tend to feel less stressed, get sick less often, and handle their emotions better. But honestly, you don't need studies to tell you ...

 Google DeepMind has unveiled an impressive new AI system that has already made waves in the scientific community by solving problems that have stumped human experts for decades. AlphaEvolve, announced on May 14, 2025, represents a significant leap forward in AI's ability to discover new algorithms and optimize existing systems. In this blog post, we'll explore what makes AlphaEvolve special, how it works, and the remarkable achievements it has already demonstrated. What Is AlphaEvolve? AlphaEvolve is what DeepMind describes as an "evolutionary coding agent" - essentially an AI system designed to create and improve computer algorithms through an evolutionary process[1]. Unlike previous AI systems that were designed for specific tasks (like AlphaFold for protein folding), AlphaEvolve is a general-purpose AI capable of tackling any programming or algorithmic challenge. At its core, AlphaEvolve combines Google's Gemini large language models (LLMs) with evolutionary c...

 Have you ever agonized over when to stop looking and make a decision? Or struggled with too many tasks and not enough time? What if the solutions to these everyday dilemmas have been hiding in computer science all along? In their brilliant book "Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions," Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths offer an unexpected approach to tackling life's challenges. They reveal how the algorithms that computers use to solve complex problems can also help us make better decisions in our daily lives. Far from reducing human experience to cold calculations, the authors show how computational thinking provides a framework for addressing everything from finding an apartment to organizing your closet. The Beautiful Marriage of Computer Science and Human Decision-Making What makes this book revolutionary is its premise: the problems we face in everyday life often mirror challenges that computer scientists have been solving for decades. By ...

In a world that often celebrates specialists-those who dive deep into one subject and master it-there’s a rising appreciation for the generalist : someone who embraces a broad range of knowledge, skills, and experiences. As a student, becoming a generalist can be your secret weapon, equipping you to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. But what exactly does it mean to be a generalist? And how can you cultivate this valuable trait while juggling your studies? This blog will guide you through the journey of becoming a generalist student, helping you develop the mindset and habits that will open doors across disciplines and industries. What Is a Generalist, and Why Does It Matter? A generalist is a person who has a wide breadth of knowledge and skills across multiple fields rather than focusing narrowly on one specialty. Think of a generalist as a versatile problem-solver who can connect dots across disciplines, think laterally, and approach challenges from multi...