If you were in charge tomorrow, what concrete, measurable milestone would you have the most the talented scientists and 0.4% of GDP go to solving?
Increasing Americas capacity for emotional self-regulation and mutual respect… we are become a nation of bullies and pessimists with thin skin, and petty bullshit, an inability to debate, and excessively cancel culture bias. Plus we no longer teaching ethics or civics in school. So, nonexistent, moral compass.
downscaling/multiplying the Parker Solar Probe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe) & launching as many of them periodically, along with an Earth-Venus cycler (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1969JSpRo...6..366H/abstract) (bonus points for doing it with NEOs) just to claim the first Dyson Swarm.
There is a fundamental in flaw in photosynthesis where it gets less efficient as temperatures rise (given the current O2/CO2 ratio). It’s a giant problem, and is exacerbated by projected droughts in many areas. IMO, this is one of the big problems humanity will have to solve.
Fully mapping the Earth’s microbiome (including humans)
I’m not close enough to physics, but if I were, I would guess that there are some interesting things happening that are possible explanations for the UAP phenomena and worth investigating
Power grid driven by 100% renewables/nuclear within 10 years, with the grid itself capable of meeting demand as if 100% of US passenger/long-haul vehicles were EVs
Teleporting items trough light (at light's speed) at big scale. I think it is possible, in theory. I read about it somewhere... Some experts here maybe can confirm if the light may have a way to move physical matery. I guess the impact will be inmensurable.
Energy breakthroughs (likely fusion or geothermal) Excessive available energy can solve a lot of problems.
well first these scientists would have to wait a couple years for their green cards to get processed ðŸ«
- Hyper loop infrastructure all larger than 1MM population city - Carbon capture utilization and storage infrastructure - Teleportation R&D - Other CDR methods for net zero GHG - Space elevator prototype - Less than $500/kg to get to space - Private cislunar biz infrastructure - bishop ring / orbitals / ring world
Fully understand how each and every component of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells works and how cells interact with one another.
Moonshots for life extension and aging reversal. Figure that out and corner the market on production and you potentially get leverage on the also-rans equivalent to nuclear dominance.
It has to be something that has no free market incentive, and a specific + visually compelling achievement. I like @july's space elevator suggestion. Another way to think about it is: what are we racing towards? What is the next frontier? Answer categories could space, AGI, synthetic organisms
It would be AI related. I would try to split the funding between encryption and security research, consciousness research, and AI research. This would all be bundled under "attempting to create secure artificial consciousness"
Redesigning the educational system to put creativity, play and autonomy at the center. Changes to society will be slow at first, but exponential once the first cohort of kids become teenagers
Well, it can no longer pull off basic projects, let alone Manhattan Projects. But if it could do one (1), it should spend the capital on decommissioning of the federal government. Return powers to US states or foreign states. Back to 1800s with far less centralization of function. This is what we will get anyway…
A base AI communism algorithm layer that allocates UBI, housing (probably outside desirable cities) and other needs, funded by a tax on AI profits. The same system would then compute as many tax cuts, gov agency shutdowns as possible to allow unfettered enterprise (without endangering human life or the environment)
Man on Mars. · Recapture pioneer spirit. · Engage youth in STEM · Will almost undoubtedly have impact on lunar presence · space always yields ancillary tech (Velcro!) The question isn't "what problem is worth solving?" but "how do we rebuild a culture of innovation and active discovery?". Win hearts and minds.
This is tough, because you only get to pick one and the trade offs could be big. So, longer debate needed, but: - high speed rail - long term solution to mental health epidemic (this would be my first choice, many positive things can flow from here) - nuclear fusion - safe AGI (though may not be possible)
DesCi, we need science with to credible neutrality, then we can do the rest.
Have to think more about it, but probably: (1) Nuclear research / power grid update (2) hyperloop or related infrastructure nationwide (along interstate mediums?) (3) subsidized solar panel installation on warehouses and other large commercial buildings (scale)
Cheaper & less carbon intensive decentralized energy production and grid or transporting water from the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys to the desert south west.
Getting @matallo.eth to stop wearing jorts Measurable milestone is when he throws out those jorts
Moonshot would be interplanetary travel, but I'd settle for Apple chargers & airpods that hold up over time