This list is a compilation of my favorite world-changing problems. I rank these problems by the positive benefits to humanity if they were solved.
This project is inspired by one of my favorite quotes:
“You have to keep a dozen of your favorite problems constantly present in your mind, although by and large they will lay in a dormant state. Every time you hear or read a new trick or a new result, test it against each of your twelve problems to see whether it helps. Every once in a while there will be a hit, and people will say, ‘How did he do it? He must be a genius!”
— Richard Feynman (via Gian-Carlo Rota, Indiscrete Thoughts)
I currently have five big problems to solve and ten specific missions that I think would have the biggest positive impact on these problems. I’ve also started notes on 50+ potential solutions, three of which I’ve created into startups.
As I refine these ideas, I’m pushing myself to work in public and document more of my thought processes. I have started to publish my notes on potential solutions and will link these notes here once they’re live.
There are way too many important problems in the world for any one person to solve, which is why I’m sharing them all here so we can get more people organized around all of these problems.
My #1 reason for publishing this list is to start a constructive debate about the world’s biggest problems and best solutions. Let’s riff and refine on this list – share your big ideas on Twitter and tag me @neilthanedar for a response!
Neil’s Moonshot Rankings:
| Ranking: | Problems: | Solutions: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maximize Human Potential | Utopiaforming Personal Capital The Next GDP Maximize Chaotic Good Legalize Psychedelics |
| Scale Quality Education Cheaply | Universal Preschool Montessori K-12 School ISAs for Vocational Education Build a Third Brain | |
| Scale Quality Healthcare Cheaply | Universal Healthcare + Private Option Nonprofit Pharmaceuticals Nonprofit Medical Devices: Air to All Decentralized Clinical Trials Caseworkers for All | |
| Prevent Suicides | Hyperthymic Antidepressants Trusted Therapy Network CrossFit for the Mind Men’s Groups AI as Companion | |
| End Poverty | Federal Job Guarantees Rise of Human Jobs Peak (and Decline) Population | |
| 2 | Ensure Earth’s Future | OpenAI for Biology Earth Defense Force Oil-Free Petrochemical Alternatives Modern HVAC |
| Scale Clean Energy Cheaply | Distributed Utilities Solar Panel Roofing Swanson’s Law | |
| Defend Water Supply | Defend the Antarctic Ice Sheet Defend The Great Lakes Independent Heavy Metals Testing At-Home Water Testing Kit Filtering Faucet | |
| Regulate Food Supply | Universal Food Security Independent Testing: Labdoor Crypto Certifications: TEST | |
| 3 | Protect Individual Liberties | Free People > Free Markets Zero-Knowledge Services Distributed Internet The Rise of Pseudonyms |
| Counter Authoritarianism | Cryptographic Voting Unbundle The Police Criminal Justice Reforms Civil Justice Reforms | |
| 4 | Value Impact > Labor > Capital | Capitalism 2.0 Nonprofit Startups Collective Action Network |
| Promote Independent Businesses | Founder Accelerator Startup Stock Exchange Indie Business Movement Start A Business Today | |
| 5 | Optimize Government for Good | New Bill of Rights Progressive Regulation New Efficiency Movement Redistribute Spending End Corporate Warfare |
| Recruit Independents Into Politics | Ranked Voting YC for Politicians The Politicians Next Door Independents Movement End Majority Rule |