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That's likely because your Google profile points HN threads as relevant / what you're searching for. Try using DDG for a less biased search result.

This did not occur to me. This would be mildly terrifying if true, except Incognito mode returns the same results.

Does incognito mode change your IP address? I wouldn't doubt google still "knows" it's you

The hn link is 5th result for me on google, but that link is the bottom of the second page on ddg (20th result I think?).

I think google is following you in your incognito mode!