The Works in Progress Newsletter

The Works in Progress Newsletter explores a diverse range of innovative and underrecognized ideas aimed at global betterment, covering historical developments, environmental issues, technological advancements, economic insights, and scientific research. It examines the interplay of culture, policy, and technology in addressing contemporary challenges and fostering progress.

Environmental Issues Technological Innovations Economic Development Scientific Research Historical Analysis Cultural Studies Policy and Governance Health and Medicine Energy Solutions Infrastructure and Urban Planning

The hottest Substack posts of The Works in Progress Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Britain’s interwar apartment boom

15 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Architecture History
  1. Between 1934 and 1939, there was a significant boom in the construction of flats in London, with over 56,000 flats built. This period marked a shift from the predominant planning ethos of the time and led to a broad range of flats designed for different budgets and locations.
  2. The era prior to the interwar apartment boom in Britain was characterized by the construction of semi-detached homes on the outskirts of cities. The surge in private flat construction during the 1930s offered a different housing option to a wider range of people, breaking away from the norm of suburban living.
  3. The 1930s saw the rise of purpose-built flats, moving from traditional housing forms. These flats were embraced by a more affluent demographic and reflected changing lifestyles and aspirations. The historic interwar apartment boom in Britain offers insights into urban housing densification and its implications in modern city development.

The Power of the Earth

13 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🔬 Science Geothermal Energy Renewable Energy Energy transition
  1. Geothermal energy, originating from the Earth's core, offers a clean and abundant energy source.
  2. Innovative drilling methods using millimeter waves show potential to revolutionize deep geothermal projects.
  3. Geothermal power has the potential to provide continuous, clean energy on a global scale, but requires further technological advancements and support from governments.

The road from serfdom

7 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
💾 History Reforms Agriculture Economic Impact
  1. Institutional changes can be designed to buy in established interests using gains from reform which may avoid prolonged and violent conflicts for reform.
  2. The development of liberal institutions for long-term economic growth can present challenges for countries with existing poor institutions as seen in the Western Europe, East Asia, and North America regions.
  3. Instituting successful and lasting institutional reforms requires careful management of suboptimal institutions to effect change quickly and avoid backlash, as demonstrated by the agricultural reforms in Tsarist Russia under Pyotr Stolypin.

The asbestos times

19 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🔬 Science Chemistry History Health Trade Production
  1. Asbestos, once favored for its fireproof properties, faced a downfall as its health risks became evident.
  2. Asbestos, a naturally occurring material, was widely used for its fireproof and durable qualities in various applications.
  3. The global use of asbestos declined due to health concerns, leading to bans in many countries and the development of alternative materials.

Lost science

14 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Discoveries Research Virology Statistics AI
  1. Scientific papers can be forgotten but later become highly influential.
  2. Sleeping beauties in science are more common than expected.
  3. Technology, access to findings, and interdisciplinary collaborations play a role in awakening dormant scientific knowledge.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Issue 14: A peasant surprise

8 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
💾 History Urban planning
  1. The 14th issue of Works in Progress talks about Russia's historical reforms to dismantle serfdom, with lessons for current reform efforts today.
  2. Proposing new approaches to organ donation incentives may be more effective than defaults, as shown by research by Duncan McClements and Jason Hausenloy.
  3. Reviving the cut and cover method for building underground railway networks could be a cost-effective solution for many cities, as explored by Brian Potter.

The entrepreneurial state

11 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics European history
  1. Where you are born significantly impacts your economic opportunities.
  2. Competition and war among states can drive institutional progress and innovation.
  3. Territorial competition between states can lead to a process of creative destruction and better governance.

Works in Progress: 2023 Wrapped

11 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Blogs Events Videos Books
  1. The top articles of the year include 'How mathematics built the modern world', 'France's baby bust', and 'Why Britain doesn't build'.
  2. Noteworthy posts like 'Degrowth and the monkey's paw', 'In pursuit of decent coffee', and 'The value of family' made an impact this year.
  3. Popular links covered various topics like infrastructure challenges in Britain, high-speed rail in America, and incredible science images.

The Cocktail Revolution

12 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cocktails Ingredients
  1. Bars have seen significant improvement in the quality and creativity of craft cocktails since the turn of the century due to an obsession with ingredient quality and variety.
  2. The cocktail renaissance involves rediscovering and revitalizing novel ingredients, like crème de violette, through bartender demand and supply from importers.
  3. Innovations in cocktail construction include the reintroduction of fresh juice, the return of ingredients like rye whiskey, and the creation of novel ingredients like Super Juice.

Notes on Progress: Degrowth and the monkey's paw

39 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🎭️ Culture Environment Society Politics
  1. In the pursuit of degrowth, the focus on economic growth has diminished, leading to stagnant productivity in the UK.
  2. Though progress in environmentalism seems evident, challenges arise from conflicting priorities within environmental groups influencing decisions like energy policy and housing development.
  3. Culture wars and societal disagreements on important issues may intensify in a post-growth world as focus shifts from material concerns to cultural values and community matters.

Whatever happened to the industrial R&D lab?

10 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Research Corporate Antitrust AI
  1. In the past, industrial R&D labs within large corporations led to a surge in innovation, but this trend declined over time.
  2. The decline of industrial R&D labs has shifted innovation towards small companies, startups, and academic teams.
  3. Current trends show a resurgence of large firm R&D labs, particularly in Big Tech, driven by factors like anti-tech antitrust enforcement and innovation investments.

Issue 13: Deep heat

6 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🔬 Science Mathematics Geothermal Energy Medicine Environmental Conservation Renewable Energy
  1. Mathematics played a crucial role in shaping the modern world through geometry, algebra, and industrial machinery.
  2. Basic mathematics training in Europe from the 1200s to 1800s drove technological advancements in various fields.
  3. Competition between states, including war, was a key factor in the economic development of Europe, pushing states to improve governance.

Notes on Progress: Artificial flavoring

22 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Food & Drink History Technology Science
  1. In the 19th century, Americans were not scared of 'artificial' products like they are today.
  2. The term 'artificial ice' was initially used negatively to discredit new technology, but eventually, it became a desirable and superior product because it was cheaper and more reliable.
  3. Artificial ice gained popularity due to its promise of purity, technological advancements, and lower cost compared to natural ice.

The End of Combustion Vehicles

4 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Transportation Electric Vehicles Innovation
  1. The automobile industry was transformed by Tesla's innovative approach and environmentally friendly vehicles.
  2. Tesla's car was highly acclaimed for its safety, efficiency, and lack of greenhouse gas emissions.
  3. In mature industries, innovation often comes in small, incremental steps rather than major breakthroughs.

Issue 12: Houston, we have a solution

6 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
📰 News Science Architecture International relations Economics Health
  1. Malaria vaccine development took decades but can be expedited through Advance Market Commitments.
  2. Houston has successfully implemented densification around the city centers through local opt-outs to up-zoning reforms.
  3. Dealing with low fertility rates involves understanding historical factors like household technologies, medical interventions, and housing prices.

Notes on Progress: A tale of two particles

19 implied HN points • 05 Dec 22
  1. Not all radioactivity is harmful; different particles have different effects.
  2. Most nuclear waste is actually just uranium, which isn't very radioactive.
  3. Dry cask storage can safely hold nuclear waste for at least 600 years, and breeder reactors can extend uranium reserves.

Notes on Progress: The world that has never been

12 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Research Startups Innovation Venture Capital Non-profit
  1. Ben Reinhardt announces his new ARPA-style lab, Speculative Technologies, to create the world that has never been.
  2. Academia, NASA, and startups each have limitations in fostering novel technologies and scaling them for impact.
  3. Building a nonprofit research organization like DARPA could support groundbreaking technologies with a focus on societal impact and scale.

Notes on Progress: Thinking like a dog

18 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
  1. Cognitive abilities in dogs can help us understand dementia in humans
  2. Intelligence in adolescence is a strong predictor of later health outcomes
  3. Dogs could be valuable in studying aging and dementia due to their natural models for disease

Introducing Gentle Density

7 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Architecture History Geography
  1. A new series called Gentle Density explores dense, human-centered neighborhoods across the globe.
  2. The first episode of the series takes place in Park Slope, Brooklyn, focusing on the coexistence of beauty and density.
  3. Samuel Hughes, Head of Housing at the Centre for Policy Studies, stars in this series.

The concept of sustainment

2 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
📚 Literature Maintenance
  1. Sustainment is vital for maintaining operations until completing a successful mission.
  2. Maintenance theory and practice are actively studied in manufacturing, aerospace, software, and the military.
  3. The US Army has embraced the concept of sustainment with a focus on logistics, financial management, personnel services, and health support.

Two Assault Rifles

3 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
📚 Literature Books Authors
  1. Stewart Brand explores maintenance manuals for tools like assault rifles
  2. Comparison of the North Vietnamese AK-47 and the US M16 assault rifles during the Vietnam War
  3. Insight into the importance of manuals that highlight weaknesses in devices

ARIA: Betting on science

6 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
  1. ARIA is a new scientific funding body in Britain focusing on big, bold bets on projects.
  2. ARIA has an £800m budget over the next decade to drive science forward.
  3. The mission of ARIA is to fund projects that might not otherwise get funded.

Rust never sleeps

2 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Visual Arts
  1. Rust is a persistent issue that requires continuous maintenance efforts.
  2. Dealing with rust involves various tasks like oiling, greasing, painting, and more.
  3. Science and engineering advancements are driven by the need to combat corrosion.

Youtube Rules

2 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Internet Information Maintenance
  1. Before the Internet, finding manuals or experts for device repairs was difficult.
  2. YouTube now offers a vast array of free tutorials and fix demonstrations for device problems.
  3. YouTube has revolutionized the way people seek maintenance information.

From MANUALS to YOUTUBE

2 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
📚 Literature Books Authors
  1. Stewart Brand discusses the importance of both manufacturer and third-party manuals for devices.
  2. Robert Persig carried two manuals on his motorcycle: one from Honda and one from Chilton's Motorcycle Troubleshooting Guide.
  3. Manuals that go deeper and wider than manufacturer manuals can provide unique insights with an outsider attitude.

Issue 09: Cheap shots and killer bots

5 implied HN points • 08 Dec 22
  1. Scientific writing is often hard to understand and filled with jargon, hindering advancement.
  2. Empirical evidence and trials have improved international development methods.
  3. Efforts to prevent pandemics can follow the successful model used for fire prevention.

Works in Progress is now part of Stripe

6 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
  1. Works in Progress has joined Stripe to collaborate on ideas for economic, scientific, and technological progress.
  2. The team will continue publishing great authors with interesting ideas in science, economics, and technology, but with an increase in output.
  3. Their aim is to develop Works in Progress into a vibrant online space for innovative solutions to challenging issues.

Issue 07: The ideas start coming and they don't stop coming

3 implied HN points • 21 Apr 22
  1. London once had ambitious plans for ring roads that would have changed the cityscape.
  2. Innovation prizes should focus on incremental improvements for better results.
  3. Geothermal heat pumps and municipal networks can help combat climate change from gas heating.