Interests
Inspired by Patrick Collison's list. These are questions I keep coming back to. If you've read something good on any of them, please send it my way.
What's the right balance of language exposure for a bilingual kid?
How does learning two languages early affect vocabulary in each? Does introducing one later make fluency harder? I'm looking for research on timing and how much of each language kids need to hear, so they can become fluent in both while keeping up socially with their local peers.
Can AI help someone teach themselves the equivalent of several university degrees?
I'd like to learn what normally takes three or four degrees, with AI tutors, good courses, and practical projects. How far can that get someone without attending university? Where do motivation, feedback, or gaps in understanding get in the way? And how would you show employers what you've learned: exams, projects, research, or apprenticeships?
What's the best way to identify stamina when recruiting?
I mean the rare ability to keep showing up, making progress, and staying sharp for years, through ambiguity, setbacks, and boredom. Talent has some good examples, but what are the strongest signals people have found?
What is time, and will ideas like white holes be proven in our lifetime?
I'm not trained in physics, but I love reading Carlo Rovelli. His books keep me wondering what time is, why it seems to flow, and how much of that comes from our perception. Could we find evidence of white holes, and what would we look for? Two books I loved: The Order of Time and White Holes.
Why isn't Brazil a developed country?
Reading Why Nations Fail after moving from Brazil to Australia made me think more about why the countries ended up so different. Which laws, institutions, and political decisions are holding Brazil back? What could change over the next one or two generations to make it a better place to live and work?
Could building new cities help countries grow and take in more immigrants?
Australia has a lot of land, expensive major cities, and plenty of people who want to move here. Could new cities pay for themselves through the people and businesses they attract? Would that also work in countries like Japan, where the population is shrinking and the workforce is getting older?
What helps parents raise happy, independent kids, and why aren't parenting classes more common?
We take lessons for work and hobbies, but mostly learn parenting as we go. I'd like to know what research says about communication, boundaries, independence, and play, and which advice holds up as children grow.
How could immigration systems work better for migrants and the countries they move to?
I moved to Australia on a skilled visa at 21, so this is personal. Why don't more countries use points-based systems, and what do they get wrong when they do? How much could freer migration grow the world economy? I keep coming back to Michael Clemens' paper and Bryan Caplan's Open Borders.
Why don't we teach self-reflection at school?
Therapy, journaling, meditation, and honest conversations can help us notice habits that affect our relationships, work, and health. Could schools teach children how to reflect on their choices and behaviour? What would those lessons look like?