Hamming's classic 'You and Your Research': why so few scientists matter
joshua_saxe · x · 2026-10-03
A reshare of Richard Hamming's famous 1986 Bellcore talk "You and Your Research," the full transcript of which is linked. Hamming, a retired Bell Labs scientist with thirty years there, tackles why so few scientists make significant contributions while most are forgotten.
Drawing on forty years of observation, studies of great scientists' habits, attitudes and philosophy, the talk distills transferable research methodology: how to pick important problems, work on open doors, and manage your own working style. A perennial classic highly relevant to AI researchers choosing directions.
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