An expert  TechCast recently published a list of the most likely scenarios in the development of humankind during next 50 years.

Interview: Scientific Futurism

William Halal, professor of science, technology and innovation at George Washington University and author of the “Technology’s Promise” is predicting that in 10-20 years, solar energy will gradually take the place of oil, and by 2050 we will witness a new global system of international cooperation where everyone will consider themselves citizens of the world. 

In recent years a lot of experts have been forecasting a forthcoming blooming of nuclear energy. Although there is no clear evidence for that, some states are actively heading in this direction. 

There are three main ideological paradigms for the way political leaders deal with nuclear weapons; two of them appeared in the 1940s and 1950s, and the last one was introduced at the end of the 20th century.   

The history of nuclear weapons and their role in the political climate of the 20th century.

During the Cold War it was thought that American and Soviet nuclear arsenals were aimed at each other in order to maintain the “balance of fear.”

Forecasts for Future How effective has the “war on terrorism” been as a tool against nuclear fears? We analyze the examples of North Korea’s nuclear test and Iran’s nuclear program.

July 21, 2008 – Top Stories from Issue No. 50(902).

Read these articles in Russian here.

Interview: Uncertain Future of the World

Niall Ferguson, professor of history at Harvard University and author of “The War of the World”, talks about the role of empires in the world history and economic incentives that define the choice between war and peace. 

Life Assessment

The price of human life is not possible to estimate. However states and corporations need to assume certain figures in order to develop laws and strategies.  

Kaleidoscope of Prices

An overview of different, sometimes extraordinary attempts to assess the price of human life.

War and Terrorism

Analyzing differences between “more precious lives” and “less precious lives”. 

Non-standard Examples

An overview of non-standard methods to calculate the market cost of a human being.

Price of a Human: Collection of Facts

People of different social statuses have historically been treated as “more expensive” or “less expensive.” We provide an overview of the history of different concepts and factors that have influenced what the worth of a human life has been.

July 14, 2008 – Top Stories from Issue No. 48(900).

Read these articles in Russian here.

Art Army

Examining today’s statistics on art industries in the US from the point of view of job markets, geography and gender. 

Facets of Culture: Collection of facts

Analysis of consumption of art in the US: How often do people buy paintings, go to the movie theaters, listen to the music and read books, and how much are they ready to pay? 

Art Trade

On the global scale, the share of the art market was estimated as less than 1 percent. However, during the last 5 years, it has been constantly growing. 

Interview: US and Russia: Cultural Connection.

Gregory Guroff, president of the Foundation for International Arts & Education, discusses the activity of the foundation in promoting Russian-American cultural exchange, historical influence of Russian immigrants on American art and culture, and tells the story of his ethnically diverse family.

Art and State

Traditionally, in Europe, culture has been supported by monarchy and aristocracy. The American model depends on private donations. 

Cultural Diplomacy

Culture has been playing an important role on the international political arena. Consider the New York Philharmonic’s concert in North Korea in 2008 as an example.

July 8, 2008 – Top Stories from Issue No. 46(898)

Read these articles in Russian here.

The “Oil Bubble” Theory

Some experts argue that today’s unprecedented growth of oil prices is nothing but just another stock bubble. However even partisans of the theory of “oil bubble” cannot predict when it is going to burst.  

Analyzing Bubbles

The factors and consequences of bubbles appearing in different markets are explored here. Are bubbles bad for the economy or do they also have some lasting fruitful legacies?  

Stories of Famous Bubbles

Sharp rise of stock is very dangerous because it creates the illusion of blooming economy. What lessons can we draw from stories of classical bubbles such as “Tulip Mania”, “South Sea Company” and “Great Florida Housing Bubble”?

Future of Oil

Researchers have been constantly forecasting that the world’s oil resources are going to reach their peak and then start to run out. The lack of accurate information and silence of major oil players continues to fuel global anxiety. 

100 years of Oil

A timeline of major events concerning the influence of oil on world’s politics and vice versa.

Interview: Algorithms of “Second World”

Parag Khanna, director of the Global Governance Initiative and author of “The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order”, talks about today’s strategies and political climate around the so-called “Second World” countries compared to the Cold War era.