Global Development

MIT Energy Initiative spinoff Waya Energy helps countries work toward universal, cheap access to electricity.

AI was the most divisive topic in a recent predictions tournament.

Forecasters say AI will either enslave or liberate us, but the history of prediction suggests we have little way of knowing who will be correct.

In 1758 in Sweden, 1205 mothers died for every 100,000 live births, which was likely representative of the global maternal mortality rate.

SpaceX’s Starlink service is slowly arriving in Africa, starting with Nigeria and Rwanda. It could be a game-changer.

GiveDirectly has delivered over $500 million in cash to impoverished people, letting recipients decide how best to meet their needs.

Heatwaves in Japan and Italy reached record-breaking temperatures in June. How can humans cope with these dangerous conditions?

The collapse in child mortality rates is a testament to the tremendous benefits of scientific, technological, and economic progress.

The year 536 ushered in the coldest decade in thousands of years and started a century of economic devastation.

In New Zealand, ambitious Kiwis want to launch a lawn mowing business; in South Africa, it's cooking gas refills. Start-up dreams vary widely.