See the FAQ (https://news.ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html):
> "How are stories ranked?"
> "The basic algorithm divides points by a power of the time since a story was submitted. Comments in threads are ranked the same way."
> "Other factors affecting rank include user flags, anti-abuse software, software which demotes overheated discussions, and moderator intervention."
I also recommend reading the Guidelines:
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html