Weekend Reading, Listening and Watching Recommendations (October 11, 2024)
How the US Lost the Solar Power Race to China; The ultra-selfish gene; Tyler Cowen interviews Kyla Scanlon, a rising star in economic communication; How Tata built India
Read: How the US Lost the Solar Power Race to China: By the always excellent David Fickling; this is a gripping narrative that spans from the cornfields of Michigan to the industrial heartland of China. This article tells the story of how America lost its grip on a technology it invented - solar power. At its core, this is a cautionary tale about the critical role of industrial policy in shaping the future of energy. Excellent set of graphics. (via Bloomberg)
Read: The ultra-selfish gene: We now have the power to genetically modify entire species by inserting certain genes into them with brute force. Doing this to malaria-carrying mosquitoes could allow us to wipe out humanity’s most deadly killer. (via Works in Progress)
Listen: Tyler Cowen interviews Kyla Scanlon, a rising star in economic communication who has gained prominence through her engaging content on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms. They discuss the challenges of economic education in the digital age, the impact of social media on financial markets, and how poetry informs Scanlon's approach to explaining complex economic concepts. The conversation also touches on generational economic perspectives, the future of energy markets, and the role of AI in shaping economic landscapes. Cowen and Scanlon offer intriguing insights on everything from the psychology behind conspiracy theories to the potential resurgence of nuclear power. (via Conversations with Tyler)
Watch: With the death of Ratan Tata on Thursday, the remarkable story of the Tata Group is timely.