We could get the government to fund the experiments with research dollars, and build institutions around the country where people run these experiments with young people eager to learn and apply science and get experience with such things. Then the results could be published first in science journals for the other institutions, and then the best ones written up in popular book form for the masses to consume.
Exactly. However, the incentives are different. Academics do not necessarily care about the same questions. They are also not personally affected but just research a topic.
With a social network, people with problems can come up with their own answers. They already do, in existing networks. I think, organizing a social network by research question could be an improvement on the status quo.
Wait a minute…