Better democracy for a better future — In the modern world, corporations are a chief source of jobs, growth, and technology, but their governance has seen little innovation in recent years. It is imperative that we start thinking about how we can fully optimize decision-making at the corporate level, to reduce agency costs and improve profits. …

What humanoid robots mean for the future of humanity — There is growing corporate interest in humanoid robots to replace human labor. Tesla’s recently unveiled Bumble C robot may mark a turning point in an industry that has thus far focused on specialized machines produced in limited quantities. …

Progress doesn’t have a finish line — When discussing the progress of nations, the terms “developed” and “developing” are frequently used in academia, media, and even in international political forums. But what do these terms really mean? Do they carry any real meaning at all? …

Lessons from a tech disruptor — Love him or hate him, it is undeniable that Elon Musk has disrupted every industry that he touched, from cars to rockets. …

Can humanity head off population decline? Should we? — Population growth is seen as an anathema to environmental “sustainability.” However, a shrinking population may offer no net environmental benefits relative to a growing one and instead may endanger civilization itself. With populations set to begin shrinking mid-Century, humanity is sleepwalking into a population crisis, with little time to change…

A sugar surcharge is simply sensible — Covid-19 may get all of the attention, but Covid’s lethality was inextricably tied to another epidemic…a chronic illness epidemic of diabetes, obesity, heart disease…etc. A large body of evidence has concluded that the overuse of sweeteners, especially in beverages, is causing immense societal harm and leaving many vulnerable to disease…

The promise of nuclear rocketry — Once you’re in Earth’s orbit you’re halfway to anywhere. To bridge the other half, in today’s “New Space” era, engineers are dusting off a decidedly old-space idea: Nuclear Rockets. Indeed, Nuclear Thermal Propulsion offers a compelling means of making travel to Mars and other far-flung destinations faster, cheaper, and safer. Background …

How an obscure voting system can make our world more democratic — Most agree that the people should have a voice in policy and government. However, there remains considerable debate as to how we can accurately aggregate the will of the people through the vote. Every voting system, it seems, comes with significant, sometimes fatal drawbacks. But one method may rise above…

And why it matters to you — Most countries have a central bank that sets monetary policy for the nation. The leaders of these central banks are unelected and (theoretically) apolitical, enabling them to make objective and sometimes unpopular decisions for the greater good. Central banks are mandated to guide actual economic output as close to potential…