David Schonholzer

Nov 15, 2023 | worksinprogress.co | Mano Majumdar |Ulkar Aghayeva |Tom Ough |David Schonholzer

Words by18 Mins War is hell. But by allowing more effective states to rule productive regions, it may have been a catalyst for Europe’s early modern advancement. One of the most fundamental facts of life is that where you are born is a huge determinant of how your life will turn out. Someone’s chance of leading an economically secure life is vastly higher if they happen to be born in Zurich, Seattle, or Kyoto rather than Mumbai, Nairobi, or Caracas.

Nov 15, 2023 | worksinprogress.co | Mano Majumdar |Ulkar Aghayeva |David Schonholzer |Tom Ough

27 Mins The earth’s core is hot. So hot, that if we drilled deep enough, we could power the world millions of times over with cheap, clean energy, supporting renewables when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. But getting there is tough. The deepest hole humanity has ever dug is the Kola Superdeep Borehole.

Nov 15, 2023 | worksinprogress.co | Mano Majumdar |Ulkar Aghayeva |David Schonholzer |Peter Suderman

16 Mins Cocktails aren’t what they used to be – and that’s a good thing. The search for fresher and more novel ingredients from ever further afield continues to revolutionize mixology for the better. If you’ve sidled up to bars over the past decade or two, you’ve probably noticed a change. Gone are the days of boat-sized, vaguely fruity concoctions listed out on a menu of x-tinis; of haphazardly made Old-Fashioneds topped with club soda and what might as well be a complete fruit salad.

Nov 15, 2023 | worksinprogress.co | Mano Majumdar |David Schonholzer |Tom Ough |Ulkar Aghayeva

15 Mins Many scientific papers receive little attention initially but become highly cited years later. What groundbreaking discoveries might have already been made, and how can we uncover them faster? The scientific literature is vast. No individual human can fully know all the published research findings, even within a single field of science.

Nov 15, 2023 | worksinprogress.co | Ulkar Aghayeva |David Schonholzer |Tom Ough |Mano Majumdar

16 Mins Asbestos was a miracle material, virtually impervious to fire. But as we fixed city fires in other ways, we came to learn about its horrific downsides. Few materials fell from grace like asbestos. Once cherished as an almost-magical material, it is now the archetypal carcinogen. We spent over a century integrating it into buildings, wiring, pipes, brake pads, and more, and we now spend billions of dollars a year removing it.