This list is a compilation of my favorite world-changing problems.
I currently have 16 big problems to solve, ranked in my order of highest expected positive impact if they were solved.
- I also have ideas for 84 potential solutions, three of which I’ve created into startups.
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’m also inspired by my version of the Hamming Questions:
- “What are the world’s biggest problems?”
- “Why aren’t you working on them?
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.
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.
So my two ultimate goals for this project are:
- Start a constructive debate about the world’s biggest problems and best solutions.
- Convince everyone to work on the biggest possible ideas.
Let’s riff and refine on this list – share your big ideas on Twitter and tag me @neilthanedar for a response!
The World’s Biggest Problems:
| Ranking: | Problems: | Solutions: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maximize Human Potential | 1. Personal Capital 2. Hamming Questions 3. Utopiaforming 4. Open Metaverse 5. Maximize Chaotic Good 6. Legalize Psychedelics |
| 2 | Optimize Science For Good | 7. OpenAI for Biology 8. DNA Composer 9. Biotech Studio 10. Petrochemical Alternatives |
| 3 | Optimize Government for Good | 11. US Digital Dollars 12. New Bill of Rights 13. Progressive Regulation 14. Independent Auditors 15. Redistribute Spending 16. End Corporate Warfare |
| 4 | Scale Clean Energy Cheaply | 17. Modern HVAC 18. Decentralized Utilities 19. Normalize Nuclear Energy 20. Carbon Capture Systems 21. Swanson’s Law |
| 5 | Scale Quality Healthcare Cheaply | 22. Universal Healthcare + Private Option 23. Nonprofit Pharmaceuticals 24. Nonprofit Medical Devices: Air to All 25. Decentralized Clinical Trials 26. Challenge Studies 27. Caseworkers for All |
| 6 | Scale Quality Education Cheaply | 28. Universal Preschool 29. Montessori K-12 School 30. Microschool Platform 31. Full-Stack Schools 32. ISAs for Vocational Education |
| 7 | Scale Quality Information Cheaply | 33. Free Encyclopedias 34. OpenAI for Data 35. Open Access Movement 36. Build A Third Brain |
| 8 | End Poverty | 37. Open Banking Platform 38. Social Investments 39. Federal Job Guarantee 40. Rise of Human Jobs 41. Peak (and Decline) Population |
| 9 | Prevent Suicides | 42. Hyperthymic Antidepressants 43. Trusted Therapy Network 44. CrossFit for the Mind 45. Men’s Groups 46. AI as Companion |
| 10 | Defend Water Supply | 47. Defend the Antarctic Ice Sheet 48. Defend The Great Lakes 49. Independent Heavy Metals Testing 50. At-Home Water Testing Kit 51. Filtering Faucet |
| 11 | Regulate Food Supply | 52. Recreate Ancient Foods 53. Universal Food Security 54. Independent Testing: Labdoor 55. Crypto Certifications: TEST |
| 12 | Protect Individual Liberties | 56. Cloud Countries 57. Decentralized Currencies 58. Zero-Knowledge Services 59. Decentralized Internet 60. The Rise of Pseudonyms 61. Free People > Free Markets |
| 13 | Counter Authoritarianism | 62. Robot Malpractice Laws 63. Cryptographic Voting 64. Unbundle The Police 65. Criminal Justice Reforms 66. Civil Justice Reforms |
| 14 | Recruit Independents Into Politics | 67. Ranked Voting 68. YC for Politicians 69. The Politicians Next Door 70. Independents Movement 71. End Majority Rule |
| 15 | Promote Independent Businesses | 72. Founder Accelerator 73. Utopic Ventures 74. 360 Deals for Creators 75. Startup Stock Exchange 76. Creator Stock Exchange 77. Indie Business Movement 78. Start A Business Today |
| 16 | Value Impact > Labor > Capital | 79. The Next GDP 80. Capitalism 2.0 81. Nonprofit Startups 82. Collective Action Network 83. Open Crowdfunding 84. Open Challenge Contracts |