Good morning, Quartz readers!
Blistering summers like this one offer a glimpse at the impact of climate change: heat waves in Europe, wildfires in the US, and unprecedented thawing in the Arctic. Here’s one outcome that hasn’t yet hit home: An indispensable resource, water, is about to become scarce.
Quartz, working with the Texas Observer, went to the Texas-Mexico border to investigate the dynamics of this crisis. The border is home to the Rio Grande, one of the most endangered rivers in the world, which flows through one of the fastest-growing regions in the US. It is set to effectively run dry in coming decades. Both Mexico and Texas need Rio Grande water to support booming border cities and major agricultural economies.
When the Rio Grande does run out, a run on groundwater is likely. The US and Mexico don’t have an agreed-upon map or a treaty on groundwater—a potentially huge geopolitical problem.
Similar scenarios are playing out globally. Bolivia, which two years ago declared a state of emergency over water, is being sued by Chile in the UN’s International Court of Justice over the Silala River that flows between them. In Ethiopia, a massive hydroelectric dam on the Nile could reduce flows into Egypt by as much as 25%. About 85% of the water used in Egypt comes from the Nile and experts expect the country to face a freshwater shortage by 2025.
Of the 195 states in the world, 145 have at least one river or lake shared across international borders. Most have no multinational agreements covering them. In a world where rivers run dry and lakes drain, hundreds of millions of border-adjacent people will live in a precarious state. The fight for water can push nations apart—or bring them together.—Zoë Schlanger
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Concrete answers. One of the biggest challenges of renewable energy is storing it. Batteries are expensive at large scale and hydroelectric dams that rely on gravity only work in specific geographies. Akshat Rathi reports on a prototype energy plant with a potential solution: Huge stacks of concrete blocks, lifted and then dropped by robot cranes, can store excess power. It’s low-tech, affordable, and, in theory, could be built anywhere with empty space.
Crazy talk. Working women are bombarded with contradictory advice about how to succeed—lean in, be gentle, talk tough, avoid aggression. The unifying theme, however, is that it’s up to women to adjust to workplaces that discriminate. Ephrat Livni examines a new Duke University study that shows how this reinforces sexism by suggesting individuals fix systemic problems.
An upstream battle. Atul Vir, a 59-year-old businessman in Houston, Texas, has spent $100,000 outfitting his house for the next Hurricane Harvey, adding everything from an indoor drainage pond to a helicopter-rescue-ready roof deck. It may not be enough. Ana Campoy uses Vir as a case study in Houston’s ongoing fight to get flood-ready.
Nigeria’s identity split. Is Nigeria socialist or capitalist? It’s not sure. While the government touts the country as a good place to do business, it’s having a hard time staying hands-off. Yomi Kazeem examines this disconnect via the country’s recent pushback on a pay-TV service attempting to raise prices.
Average is over. When Netflix makes original films, they get rave reviews or harsh pans, unlike studio pictures that wind up in the mushy middle. Ashley Rodriguez and Dan Kopf analyzed data from Rotten Tomatoes to show how Netflix’s algorithmic productions have a distinct approach from Hollywood—and why that might benefit the streaming giant.
Five things elsewhere that made us smarter
The most devastating cyber attack in history. In 2017, a group of Kremlin-linked hackers known as Sandworm released NotPetya, a piece of malware that crippled several multinational companies and caused more than $10 billion in damages. For Wired, Andy Greenberg details NotPetya’s path of destruction (paywall) through the eyes of its victims.
The booming business of Birkenstock. The family-owned German brand has more than doubled production since 2012—the year luxury label Céline unveiled mink-lined Birkenstock look-alikes. For The Cut, Cathy Horyn explains how stylish shoppers have since embraced the sandals once regarded as the aesthetically challenged footwear of comfort-minded hippies.
This should be Snapchat’s moment. As Facebook and Twitter endure existential crises, Snapchat could be swooping in on millions of disillusioned social-media users. Instead, Bloomberg’s Sarah Frier reports, Snap’s “reluctant to shine” CEO has been more focused on confessional group meetings and figuring out how to contribute to “human progress.”
Hey guys, is this OK? “Guys” may be widely regarded as a gender-neutral way to address people, but many are looking to replace the word with a more inclusive one. For The Atlantic, Joe Pinsker interrogates English speakers’ use of “guys,” and explores some potential alternatives.
Escape the free market. Over the past four years, the US escape-room industry has grown from about two dozen facilities to more than 2,300. Mom-and-pop shops are being pushed out in favor of larger firms opening more rooms, with more bells and whistles. For Medium, Adam K. Raymond looks at what it takes to create a great escape.
Our best wishes for a relaxing but thought-filled weekend. Please send any news, comments, Birkenstock look-alikes, and jugs of fresh water to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day, or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Weekend Brief was edited by Kira Bindrim.