Society Archives

Climate Change Mitigation Strategies, According to NASA

Why are climate change mitigation strategies important? What do scientists suggest we do to reduce global warming? Millions of people around the world will soon find their homes threatened by wildfires, floods, and drought as a result of climate change, according to scientific models. In the U.S. alone, we’re likely to see millions of people fleeing the South and Southwest to escape the deadly heat. Read on to learn how NASA says we can address these threats through climate change mitigation strategies.

Enlightenment Values: The Driving Forces of Progress?

What are Enlightenment values? How are they relevant today? In his book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker provides statistics to show that life has improved over time, all around the world. And he says the driving forces of this progress are reason, science, and humanism—values that are derived from the European Enlightenment. Continue reading to learn more about these Enlightenment values from Pinker’s perspective.

What Causes Inequality? Analyzing the 3 Leading Theories

What causes inequality in the world? Why are some countries prosperous while others struggle to survive? In Why Nations Fail, economist Daron Acemoglu and political scientist James A. Robinson argue that current theories on national failure are flawed. They further explain that successful nations have political and economic institutions that are “open” while failing nations have “exclusive” institutions. Read on to learn what really causes inequality and why the top theories are flawed, according to Acemoglu and Robinson.

How an Abundance Mentality Leads to Addiction (+Solution)

What is one of the biggest problems we face in society? How has abundance become an issue? Checking social media, eating junk food, or binging shows and movies on streaming platforms are some of the potentially addictive behaviors created by abundance in industrial society, according to addiction expert Anna Lembke. In her book, Dopamine Nation, she explores how to defeat an abundance mentality. Read on to learn why abundance leads to overindulgence and the solution to an abundance mentality, according to Lembke.

How Elected Authoritarians Threaten the End of Democracy

Why are people concerned that the end of democracy might be near? What’s causing the “democratic recession”? According to experts, some of today’s world leaders are beginning to chip away at democratic norms. Labeled as authoritarians, these leaders threaten to end democracy by feeding into societal dissatisfaction with the political climate. Keep reading to learn why the end of democracy could be on the horizon and what the future holds.

Why Do Nations Fail? Acemoglu & Robinson Explain

Why do nations fail? Why do some countries succeed? What factors determine success or failure? Why Nations Fail by economist Daron Acemoglu and political scientist James A. Robinson creates a theory to explain international inequality. Their book explains why some nations “fail” and are poor, unstable, and have low standards of living, while others “succeed” and are wealthy and stable. Keep reading to learn why some nations fail while others enjoy success, according to Acemoglu and Robinson.

How Privacy Advocates Are Battling Big Tech

What are the purpose and mission of privacy advocates? Why are they chiefly concerned with big tech companies? In The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Shoshana Zuboff explores the concept of “surveillance capitalism”—a term she created to describe the invasive and controlling data collection practices of tech giants. She warns of the potentially disastrous outcomes for our society if we don’t advocate for change in this area. Keep reading to learn how Zuboff says privacy advocates are fighting back against surveillance capitalism.

Problems of Renewable Energy: Green Trash

What is one of the biggest problems of renewable energy? How could renewable energy actually be bad for the environment? Many believe using renewable energy is the future and the answer to environmental harm caused by human activities. In fact, the amount of trash generated by renewable technologies, particularly spent solar panels and discarded wind turbines, threatens to overwhelm landfills. Keep reading to learn how experts explain one of the worst problems of renewable energy: green trash.

Why Is Rent So Expensive? Economists Weigh In

Why is rent so expensive at the moment? Who has been most affected by rising rent prices? Will prices drop? Demand for affordable housing has surged even as luxury rentals have emptied, leading to quickly rising prices in the market segment that can afford them least. Economists claim that, for lower-income households, the cost to rent is disproportionately higher. Keep reading to find out why rent is so expensive and what the solution is, according to economists.

We Are Stronger Together: Social Lessons From Science

What strengths do you have that you could be combined with the strengths of others to accomplish something great? How might you help yourself by helping others? Everything we do affects—and is affected—by other people. If you join forces with others, you’ll be capable of much greater things than you could achieve on your own. Two scientific models, alloying and cooperation, show you how to do just that. Keep reading to see how science shows us that we are stronger together.