Money is in our DNA. It’s the lifeblood of our nations. We can’t understand our history—or future—without first understanding its economics. On a more personal note, how we spend our money says a lot about us. As currency transforms from something physical to virtual, something we can touch to code on a screen, how will we change with it?
This week, we launched our Made of Money series with this post introducing March’s conversation about the future of money. Calling all entrepreneurs, finance dabblers, lovers of green: Read it, then add your voice.
Artist Gets Exclusive Rights to the World’s Darkest Pigment
Claire Voon, Hyperallergic
Scientists discovered what’s called Vantablack, a material that only reflects 0.035 percent of the light that hits it, in 2014. Now, artist Anish Kapoor has secured the exclusive right to use it as a paint pigment—to the fury of every other artist in the world. [3-minute read]
The Car Century Was a Mistake
J. H. Crawford, The Washington Post
We spent much of the 20th century destroying large parts of our cities to make room for our vehicles. It’s time that we recognize and amend for that. [3-minute read]
Ridealong: The Ruin of Minecraft’s Most Obscene Server
Brendan Caldwell, Rock Paper Shotgun
Here’s a wonderfully written travel article by a gamer who takes a trip through the most obscene, hostile, and offensive Minecraft server. [7-minute read]
Somalia Skips Paper Money and Heads Straight to a Cashless Society
Tonny Onyulo, Quartz
What happens when a decades-long civil war stops a country’s banking system from ever establishing itself? In this case: the emergence of one of the world’s most comprehensive cellphone economies. [5-minute read]
When the Future Comes, Who’ll Get the Bill?
Abigail Ronck, How We Get To Next
The world’s dominant currency changes from one country’s to another’s roughly every century. Here’s why “which nation is next?” is the wrong question entirely. [4-minute read]
Made of Money: A Reading List
Abigail Ronck, How We Get To Next
Our collection of the best reads + watches + listens on the subject of your money and its future. [6-minute read]
China Asks Families to Share Tombs
Duncan Geere, How We Get To Next
The Chinese government is pushing for people to share graves, lay to “vertical rest” in high-rise buildings, and otherwise adopt more compact and environmentally friendly burial practices. This and more in our weekly roundup from outside your regular news bubble. [3-minute read]
