This is one of the possible [[assignments for essays]] you can choose. Looks like they're not doing these anymore, but for many years, [this website collected responses to an "annual question"](https://www.edge.org/annual-questions). Browse for inspiration, and then choose one of the questions to write your own answer to. - WHAT IS THE FINAL QUESTION? - WHAT SCIENTIFIC TERM OR CONCEPT OUGHT TO BE MORE WIDELY KNOWN? - WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST INTERESTING RECENT NEWS? WHAT MAKES IT IMPORTANT? - WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MACHINES THAT THINK? - WHAT SCIENTIFIC IDEA IS READY FOR RETIREMENT? - WHAT *SHOULD* WE BE WORRIED ABOUT? - WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DEEP, ELEGANT, OR BEAUTIFUL EXPLANATION? - WHAT SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT WOULD IMPROVE EVERYBODY'S COGNITIVE TOOLKIT? - HOW IS THE INTERNET CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK? - WHAT WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING? - WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT? WHY? - WHAT ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT? - WHAT IS YOUR DANGEROUS IDEA? - WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS TRUE EVEN THOUGH YOU CANNOT PROVE IT? - WHAT'S YOUR LAW? - WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? ... WHY? - WHAT NOW? - WHAT QUESTIONS HAVE DISAPPEARED? - WHAT IS TODAY'S MOST IMPORTANT UNREPORTED STORY? - WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INVENTION IN THE PAST TWO THOUSAND YEARS? - WHAT QUESTIONS ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF?