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Making a Difference


Ever Wonder What Happens to Leftover Crayons?

This dad is melting down old crayons for kids who need them most.

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For the Disabled, Using Virtual Reality for Education Opens Up New Possibilities
Virtual Reality
For the Disabled, Using Virtual Reality for Education Opens…
For the Disabled, Using Virtual Reality for Education Opens Up New Possibilities
His daughter couldn’t go on school field trips with her classmates, so Craig Chaytor designed a virtual reality adventure just for her.
This Child Psychiatrist Is Saving Refugees From Trauma
Interview
Episode 20190712
This Child Psychiatrist Is Saving Refugees From Trauma
With the right intervention at the right time, a trauma can be recorded in the memory as non-traumatic and in many cases the devastating effects of PTSD in children refugees can be avoided.
Scientists Sidestep Restrictions on Cannabis Research by Taking Their Lab Mobile
Dope Science
Scientists Sidestep Restrictions on Cannabis Research by…
Scientists Sidestep Restrictions on Cannabis Research by Taking Their Lab Mobile
This mobile lab, run by scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder, is one of several workarounds developed by US researchers to study cannabis outside the confines of campus, where federal law has stymied research of the drug.
Stopping Gang Violence with Love
Catalysts
Episode 20190710
Stopping Gang Violence with Love
This nonprofit is doing the impossible - finding the 10% of gang members responsible for 90% of the crime, and leading them to successful, positive lives.
Giving Homeless People Something Most of Us Take for Granted
Move the World
Episode 20190709
Giving Homeless People Something Most of Us Take for Granted
This one small thing can mean the difference between a spot in a shelter or sleeping on the streets, a job or no job, a place to eat or going without food.
Keeper of the Missing
Digital Detectives
Episode 20190705
Keeper of the Missing
One woman is tracking thousands of missing people. Autism is her superpower.
Is the Future of Therapy… Virtual? A Look Into Virtual Reality Therapy
Future of Therapy
Is the Future of Therapy… Virtual? A Look Into Virtual R…
Is the Future of Therapy… Virtual? A Look Into Virtual Reality Therapy
The immersive world of VR may have therapeutic benefits for people combating phobias, anxiety, and PTSD.
Hacking Surfboard Fins to Fight Climate Change
Innovation
Episode 20190702
Hacking Surfboard Fins to Fight Climate Change
How can a surfboard modification help save the oceans?
In the US, Rural Hospitals Are Closing. Can Medical Drones Fill This Healthcare Gap?
Innovation
In the US, Rural Hospitals Are Closing. Can Medical Drones…
In the US, Rural Hospitals Are Closing. Can Medical Drones Fill This Healthcare Gap?
“Whether you live in the developed world or the developing world, the further you travel outside of a major city, the harder it is for you to access the medicine you need to stay healthy and alive.”
Preparing for Outbreak: Fighting the World's Deadliest Diseases
Disease X
Episode 20190629
Preparing for Outbreak: Fighting the World's Deadliest Diseases
The World Health Organization has compiled a list of the most dangerous diseases that could strike next year.
Angels of Debt
Thinking Differently
Episode 20190628
Angels of Debt
These ex-bill collectors got John Oliver's attention and started a movement. They're buying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of strangers' medical debt and erasing it.
Hip-Hop Fans Are Getting Creative in the Kitchen Thanks to This Rap Inspired Food Competition
Catalysts
Hip-Hop Fans Are Getting Creative in the Kitchen Thanks to…
Hip-Hop Fans Are Getting Creative in the Kitchen Thanks to This Rap Inspired Food Competition
“T-bone steak, cheese eggs, and Welch’s grape.” Yo Stay Hungry competitions are simple: teams of contestants prepare dishes mentioned in rap lyrics, coached by a professional chef mentor.
How NASA’s Space Food Lab Will Feed the Farthest Journey in History
What It Takes
Episode 20190626
How NASA’s Space Food Lab Will Feed the Farthest Journey in History
These food scientists are making it possible for us to explore space in ways we haven’t yet as a species.
The Snake Milk King
What It Takes
Episode 20190620
The Snake Milk King
Enter the Kentucky Reptile Zoo—one of the largest collections of venomous reptiles in the world—and meet Jim Harrison, the man that spent his 42-year career milking King Cobras for anti-venom and saving lives across the globe. What drives a man like this to risk his life each and every day?
A Dangerous Job: Snake Milkers Risk Their Lives to Save Others
What it Takes
A Dangerous Job: Snake Milkers Risk Their Lives to Save…
A Dangerous Job: Snake Milkers Risk Their Lives to Save Others
A very small number of very daring people are responsible for all of the world’s antivenom.
A Home Helping Teen Moms Break the Cycle of Generational Poverty
Catalysts
Episode 20190619
A Home Helping Teen Moms Break the Cycle of Generational Poverty
Hope House in Denver is changing lives for generations to come.
The Final Maker Faire
Photo Essay
The Final Maker Faire
The Final Maker Faire
The maker movement is grieving a big loss with the shutdown of Maker Media. Freethink's Alexandra Cardinale spoke with some of the most creative people at the final Maker Faire.
The Forgotten Parent: How One Father is Making Sure Teen Dads Don’t Go Overlooked
The Forgotten Parent: How One Father is Making Sure Teen…
The Forgotten Parent: How One Father is Making Sure Teen Dads Don’t Go Overlooked
As the founder of Fathers New Mexico, Barry McIntosh is on a mission to help young fathers understand how important the early parenting years really are.
CRISPR: A Future Alternative to Vaccines?
CRISPR: A Future Alternative to Vaccines?
CRISPR: A Future Alternative to Vaccines?
Humanity is locked in an arms race with diseases: we update our vaccines, and diseases evolve new ways to try to sneak past them. Cutting-edge research is exploring how to stimulate immunity without using vaccines, using the new gene-editing technology known as CRISPR.
Online Hackers Hunt Down Missing People
Digital Detectives
Episode 20190613
Online Hackers Hunt Down Missing People
This search and rescue expert discovered that many missing people had nobody looking for them. Then he had an idea: what if hackers made a game out of finding missing people through the internet?
The Edible Six Pack Ring That's Saving Marine Animals
Innovation
Episode 20190612
The Edible Six Pack Ring That's Saving Marine Animals
18 billion pounds of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year. This microbrewery created biodegradable six pack rings to help stem the tide.
Hope After Prison
Clean Decisions
Episode 20190608
Hope After Prison
This former inmate is cleaning up his city and helping other ex-cons turn their lives around.
The Future of Healthcare Could Look a Lot Like the 1900s
Health
The Future of Healthcare Could Look a Lot Like the 1900s
The Future of Healthcare Could Look a Lot Like the 1900s
For many cancer patients, being treated at home is just as safe, more affordable, and more convenient than being treated in a clinical setting.
MacGyver Medicine Can Save Lives
Reverse Innovation
MacGyver Medicine Can Save Lives
MacGyver Medicine Can Save Lives
The package is simple and dirt-cheap—a plastic bag with a condom, a syringe, a rubber tube, and a card with instructions—but it can mean the difference between a mother living and dying.
How to Change the World
Thinking Differently
Episode 20190528
How to Change the World
Olivia Leland, founder and CEO of Co-Impact, on how we should approach solving the world’s most complex problems.
Drone Racers Are A Thing and They’re Amazing
Culture of Change
Episode 20190525
Drone Racers Are A Thing and They’re Amazing
Blistering speed. Big money. 11-year-old world champions. Is drone racing the next big sport?
How This Non-Profit Weaves a Family of Support for Struggling Teens in Baltimore
Catalysts
How This Non-Profit Weaves a Family of Support for…
How This Non-Profit Weaves a Family of Support for Struggling Teens in Baltimore
“Everyone - no matter their age, race, or background - needs a network of supportive relationships to help them thrive.”
Is Autism a Mysterious Medical Condition or a Disability That's Part of the Spectrum of Human Diversity?
Thinking Differently
Is Autism a Mysterious Medical Condition or a Disability…
Is Autism a Mysterious Medical Condition or a Disability That's Part of the Spectrum of Human Diversity?
Rethinking Autism: Interview with NeuroTribes Author Steve Silberman
Can People with Autism Help Create Next-Generation AI?
Making a Difference
Episode 20190515
Can People with Autism Help Create Next-Generation AI?
Daivergent is a new startup that hires people with autism to train artificial intelligence - and helps them start independent careers.
What's Wrong With Science?
Thinking Differently
What's Wrong With Science?
What's Wrong With Science?
A shocking amount of scientific studies can’t be reproduced. Do we need to change the culture of science?
F*ck a False Arrest: How to Get out of Jail Free in NYC
Fixing Justice
Episode 20190509
F*ck a False Arrest: How to Get out of Jail Free in NYC
Good Call NYC Fights Bad Policing With a Free Lawyer Hotline: 1-833-3-GOODCALL
The Joy of Being Wrong
Thinking Differently
Episode 20190506
The Joy of Being Wrong
Can practicing intellectual humility make us smarter and happier? Science says yes.
Giving Animals New Legs
Innovation
Episode 20190503
Giving Animals New Legs
Derrick Campana is a prosthetics engineer helping animals walk again with artificial limbs.
These Hero Pups Are Helping Veterans and Prisoners Heal
Inspiring
Episode 20190502
These Hero Pups Are Helping Veterans and Prisoners Heal
Hero Pups is an organization providing support dogs for military veterans and first responders. Now, prison inmates are helping train them - with great results.
Sometimes It Really Does Take a Village
Stand Together
Sometimes It Really Does Take a Village
Sometimes It Really Does Take a Village
Building a new, community-based foster care system
Could This Be the Future of Foster Care?
Catalysts
Episode 20190501
Could This Be the Future of Foster Care?
Take a look inside a town built for foster families
A Quiet Revolution in Trucking
Innovation
Episode 20190429
A Quiet Revolution in Trucking
She’s a veteran, a single mom, and a trucker, who used to have to wait around for hours for her cargo. Now, a revolutionary solution from SAP and Uber Freight is getting her back on the road and home to her son sooner.
Who Will Save Your Parent’s Life Story?
Innovation
Episode 20190426
Who Will Save Your Parent’s Life Story?
When her dad had Alzheimer’s, this journalist wrote his life story to help his caregivers understand him. Now, she’d doing the same for hundreds more.
Veterans to the Rescue
Inspiring
Episode 20190424
Veterans to the Rescue
On the worst day of their lives, these veterans came to help.
A Day in the Life of a 'Violence Interruptor'
#fixingjustice - Harm Reduction
A Day in the Life of a 'Violence Interruptor'
A Day in the Life of a 'Violence Interruptor'
Freethink followed Andre T. Mitchell, the founder of Man Up!, and his violence interrupter team for a day in Brooklyn as they responded to a recent shooting in a nearby neighborhood.
Should Violence be Treated Like A Disease?
#fixingjustice - Harm Reduction
Should Violence be Treated Like A Disease?
Should Violence be Treated Like A Disease?
Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Slutkin of Cure Violence says we need to treat violence like a public health crisis and employ the same types of strategies we use in medicine to treat violence.
Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Break the Cycle of Violence?
#fixingjustice - Re-entry
Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Break the Cycle of…
Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Break the Cycle of Violence?
CBT is a promising way to reduce violence and depression, so why has it been so hard to scale?
The Ride Home from Prison
#fixingjustice - Re-entry
The Ride Home from Prison
The Ride Home from Prison
The "Ride Home Program" sends drivers to pick up former inmates on their first day of freedom to help ensure a smooth transition in those first few critical hours.
24 Years For a Crime He Didn’t Commit
#fixingjustice - Re-entry
Episode 20190418
24 Years For a Crime He Didn’t Commit
When a prisoner serving a life sentence is suddenly found to be innocent, it often makes national news. But what happens after the cameras go away?
This Former Wall Street Felon is Helping Ex-Cons Find Jobs
#fixingjustice - Re-entry
Episode 20190418
This Former Wall Street Felon is Helping Ex-Cons Find Jobs
Doing prison time changed this Wall Street trader’s life. Now he’s helping others get jobs after prison - and stay out for good.
A Mother’s Wish for Her Son’s Killer
#Fixingjustice - Sentencing Reform
A Mother’s Wish for Her Son’s Killer
A Mother’s Wish for Her Son’s Killer
DeVitta Briscoe never had a chance to request a lighter sentence for the man who shot her son.
Rising Stars in Criminal Justice Reform
#Fixingjustice - Sentencing Reform
Rising Stars in Criminal Justice Reform
Rising Stars in Criminal Justice Reform
These key players are working from outside the system to lead the criminal justice reform movement.
Exclusive Interview: How Miriam Krinsky is Leading Us to a Smarter & More Equitable Justice System
#fixingjustice - Prosecution
Exclusive Interview: How Miriam Krinsky is Leading Us to a…
Exclusive Interview: How Miriam Krinsky is Leading Us to a Smarter & More Equitable Justice System
Her organization is bringing together a new generation of prosecutors with a shared vision of fair, compassionate, and responsible criminal justice reform.
Can a New Breed of Prosecutor Reform Our Broken System?
#fixingjustice - Prosecution
Episode 20190416
Can a New Breed of Prosecutor Reform Our Broken System?
Prosecutors are afforded a wide array of discretion within the criminal justice system and wielding that discretion appropriately could mean ending America’s mass incarceration problem.
Civilian Oversight Is a Solution to Police Misconduct. But is it Effective?
#fixingjustice - Policing
Civilian Oversight Is a Solution to Police Misconduct. But…
Civilian Oversight Is a Solution to Police Misconduct. But is it Effective?
Creating a civilian review board to oversee police conduct seems like a straightforward solution to disciplinary issues on the force. But why is it so hard to implement?
Do We Need More Police Or Better Police?
#fixingjustice - Policing
Do We Need More Police Or Better Police?
Do We Need More Police Or Better Police?
American cities are safer than they used to be, but they’re still quite violent, and many economists think they’re under-policed. More police could help reduce crime, but only if people trust them to do a good job.
How to Hold Police Accountable
#fixingjustice - Policing
Episode 20190415
How to Hold Police Accountable
The Invisible Institute is making Chicago police complaints easily available to the public—and is helping hold police accountable.
Why the 6th Most Dangerous City is Turning to Community Policing
#fixingjustice - Policing
Episode 20190415
Why the 6th Most Dangerous City is Turning to Community Policing
Police departments around the country are increasingly looking at community policing programs as a tool to help reestablish trust in the communities they serve.
Community Policing is Back in Vogue. But Does it Work?
#fixingjustice - Policing
Community Policing is Back in Vogue. But Does it Work?
Community Policing is Back in Vogue. But Does it Work?
As police departments look for ways to rebuild trust with their communities, an increasing number are turning to new community policing programs. But are they effective? As with most things, it depends on what you measure.
Freethink's 2019 Criminal Justice Week
Criminal Justice Week
Trailer
Freethink's 2019 Criminal Justice Week
Join us as we go inside the criminal justice reform movement for an up close look at the people trying to fix our broken system.
How To Teach Kids to Read in as Little as 50 Days
Sponsored
Episode 20190411
How To Teach Kids to Read in as Little as 50 Days
1 in 10 people in the world today are illiterate. This program teaches people to read in as little as 50 days.
How San Francisco Residents Saved Local Businesses
Entrepreneurship
Episode 20190403
How San Francisco Residents Saved Local Businesses
An indie book store went from struggling to thriving with a new business model. Is it the future of retail?
A Game-Changer for Chronic Homelessness
Catalysts
Episode 2
A Game-Changer for Chronic Homelessness
He turned a food truck for the homeless into a thriving 51-acre community.
This Fearless Principal Used UFC & Skateboards to Save a Failing School
Education
Episode 20190325
This Fearless Principal Used UFC & Skateboards to Save a Failing School
How one relentless, unconventional principal rallied an underdog school.
Can the Apartment Industry Help Solve Homelessness?
Catalysts
Episode 1
Can the Apartment Industry Help Solve Homelessness?
Meet the innovative group connecting people with housing — and a job that can pay for it.
Why Drugs Are Hurting More People Than Ever – And What to Do About It
#fixingjustice - Harm Reduction
Why Drugs Are Hurting More People Than Ever – And What to D…
Why Drugs Are Hurting More People Than Ever – And What to Do About It
Is the solution to dangerous drugs... making them safer?
Breaking Abuse Victims’ Financial Handcuffs
Episode 20190315
Breaking Abuse Victims’ Financial Handcuffs
This amazing organization is doing whatever it takes to help domestic violence victims survive on their own.
Fixing the Way We Fund Science
Longreads
Fixing the Way We Fund Science
Fixing the Way We Fund Science
Basic science funding is a mess. Fixing it could radically improve the pace of innovation.
How a Smartphone Can Detect a Deadly Disease, without a Lab, for Free
Episode 20190309
How a Smartphone Can Detect a Deadly Disease, without a Lab, for Free
This app tests for anemia, and it's nearly as good as the gold-standard lab test.
Hacking the Brain's Comms Network – without Surgery
Dispatches
Hacking the Brain's Comms Network – without Surgery
Hacking the Brain's Comms Network – without Surgery
When nerve cells in the brain communicate, they create tiny electric fields that can be sensed – and sometimes altered – from outside the skull.
Prison Education Can Break the "Revolving Door" of Recidivism
Catalysts
Prison Education Can Break the "Revolving Door"…
Prison Education Can Break the "Revolving Door" of Recidivism
Over 600,000 people will leave prison this year; here's how we can help them never return.
An App to Help Prevent Suicide
Episode 20190222
An App to Help Prevent Suicide
Meet the teens who built the notOK App: a "panic button" for people who need help.
Introducing Catalysts
Catalysts
Trailer
Introducing Catalysts
It’s time to change how we make change. Join us as we meet inspiring social entrepreneurs who are exploring bold new solutions to big social problems.
The Badass Army Fighting Revenge Porn
Episode 20190215
The Badass Army Fighting Revenge Porn
They’re tracking down people who post revenge porn - and getting justice.
What We Get Wrong About Love
Episode 20190213
What We Get Wrong About Love
Why are we so bad at love?
A Tumor-Killing Virus Could Treat Eye Cancer and Save Children's Sight
Dispatches
A Tumor-Killing Virus Could Treat Eye Cancer and Save…
A Tumor-Killing Virus Could Treat Eye Cancer and Save Children's Sight
The only treatment for retinoblastoma is surgical removal of the eye—but scientists may have found another way: cancer-killing viruses.
Funding Health Care with Coffee
Episode 20190208
Funding Health Care with Coffee
What if your daily coffee helped save a life?
Tiny Satellite “Constellations” Could Bring the Entire World Online
Dispatches
Tiny Satellite “Constellations” Could Bring the Entire Wor…
Tiny Satellite “Constellations” Could Bring the Entire World Online
SpaceX is out in front, but the race for global satellite internet is getting crowded.
Mosquitoes Are the Deadliest Animals in History. Should We Wipe Them Out?
Dispatches
Mosquitoes Are the Deadliest Animals in History. Should We…
Mosquitoes Are the Deadliest Animals in History. Should We Wipe Them Out?
The world's richest and poorest people are teaming up against our deadliest predator.
The First Private Moonshot Is Ready to Launch
Dispatches
The First Private Moonshot Is Ready to Launch
The First Private Moonshot Is Ready to Launch
The Israeli group's moon mission will be ride-sharing on a SpaceX rocket.
The Paralyzed Racer Going Faster than Ever
Technology
Episode 20190125
The Paralyzed Racer Going Faster than Ever
This daredevil wouldn't let anything slow him down—not even a devastating bike accident.
A "LinkedIn for Cancer" Helps Myeloma Patients Find Help – and Hope
Dispatches
A "LinkedIn for Cancer" Helps Myeloma Patients…
A "LinkedIn for Cancer" Helps Myeloma Patients Find Help – and Hope
The site aims to help scientists discover new treatments – and empower patients to advocate for their own care.
Training the Body to Fight Off Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Dispatches
Training the Body to Fight Off Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Training the Body to Fight Off Drug-Resistant Bacteria
A new strategy, called host-targeted defense, could help solve antibiotic resistance by upgrading the immune system.
The "Search Angel" Volunteers Reunite Birth Families
Technology
Episode 20190115
The "Search Angel" Volunteers Reunite Birth Families
For some, not knowing their biological family can feel like a part of them is missing. The Search Squad is helping them for free.
How NASA Scientists Learned to Stick with Super Long-Term Goals
Dispatches
How NASA Scientists Learned to Stick with Super Long-Term…
How NASA Scientists Learned to Stick with Super Long-Term Goals
When the New Horizons spacecraft launched in 2006, Pluto was still a planet and the iPhone didn't exist.
Helping People with Disabilities Become Working Artists
Entrepreneurship
Episode 20190104
Helping People with Disabilities Become Working Artists
Only 20% of people with disabilities participate in the workforce; Art Enables helps those with special needs turn art into a career.
Supercharging Photosynthesis Can Grow 40% More Food
Dispatches
Supercharging Photosynthesis Can Grow 40% More Food
Supercharging Photosynthesis Can Grow 40% More Food
We need a lot more calories to feed a growing world, and these scientists may have figured out how to get them.
An Address for Everywhere on Earth
Innovation
Episode 20181229
An Address for Everywhere on Earth
Can three simple words change how we find each other?
Helping Moms in Prison Read to Their Kids
Prison Reform
Episode 20181221
Helping Moms in Prison Read to Their Kids
Meet the people helping incarcerated mothers read to their kids.
Why Cancer Patients Should Get Genetic Sequencing
Sponsored
Episode 20181221
Why Cancer Patients Should Get Genetic Sequencing
Genomic sequencing saved his live. Now he wants everyone to have access.
Finding a New Drug in One-Third the Time and One-Thousandth the Cost
Dispatches
Finding a New Drug in One-Third the Time and One-Thousandth…
Finding a New Drug in One-Third the Time and One-Thousandth the Cost
How a pediatric cancer drug went from discovery to clinical trials in five years and just $500,000.
Living Drugs May Be the Key to Beating Genetic Disease
Dispatches
Living Drugs May Be the Key to Beating Genetic Disease
Living Drugs May Be the Key to Beating Genetic Disease
Engineering bacteria in the microbiome could fix previously untreatable genetic disorders.
Making Tumors Glow to Improve Cancer Surgery
Science
Episode 20181214
Making Tumors Glow to Improve Cancer Surgery
This surgeon is improving surgery by lighting up cancer cells.
What Is Cystic Fibrosis—And What Is It Like?
What Is Cystic Fibrosis—And What Is It Like?
What Is Cystic Fibrosis—And What Is It Like?
What you need to know about this genetic disease, explained by someone who knows it inside and out.
The Student Laboratory Reinventing Food To Stop Waste
Episode 20181207
The Student Laboratory Reinventing Food To Stop Waste
Inside the food laboratory inventing new foods to prevent waste.
How Redesigning Labs Can Demystify Genetic Science
Dispatches
How Redesigning Labs Can Demystify Genetic Science
How Redesigning Labs Can Demystify Genetic Science
"Scientists work in high-security buildings that are banned to the public and then wonder why they are misunderstood."
A Hidden Benefit of Banned Antimicrobial Soap: Treating Cystic Fibrosis Infections
Dispatches
A Hidden Benefit of Banned Antimicrobial Soap: Treating…
A Hidden Benefit of Banned Antimicrobial Soap: Treating Cystic Fibrosis Infections
The FDA banned triclosan from hand soap, but new research shows that it can supercharge old antibiotics.
Why We Need a Universal Flu Vaccine
Dispatches
Why We Need a Universal Flu Vaccine
Why We Need a Universal Flu Vaccine
Two scientists explain why the flu is still such a problem, a century after it killed 50 million people — and what we can do stop it.
Paige and the Virus Hunter
Dispatches
Paige and the Virus Hunter
Paige and the Virus Hunter
Drugs couldn’t stop her infection — so she asked Ben Chan to get her a virus, instead.
Helping Prisoners Overcome Trauma with Dance
Episode 20181128
Helping Prisoners Overcome Trauma with Dance
Women in prison are regaining a sense of freedom — through dance.
Fighting Superbugs with Viruses
Science
Episode 20181127
Fighting Superbugs with Viruses
This Yale scientist's experimental treatment is a Texas woman's last resort.
Grandkids on Demand
Episode 20181121
Grandkids on Demand
A new service provides “grandkids on demand.”
3 Ways To Think About the Future
Episode 20181120
3 Ways To Think About the Future
Why don’t we have a moon base? A cartoonist and a scientist explain.
Growing Food with Seawater
Science
Episode 20181113
Growing Food with Seawater
This designer invented a greenhouse that lets you grow food with seawater.
Is a "Global Village" a Pandemic Waiting to Happen?
Dispatches
Is a "Global Village" a Pandemic Waiting to…
Is a "Global Village" a Pandemic Waiting to Happen?
New research suggests that our hyper-connected world might be protecting us against devastating plagues.
Neuroscience Has a Low-Tech Answer for a Good Night's Sleep
Dispatches
Neuroscience Has a Low-Tech Answer for a Good Night's Sleep
Neuroscience Has a Low-Tech Answer for a Good Night's Sleep
Neuroscientists say that we may be ignoring a basic fact that could defuse the "screen-time wars" between parents and kids.
Driverless Cars Go Off-roading
Dispatches
Driverless Cars Go Off-roading
Driverless Cars Go Off-roading
Computer-game simulations can train self-driving cars to navigate in the real world.
Saving Lives with AI
Sponsored
Episode 20181107
Saving Lives with AI
Artificial intelligence can find hidden patterns in patient’s vital signs - and stop emergencies before they happen.
"Q" Probably Won't Make You Rich, but It's an Experiment Worth Watching
Dispatches
"Q" Probably Won't Make You Rich, but It's an…
"Q" Probably Won't Make You Rich, but It's an Experiment Worth Watching
It's not the next Bitcoin (or a path to riches), but it's an intriguing idea.
This Restaurant Gives At-Risk Youth a Second Chance
Sponsored
Episode 20181105
This Restaurant Gives At-Risk Youth a Second Chance
Cafe Momentum offers an alternative to the revolving doors at Texas jails.
We're Mapping 100 Trillion Human Cells (and All of Their Genes)
Dispatches
We're Mapping 100 Trillion Human Cells (and All of Their…
We're Mapping 100 Trillion Human Cells (and All of Their Genes)
The "Human BioMolecular Atlas" will map the active genes in over 200 types of cells and 80 different organ systems.
Teaching Engineering with Dirt Bikes
Episode 20181031
Teaching Engineering with Dirt Bikes
This teacher is using dirt bikes to help Baltimore's kids learn STEM.
A Skin Graft Cures Cocaine Cravings (in Mice)
Dispatches
A Skin Graft Cures Cocaine Cravings (in Mice)
A Skin Graft Cures Cocaine Cravings (in Mice)
A CRISPR skin graft looks like a promising way to deliver gene therapy.
Steven Pinker Makes the Case for Optimism
Episode 20181030
Steven Pinker Makes the Case for Optimism
Are things really worse than ever, or are we missing the bigger picture?
Personal Genetics Might Solve the Opioid Crisis – and the Pain Crisis
Dispatches
Personal Genetics Might Solve the Opioid Crisis – and the P…
Personal Genetics Might Solve the Opioid Crisis – and the Pain Crisis
Why does pain hurt more for some people? Why do others feel nothing at all?
Goodbye, Passwords: Hello Brain-ID
Dispatches
Goodbye, Passwords: Hello Brain-ID
Goodbye, Passwords: Hello Brain-ID
Can mind-readers replace passwords and biometric security?
AI Will Make You Smarter
Dispatches
AI Will Make You Smarter
AI Will Make You Smarter
Artificial intelligence will multiply your own intelligence, in ways that will surprise you.
Meet the Amateur Astronomer Who Found a Lost NASA Satellite
Science
Episode 20181022
Meet the Amateur Astronomer Who Found a Lost NASA Satellite
A $130 million satellite vanished. Over a decade later, a blogger/astronomer found it.
Why Can't America Solve Murder Anymore?
Longreads
Why Can't America Solve Murder Anymore?
Why Can't America Solve Murder Anymore?
The evidence suggests that most murderers get away with it. Here's what we can do about that.
To Eradicate TB, We Need Old-Fashioned Ambition
Dispatches
To Eradicate TB, We Need Old-Fashioned Ambition
To Eradicate TB, We Need Old-Fashioned Ambition
The Ebola outbreak sparked more medical innovation in two years than TB has in decades, even though TB is killing millions of people a year.
What's the Deal with the Giant Mosquitoes after Hurricanes?
Dispatches
What's the Deal with the Giant Mosquitoes after Hurricanes?
What's the Deal with the Giant Mosquitoes after Hurricanes?
These suckers grow to be three times larger than other mosquitoes, but they may not be as bad as you think.
The Dad Changing How We Investigate Police Shootings
Trailer
The Dad Changing How We Investigate Police Shootings
After his son was killed by police, Michael Bell fought for over a decade to change how we investigate police shootings.
How Veterans Help Each Other Heal Through Therapy
Sponsored
Trailer
How Veterans Help Each Other Heal Through Therapy
Headstrong believes that trauma is treatable.
Meet the 380 Trillion Viruses inside Your Body
Dispatches
Meet the 380 Trillion Viruses inside Your Body
Meet the 380 Trillion Viruses inside Your Body
Scientists aren't exactly sure yet what the "virome" is up to, but it's probably important.
Bringing Virtual Reality to Brain Surgery
Sponsored
Episode 20181009
Bringing Virtual Reality to Brain Surgery
Virtual reality is helping surgeons and patients prepare for complicated, life-saving surgeries in ways never before possible.
The First “Telepathic” Social Network Is Used to Play Tetris
Dispatches
The First “Telepathic” Social Network Is Used to Play Tetris
The First “Telepathic” Social Network Is Used to Play Tetris
Researchers claim that BrainNet is “bringing us a step closer to a ‘social network of brains.’”
What We Learned from a Decade of Commercial Space Travel
Dispatches
What We Learned from a Decade of Commercial Space Travel
What We Learned from a Decade of Commercial Space Travel
Businesses have gotten to space; now what?
A New Kind of Headset “Hears” Words You Don’t Say
Dispatches
A New Kind of Headset “Hears” Words You Don’t Say
A New Kind of Headset “Hears” Words You Don’t Say
The project, named AlterEgo, intentionally crosses the line between what's "out there" and what's in your head.
The 2018 Nobel Prize Could Mark a Turning Point in the War on Cancer
Dispatches
The 2018 Nobel Prize Could Mark a Turning Point in the War…
The 2018 Nobel Prize Could Mark a Turning Point in the War on Cancer
More than one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime; new discoveries are helping them fight back.
A New Stem Cell Treatment Can Heal Burns, Bedsores, and Diabetic Ulcers
Dispatches
A New Stem Cell Treatment Can Heal Burns, Bedsores, and…
A New Stem Cell Treatment Can Heal Burns, Bedsores, and Diabetic Ulcers
In addition to healing injuries, the approach could be useful for repairing skin damage, countering the effects of aging, and modeling skin cancer.
“I'd Like to Build My Own Coffin”
Dispatches
“I'd Like to Build My Own Coffin”
“I'd Like to Build My Own Coffin”
How the founders of the "coffin clubs" got started – and their advice for others.
The Future of Cancer Research
Sponsored
Episode 20180917
The Future of Cancer Research
Intel's Bryce Olson used genomic sequencing to help fight his cancer. Now he’s helping researchers use artificial intelligence to discover entirely new cancer treatments.
How The Phoenix Is Fighting Addiction with Fitness
Sponsored
Episode 20180917
How The Phoenix Is Fighting Addiction with Fitness
Meet the group that is helping thousands of people transform their lives and unlock their potential.
Can DIY Science (Finally) Cut the Cost of Insulin?
Dispatches
Can DIY Science (Finally) Cut the Cost of Insulin?
Can DIY Science (Finally) Cut the Cost of Insulin?
A century after its discovery, insulin is still incredibly expensive, but DIY bio-manufacturing could change that in a big way.
Introducing Freethink
Trailer
Episode 20180906
Introducing Freethink
We’re reimagining media for a generation that’s changing the world.
Can Science Make People Live Healthier for Longer?
Sponsored
Episode 20180828
Can Science Make People Live Healthier for Longer?
An MIT researcher has turned 30 years of aging research into something you can use right now.
Why a Third of Antidepressants Are Prescribed for "Off-label" Problems
Dispatches
Why a Third of Antidepressants Are Prescribed for…
Why a Third of Antidepressants Are Prescribed for "Off-label" Problems
The "secret life of antidepressants" could open up a host of new treatments.
Zika Could Be a "Smart Missile" for Brain Cancer
Dispatches
Zika Could Be a "Smart Missile" for Brain Cancer
Zika Could Be a "Smart Missile" for Brain Cancer
Zika can devastate fetal brains; scientists want to turn it against brain tumors instead.
Brains Store Memories in a Temporary "Cache" (and We Can Read It)
Dispatches
Brains Store Memories in a Temporary "Cache" (and…
Brains Store Memories in a Temporary "Cache" (and We Can Read It)
Like the day’s newspaper, the brain has a temporary way to keep track of events.
How a Video Game Helped the Cajun Navy Save Lives
Dispatches
How a Video Game Helped the Cajun Navy Save Lives
How a Video Game Helped the Cajun Navy Save Lives
When lives are on the line, inspiration can come from the most unlikely places.
GMO Mosquitoes Could Be Our Best New Weapon against Disease
Dispatches
GMO Mosquitoes Could Be Our Best New Weapon against Disease
GMO Mosquitoes Could Be Our Best New Weapon against Disease
It sounds like science fiction, but it could save millions of lives.
Rebuilding Coal Country
Sponsored
Episode 20180820
Rebuilding Coal Country
Meet the nonprofit bringing jobs back to coal country.
Inside the Cajun Navy: How Volunteers Are Training to Rescue Hurricane Victims
Episode 20180816
Inside the Cajun Navy: How Volunteers Are Training to Rescue Hurricane Victims
Can civilian-led rescue be part of future disaster recovery efforts?
FDA Approves First Mute Button for Genetic Diseases
Dispatches
FDA Approves First Mute Button for Genetic Diseases
FDA Approves First Mute Button for Genetic Diseases
It is the first of "a wave of advances that have the potential to transform medicine."
Are "CRISPR Kids" the New "Test-Tube Babies"?
Dispatches
Are "CRISPR Kids" the New "Test-Tube…
Are "CRISPR Kids" the New "Test-Tube Babies"?
Forty years later, IVF shows how fears about new technology can fade.
Helping Kids Through Rowing
Sponsored
Episode 20180814
Helping Kids Through Rowing
Inside the surprising program helping disadvantaged kids in New York thrive.
New Evidence Suggests Viruses May Trigger Alzheimer’s
Dispatches
New Evidence Suggests Viruses May Trigger Alzheimer’s
New Evidence Suggests Viruses May Trigger Alzheimer’s
For the first time in a long time, there's a new direction for potential Alzheimer's treatments.
High Tech Archaeology Found a New Way to Screen for Vitamin D Deficiency
Dispatches
High Tech Archaeology Found a New Way to Screen for Vitamin…
High Tech Archaeology Found a New Way to Screen for Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is an age-old problem, but new techniques from archaeology may be the key to catching it early.
What Happens If Scientists Lose Faith in Their Own Research?
Dispatches
What Happens If Scientists Lose Faith in Their Own Research?
What Happens If Scientists Lose Faith in Their Own Research?
Half of scientists have failed to replicate their own work — but they rarely come forward. A new project wants to change that.
AI Could Replace Chemical Testing on Animals
Dispatches
AI Could Replace Chemical Testing on Animals
AI Could Replace Chemical Testing on Animals
Scientists have developed software that could save one billion dollars (and two million animals) each year.
Meet Civil, The Startup That Wants to Save Journalism with the Blockchain
Sponsored
Episode 20180731
Meet Civil, The Startup That Wants to Save Journalism with the Blockchain
Can the blockchain fight fake news, restore trust in the media, and save a dying a industry?
Paralyzed Mice Walk Again After Breakthrough Treatment
Dispatches
Paralyzed Mice Walk Again After Breakthrough Treatment
Paralyzed Mice Walk Again After Breakthrough Treatment
One small step for a mouse, perhaps one giant leap for treating spinal injuries.
"Cybersecurity for Plants" Can Stop Germs from Hacking Our Food Supply
Dispatches
"Cybersecurity for Plants" Can Stop Germs from…
"Cybersecurity for Plants" Can Stop Germs from Hacking Our Food Supply
Computer hackers exploit flaws in code to access systems and take what they want; plant diseases work the same way.
Quieter, Faster, Stronger: The Next Jet Age Is Coming
Dispatches
Quieter, Faster, Stronger: The Next Jet Age Is Coming
Quieter, Faster, Stronger: The Next Jet Age Is Coming
Air travel takes longer today than it did 40 years ago. That's about to change.
Coffin-Building Club Helps Seniors Face Death and Enjoy Life
Episode 20180710
Coffin-Building Club Helps Seniors Face Death and Enjoy Life
These seniors are tackling the stigma around death by decorating their own coffins.
UV Robots Can Sterilize an ICU in 10 Minutes
Dispatches
UV Robots Can Sterilize an ICU in 10 Minutes
UV Robots Can Sterilize an ICU in 10 Minutes
UV light destroys bacterial DNA from the inside out, eradicating the toughest pathogens in minutes.
Will Probiotics Cure Cholera?
Dispatches
Will Probiotics Cure Cholera?
Will Probiotics Cure Cholera?
MIT scientists say eating good bacteria can prevent, cure, and diagnose cholera—cheaply.
Using Neuroscience to Talk to People in a Vegetative State
Science
Episode 20180704
Using Neuroscience to Talk to People in a Vegetative State
A scientist figures out how to talk to the brain when the body won't respond.
The Gut Microbiome Affects Brain Structure
Dispatches
The Gut Microbiome Affects Brain Structure
The Gut Microbiome Affects Brain Structure
What happens in your gut in childhood can change how your brain works later in life.
An Insulin Pill Could Change Everything for Diabetics
Dispatches
An Insulin Pill Could Change Everything for Diabetics
An Insulin Pill Could Change Everything for Diabetics
A pill instead of a needle would be the "holy grail" for diabetes treatment.
FDA Approves the First Marijuana-based Drug
Dispatches
FDA Approves the First Marijuana-based Drug
FDA Approves the First Marijuana-based Drug
The drug has been proven effective at reducing seizures from certain types of childhood epilepsy.
CRISPR Edits Out Autistic Traits in Mice
Dispatches
CRISPR Edits Out Autistic Traits in Mice
CRISPR Edits Out Autistic Traits in Mice
The technique could also open up treatments for Huntington's, schizophrenia, and epilepsy.
A New Brain Surgery Robot Can Work Inside an MRI
Dispatches
A New Brain Surgery Robot Can Work Inside an MRI
A New Brain Surgery Robot Can Work Inside an MRI
Metal robots and electric motors don't normally play well with giant magnets.
How Coffee Could Treat Diabetes
Dispatches
How Coffee Could Treat Diabetes
How Coffee Could Treat Diabetes
Someday, diabetics could use caffeine to trigger insulin production, thanks to specially designed kidney cells.
New Tech Makes Fresh Produce Last Twice as Long
Dispatches
New Tech Makes Fresh Produce Last Twice as Long
New Tech Makes Fresh Produce Last Twice as Long
The plant-based preservative could radically change the game on food waste.
Reprogramming Your Immune System to Fight Cancer
Superhuman
Episode 10
Reprogramming Your Immune System to Fight Cancer
Your T cells already know how to kill cancer. These doctors can train them to hunt it down.
Precision Medicine Cured an “Untreatable” Stage IV Breast Cancer
Dispatches
Precision Medicine Cured an “Untreatable” Stage IV Breast Can…
Precision Medicine Cured an “Untreatable” Stage IV Breast Cancer
Two years ago, she had two months to live.
A Zero-Carbon Gas Power Plant Just Came Online in Texas
Dispatches
A Zero-Carbon Gas Power Plant Just Came Online in Texas
A Zero-Carbon Gas Power Plant Just Came Online in Texas
Hey, it works!
Does CRISPR Cause Cancer?
Dispatches
Does CRISPR Cause Cancer?
Does CRISPR Cause Cancer?
Two studies find that CRISPR'd cells tend to become cancerous. Here's what that means for biotech medicine.
Using Virtual Reality to Help Kids with Autism
Superhuman
Episode 9
Using Virtual Reality to Help Kids with Autism
A virtual world offers a new way to engage with kids on the spectrum.
The Cost of Sucking Carbon Out of the Air Just Fell By 85%
Dispatches
The Cost of Sucking Carbon Out of the Air Just Fell By 85%
The Cost of Sucking Carbon Out of the Air Just Fell By 85%
It's not there yet, but carbon capture just got interesting.
Study Shows Schizophrenia Begins in the Womb, Unraveling a Genetic Mystery
Dispatches
Study Shows Schizophrenia Begins in the Womb, Unraveling a…
Study Shows Schizophrenia Begins in the Womb, Unraveling a Genetic Mystery
Half of genes linked to schizophrenia are primarily involved in the placenta, not the brain.
Mental Training Can Heal Traumatic Brain Injuries (and Reduce Depression)
Dispatches
Mental Training Can Heal Traumatic Brain Injuries (and…
Mental Training Can Heal Traumatic Brain Injuries (and Reduce Depression)
Millions of people are dealing with traumatic head injuries; brain scans show that cognitive training could actually repair damaged neural connections.
Helping Kids Walk With Wearable Robots
Superhuman
Episode 8
Helping Kids Walk With Wearable Robots
Exoskeletons aren't just science fiction anymore. Wearable robots are helping kids with cerebral palsy walk.
Why Don’t Vaccines Work as Well in Poor Countries?
Dispatches
Why Don’t Vaccines Work as Well in Poor Countries?
Why Don’t Vaccines Work as Well in Poor Countries?
Our best tool for preventing disease is the least effective in the places where it's most needed.
Tesla Fixed Its Model 3 Brakes with Software – And Showed Us the Future of Cars
Dispatches
Tesla Fixed Its Model 3 Brakes with Software – And Showed U…
Tesla Fixed Its Model 3 Brakes with Software – And Showed Us the Future of Cars
Consumer Reports failed the Model 3's braking system. A week later, Tesla beamed a fix to the entire fleet.
Genetic Tests Miss “Invisible” Mutations That Cause Disease and Neurological Disorders
Dispatches
Genetic Tests Miss “Invisible” Mutations That Cause Disease and…
Genetic Tests Miss “Invisible” Mutations That Cause Disease and Neurological Disorders
There's more to your DNA than just letters, and mutations can lurk in that genetic "dark matter."
Hunting Down His Son’s Killer
Superhuman
Episode 7
Hunting Down His Son’s Killer
For years, there was no diagnosis, no treatment, and no cure — because his son's disease had never been seen before. That wasn't going to stop this dad.
Emergency Braking Was Disabled During Self-driving Uber Fatality: Feds
Dispatches
Emergency Braking Was Disabled During Self-driving Uber…
Emergency Braking Was Disabled During Self-driving Uber Fatality: Feds
Uber turned off the emergency braking function in its self-driving cars because of "erratic vehicle behavior."
Spraying Bacteria onto the Skin Can Treat Eczema
Dispatches
Spraying Bacteria onto the Skin Can Treat Eczema
Spraying Bacteria onto the Skin Can Treat Eczema
The bacteria in your microbiome ward off infections and help keep your skin healthy.
Your DNA Is Not the Same in Every Cell
Dispatches
Your DNA Is Not the Same in Every Cell
Your DNA Is Not the Same in Every Cell
Your body began with a single cell and a single genetic code. But it didn't stay that way for long.
Can Genetically Modified Pigs Be the Key to Treating Rare Diseases?
Superhuman
Episode 6
Can Genetically Modified Pigs Be the Key to Treating Rare Diseases?
When it comes to rare diseases, doctors often don’t have enough patients to determine the effectiveness of various treatments. Now, scientists are breeding pigs with the same genetic code as people with a disease in order to create a pool of test "patients" unlike any before.
Could Freezing Your Body Offer a Chance at Immortality?
On the Fringe
Could Freezing Your Body Offer a Chance at Immortality?
Could Freezing Your Body Offer a Chance at Immortality?
In a lab in Arizona, dozens of bodies sit preserved at 320 degrees below zero. They each paid $200,000 to be frozen on the hope that, one day, medicine will advance far enough to once again bring them back from the dead.
Robots Are Mass Producing Mini-Organs
Dispatches
Robots Are Mass Producing Mini-Organs
Robots Are Mass Producing Mini-Organs
Robots can make hundreds of tiny copies of your organs, allowing doctors to test many different treatments at the same time.
Scientists Physically "Transplant" a Memory in Snails
Dispatches
Scientists Physically "Transplant" a Memory in…
Scientists Physically "Transplant" a Memory in Snails
The experiment breaks the conventional wisdom about what memories are made of.
The Cause (and Possible Cure) for Most Infertility
Dispatches
The Cause (and Possible Cure) for Most Infertility
The Cause (and Possible Cure) for Most Infertility
Fertility medicine may be on the edge of a breakthrough.
Two Billion People Have TB. What Should We Do about It?
Dispatches
Two Billion People Have TB. What Should We Do about It?
Two Billion People Have TB. What Should We Do about It?
In the fight against TB, sometimes it's better to just get along.
Can Virtual Reality Help Fight the Opioid Crisis?
Superhuman
Episode 5
Can Virtual Reality Help Fight the Opioid Crisis?
VR has long been seen as an escape from the real world. But recently researchers have been putting an unexpected twist on that. They’re now exploring how VR could provide an escape from an unfortunate reality many face everyday: chronic pain.
CRISPR Can Diagnose Zika (and Ebola) with Just a Strip of Paper
Dispatches
CRISPR Can Diagnose Zika (and Ebola) with Just a Strip of…
CRISPR Can Diagnose Zika (and Ebola) with Just a Strip of Paper
We could be on our way to a fast, reliable, portable test for almost any virus or cancerous mutation.
We Found the Oldest Human Virus: It's Familiar (but Weird)
Dispatches
We Found the Oldest Human Virus: It's Familiar (but Weird)
We Found the Oldest Human Virus: It's Familiar (but Weird)
The discovery cracks open a 7,000-year history of human-virus warfare. And it's raising weird questions.
These Gloves Can Teach You to Play the Piano. And Maybe Heal Your Brain.
Superhuman
Episode 4
These Gloves Can Teach You to Play the Piano. And Maybe Heal Your Brain.
Through "passive haptic learning", these gloves can teach you how to play the piano in an hour. Braille in four hours. Now researchers want to see if victims of traumatic brain injuries can use these gloves to re-learn critical skills.
Bionic Prosthetic Grants Amputee Musician a Rocking Encore
Science
Bionic Prosthetic Grants Amputee Musician a Rocking Encore
Bionic Prosthetic Grants Amputee Musician a Rocking Encore
How might your life change if you lost an arm? After losing his right arm in an electrical accident, Jason wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to drum again.
Neuroscientists Want to Beam Experiences Directly into Your Brain
Dispatches
Neuroscientists Want to Beam Experiences Directly into Your…
Neuroscientists Want to Beam Experiences Directly into Your Brain
It's a breakthrough for the blind and paralyzed, not the first step toward the Matrix. (Promise.)
Scientists Want to Rewrite the Entire Human Genome, from Scratch
Dispatches
Scientists Want to Rewrite the Entire Human Genome, from…
Scientists Want to Rewrite the Entire Human Genome, from Scratch
What if we could rewrite our entire genetic code to make us invincible against viruses?
Organic Solar Is (Finally) Efficient Enough to Compete
Dispatches
Organic Solar Is (Finally) Efficient Enough to Compete
Organic Solar Is (Finally) Efficient Enough to Compete
Reliable power straight from the sun looks more achievable than ever.
Glowing Cancer Cells Could Find Hidden Tumors (And Replace Mammograms)
Dispatches
Glowing Cancer Cells Could Find Hidden Tumors (And Replace…
Glowing Cancer Cells Could Find Hidden Tumors (And Replace Mammograms)
A new pill can make cancer cells glow under infrared light, and it could eliminate for mammograms.
How 3D-Printing Is Revolutionizing Heart Surgery
Superhuman
Episode 3
How 3D-Printing Is Revolutionizing Heart Surgery
When a young boy was facing a complicated and dangerous heart operation, his doctors created an exact model of his heart to plan the surgery. And it probably saved his life.
Unlike Smoking, Vaping Won't Mess With Your Microbiome
Dispatches
Unlike Smoking, Vaping Won't Mess With Your Microbiome
Unlike Smoking, Vaping Won't Mess With Your Microbiome
Smoking kills off good bacteria and upsets the balance of power your gut.
Babies Sometimes Trigger Preterm Labor to Escape Infections
Dispatches
Babies Sometimes Trigger Preterm Labor to Escape Infections
Babies Sometimes Trigger Preterm Labor to Escape Infections
A new discovery upends what we thought we knew about premature births and could point the way to entirely new solutions to prevent them.
Scientists Finally Get a Look at Enzyme that Protects DNA
Dispatches
Scientists Finally Get a Look at Enzyme that Protects DNA
Scientists Finally Get a Look at Enzyme that Protects DNA
We finally have a detailed picture of an enzyme that could play a key role in fighting both aging and cancer
These Doctors are Performing Brain Surgery ... Using Sound
Superhuman
Episode 2
These Doctors are Performing Brain Surgery ... Using Sound
Bonnie D'Ettorre suffers from a nerve disorder causing uncontrollable shaking. Doctors at Ohio State are about to "burn it out" using a thousand beams of ultrasound.
The Ebola Vaccine Is Still Working 2 Years Later
Science
The Ebola Vaccine Is Still Working 2 Years Later
The Ebola Vaccine Is Still Working 2 Years Later
The vaccine works great at preventing infection—let’s hope it can also prevent media panic too.
These Bacteria-Eating Sewer Viruses are Saving Lives
On The Fringe
These Bacteria-Eating Sewer Viruses are Saving Lives
These Bacteria-Eating Sewer Viruses are Saving Lives
The world discovered phages before antibiotics, but these lowly sewer viruses are getting renewed attention in the age of antibiotic resistance.
The World’s First Bionic Drummer
Superhuman
Episode 1
The World’s First Bionic Drummer
Jason Barnes lost his arm in a horrible accident. Then he became the fastest drummer in the world...
Linking Genes to Depression Could Revolutionize Treatment
Dispatches
Linking Genes to Depression Could Revolutionize Treatment
Linking Genes to Depression Could Revolutionize Treatment
Saying something is “genetic” used to be a fatalistic diagnosis. But with modern medicine, it could be the key to treatment.
For People in Prison, a Second Chance to Give Back
Sponsored
Episode 20180417
For People in Prison, a Second Chance to Give Back
50% of people released from prison return within three years. This program is changing that.
The Eternal Sunshine of the Stressed Out Mind
Dispatches
The Eternal Sunshine of the Stressed Out Mind
The Eternal Sunshine of the Stressed Out Mind
Researchers at Cambridge University have finally figured out how the brain stops stressful thoughts and memories from taking over our minds.
Researchers Want to Create A Traffic Cop for the Sky
Dispatches
Researchers Want to Create A Traffic Cop for the Sky
Researchers Want to Create A Traffic Cop for the Sky
A new kind of radar could direct drone traffic safely around city skies.
FDA Approves AI “Doctor” That Can See Disease in Your Eyes
Dispatches
FDA Approves AI “Doctor” That Can See Disease in Your Eyes
FDA Approves AI “Doctor” That Can See Disease in Your Eyes
How will artificial intelligence transform medicine?
23andMe Can (Finally) Tell You about Your Genetic Cancer Risk
Dispatches
23andMe Can (Finally) Tell You about Your Genetic Cancer…
23andMe Can (Finally) Tell You about Your Genetic Cancer Risk
23andMe has won the right to tell you what your genes say about you. It's a landmark legal achievement that could help usher in a new age of personalized medicine.
Tesla and Uber Fatalities Show the Limits of “Semi-Autonomous” Cars
Dispatches
Tesla and Uber Fatalities Show the Limits of…
Tesla and Uber Fatalities Show the Limits of “Semi-Autonomous” Cars
How can we make humans pay attention when a machine is doing our job for us?
A Prosthetic Memory Can Help You Remember
Dispatches
A Prosthetic Memory Can Help You Remember
A Prosthetic Memory Can Help You Remember
Scientists have figured out how to hack the brain's memory.
Self-driving Uber Fatality: Video Shows Tech Failure & Human Error
Dispatches
Self-driving Uber Fatality: Video Shows Tech Failure &…
Self-driving Uber Fatality: Video Shows Tech Failure & Human Error
The only way to make self-driving cars safer is to take the risk of more testing.
Why Prisons are Showing Nature Videos to Inmates
Innovation
Trailer
Why Prisons are Showing Nature Videos to Inmates
Watching nature videos in the unlikeliest of places
Is This the End of Language Barriers?
Technology
Episode 20180307
Is This the End of Language Barriers?
What if you could travel anywhere in the world and there was no language barrier?
Having Your Views Challenged is a Good Thing
Crossing the Divide
Episode 7
Having Your Views Challenged is a Good Thing
When we encounter ideas we don’t like, we often shut them down. Professor John Inazu explains why that’s a bad thing and what we can do to fix it.
Could Growing Vaccines in Plants Save Lives?
Science
Episode 20180219
Could Growing Vaccines in Plants Save Lives?
Vaccines for influenza, polio, smallpox, even Ebola have all be grown … in plants.
The Homemade Internet Service
DIY Science
Episode 5
The Homemade Internet Service
We all get tired of our internet service. But what if instead of just restarting your router, you started your own internet service?
Treating Diabetes with a DIY Pancreas
DIY Science
Episode 4
Treating Diabetes with a DIY Pancreas
A group of coders created an open source, DIY pancreas to help people with diabetes manage their condition.
Electrifying Classic Cars
DIY Science
Episode 3
Electrifying Classic Cars
Starting with the classics, this unique shop is converting existing cars into all-electric road warriors.
The Conservative Radio Host Urging People to Break Out of Their Bubbles
Crossing the Divide
Episode 8
The Conservative Radio Host Urging People to Break Out of Their Bubbles
Can Coding Prevent Overdoses?
DIY Science
Episode 2
Can Coding Prevent Overdoses?
A group of teenagers in Baltimore have created an app that can notify the public about heroin overdoses and save countless lives
The Violinist Playing for Freedom in Venezuela
Change Agents
Episode 20180117
The Violinist Playing for Freedom in Venezuela
Venezuelan violinist Wuilly Arteaga has been beaten and arrested, but it hasn’t stopped him from using music to help bring freedom to his country
Why Researchers Built a Robot Snake
Technology
Episode 20180116
Why Researchers Built a Robot Snake
Believe it or not, there's a good reason this robot snake exists
The Alzheimer's-Detecting Helmet
DIY Science
Episode 1
The Alzheimer's-Detecting Helmet
If we could detect Alzheimer’s earlier, we could treat it better. Two college students designed a device that may be able to do just that.
Freezing Bodies for the Future
On the Fringe
Episode 5
Freezing Bodies for the Future
Alcor CEO Max More knows most people don't believe cryonics will work. But More thinks we can't afford not to try.
The Robot Duck Helping Kids With Cancer
Sponsored
Episode 20180109
The Robot Duck Helping Kids With Cancer
Growing Human Organs in Pigs
On the Fringe
Episode 4
Growing Human Organs in Pigs
Can Snot Help Stop the Flu?
On the Fringe
Episode 3
Can Snot Help Stop the Flu?
How Drones are Changing Disaster Relief
Technology
Episode 20171222
How Drones are Changing Disaster Relief
As Hurricane Florence hits, here's a look at how drones are changing disaster relief.
A Stranger's Poop Could Save Your Life
On the Fringe
Episode 2
A Stranger's Poop Could Save Your Life
Searching for Cures in a Sewer
On the Fringe
Episode 1
Searching for Cures in a Sewer
Will Robots Take Our Jobs?
Wrong
Episode 5
Will Robots Take Our Jobs?
What Happened to the Beepocalypse?
Wrong
Episode 4
What Happened to the Beepocalypse?
Is Vitamin C a Total Sham
Wrong
Episode 3
Is Vitamin C a Total Sham
Did Rats Start the Drug War?
Wrong
Episode 2
Did Rats Start the Drug War?
Our Cyborg Future is Coming (And That’s Not a Bad Thing)
The Big Idea
Episode 20171113
Our Cyborg Future is Coming (And That’s Not a Bad Thing)
Hollywood loves to sensationalize merging the body with advanced tech. But will it really be so bad?
Did the Food Pyramid Make Us Fat?
Wrong
Episode 1
Did the Food Pyramid Make Us Fat?
How AI Could Revolutionize Coffee
Coded
Episode 5
How AI Could Revolutionize Coffee
Could the blockchain be used to make fair trade goods live up to their promise?
This Research Team Wants to Hack Your Car
Coded
Episode 4
This Research Team Wants to Hack Your Car
What happens when an SUV going 75 miles-per-hour down a highway is hacked from a remote computer?
The Tattooed, Skater Principal Making Education Fun Again
Relentless
Episode 20171024
The Tattooed, Skater Principal Making Education Fun Again
The Tattooed, Skater Principal Making Education Fun Again
Hacker Wins Election As Pirate Party Leader
Coded
Episode 3
Hacker Wins Election As Pirate Party Leader
Iceland's Pirate Party is trying to use a hacker mindset to improve their country and the world.
Hacker Hero Arrested by FBI
Coded
Episode 2
Hacker Hero Arrested by FBI
Was MalwareTech just doing research to stop criminal activity or engaging in criminal activity himself?
eSight Lets the Legally Blind See
Technology
Episode 20171011
eSight Lets the Legally Blind See
This legally blind man is seeing his wedding for the first time. 15 years after he got married.
The Lawyer Who Defends Anonymous
Coded
Episode 1
The Lawyer Who Defends Anonymous
3-D Printing Prosthetics for Kids
Superhuman
Episode 1
3-D Printing Prosthetics for Kids
The incredible movement of shared designs and tech that’s making prosthetics better and cheaper for everyone.
Father Creates Bionic Organ for Son
Superhuman
Episode 5
Father Creates Bionic Organ for Son
A father’s quest to help his son with diabetes could change the lives of millions of people who suffer from the disease.
How Virtual Reality is Changing Medicine
On the Cusp
How Virtual Reality is Changing Medicine
How Virtual Reality is Changing Medicine
From virtual hearts to immersive battlefields, doctors and scientists are using virtual reality to transform medicine
Father Makes 3D Heart for Daughter
Superhuman
Episode 4
Father Makes 3D Heart for Daughter
When a father’s daughter was diagnosed with a heart disease, he set out to design an innovative 3D model of a heart that doctors could explore in virtual reality to save her life and thousands more.
Stem Cells Give Paralyzed Man Movement
Superhuman
Episode 3
Stem Cells Give Paralyzed Man Movement
Could an injection of embryonic stem cells into the spinal cord reverse paralysis?
Brain Implant Gives Quadriplegic Movement
Superhuman
Episode 2
Brain Implant Gives Quadriplegic Movement
A brain implant connected to electrodes could offer hope to those who have lost function in their limbs.
Could This Revolutionary Football Helmet Protect Players and Save the Game?
Science
Could This Revolutionary Football Helmet Protect Players…
Could This Revolutionary Football Helmet Protect Players and Save the Game?
As more and more former football players exhibit symptoms of CTE, one company thinks their new helmet can address the problem of player safety.
The Business Fair for Children
Entrepreneurship
Episode 20170814
The Business Fair for Children
At this business fair, kids are the entrepreneurs...
The Exotic Zoo Run by Prisoners
Prison Reform
Episode 20170731
The Exotic Zoo Run by Prisoners
Could zookeeping turn an inmate’s life around? Jeanne Selander who runs the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm thinks so.
The Real Mother of Dragons
On the Cusp
Episode 20170721
The Real Mother of Dragons
Meet the scientists using dragon blood to fight superbugs
The Shipping Containers Used for Conversations
Technology
Episode 20170711
The Shipping Containers Used for Conversations
Would you talk to a stranger on the other side of the world?
Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer?
Technology
Episode 20170710
Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer?
A self-professed data nerd, Thomas Hargrove believes everything around us is following a mathematical formula...including murder.
Why Does This Cop Have a Million Instagram Followers?
Crossing the Divide
Why Does This Cop Have a Million Instagram Followers?
Why Does This Cop Have a Million Instagram Followers?
Officer Tommy Norman's work has drawn national attention recently, but his approach to policing is nothing new.
Making America Dinner Again
Crossing the Divide
Episode 6
Making America Dinner Again
What happens when you put people of all political persuasions together over dinner?
How to Negotiate the Nonnegotiable
Crossing the Divide
Episode 5
How to Negotiate the Nonnegotiable
Insights on working through conflict with Harvard's top negotiation expert.
A White Cop and Black Barber Team Up to Bring Peace to Their City
Crossing the Divide
Episode 2
A White Cop and Black Barber Team Up to Bring Peace to Their City
A local barber teams up with an officer to ease tensions in their community.
Can a Single Conversation Really Change Someone's Mind? This Research Says Yes.
Crossing the Divide
Can a Single Conversation Really Change Someone's Mind?…
Can a Single Conversation Really Change Someone's Mind? This Research Says Yes.
After studying a team of canvassers, two researchers found that a single conversation can have a significant and lasting impact on a person's opinion.
Maybe We Can All Get Along: 5 Reasons to Be Hopeful
Crossing the Divide
Maybe We Can All Get Along: 5 Reasons to Be Hopeful
Maybe We Can All Get Along: 5 Reasons to Be Hopeful
While the press tends to emphasize bad news, there are less covered stories of people from different backgrounds and beliefs coming together.
LGBT Rights: The Power of a Single Conversation
Crossing the Divide
Episode 3
LGBT Rights: The Power of a Single Conversation
Why a gay rights activist started a movement to talk to thousands who voted against gay marriage.
Where Muslims and Jews Worship Together
Crossing the Divide
Episode 4
Where Muslims and Jews Worship Together
When a Jewish community lost its place of worship, help came from an unexpected place.
Americans Are Divided. These People Are Doing Something About It.
Crossing the Divide
Americans Are Divided. These People Are Doing Something…
Americans Are Divided. These People Are Doing Something About It.
Amidst our most intense religious, political, and cultural conflicts, there are people around the country who are working tirelessly to forge connections
Crossing the Divide Trailer
Crossing the Divide
Trailer
Crossing the Divide Trailer
77% of people think the country is more divided than it’s ever been. We set out to meet the people trying to change that.
The Mom Who Will Stop at Nothing to Save Her Daughter's Life
Superhuman
Episode 20170512
The Mom Who Will Stop at Nothing to Save Her Daughter's Life
Afghanistan’s First Female Tech CEO
Technology
Episode 20170502
Afghanistan’s First Female Tech CEO
Despite getting death threats from the Taliban, Roya Mahboob realized her dream of a successful career in tech.
How Skate Punks are Ushering in a New Era of Freedom in Myanmar
Pop Revolution
How Skate Punks are Ushering in a New Era of Freedom in…
How Skate Punks are Ushering in a New Era of Freedom in Myanmar
For decades, Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by a repressive military junta. Then, in 2011, things began to change.
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Coded
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Why we should teach kids how to hack and encourage them to use their new-found talents for good.
Skatepunks of Myanmar
Pop Revolution
Episode 20170422
Skatepunks of Myanmar
Is the booming skating scene in Myanmar a sign of a more hopeful future for the once isolated country?
5 Fascinating Ways Humans are Adapting to Cities
Rise
5 Fascinating Ways Humans are Adapting to Cities
5 Fascinating Ways Humans are Adapting to Cities
There’s a global transformation happening - millions of people are migrating to cities from the countryside.
The Untold Story of Rio’s Largest Favela
Rise
The Untold Story of Rio’s Largest Favela
The Untold Story of Rio’s Largest Favela
Meet the proud, hopeful, ambitious people determined to build the life they’ve dreamed of.
The Hidden Side of "Slum" Life
Rise
Episode 20170413
The Hidden Side of "Slum" Life
Teaser of The Hidden Side of “Slum” Life
Episode 20170412
Teaser of The Hidden Side of “Slum” Life
One of the most significant transformations in humankind is underway but largely going untold.
3 Times Our Brightest Minds Made Bad Predictions
Wrong
3 Times Our Brightest Minds Made Bad Predictions
3 Times Our Brightest Minds Made Bad Predictions
Some of the predictions might look outlandish now, but at the time they actually seemed quite plausible.
The Y2K Bug is Going to Bite!
Wrong
Episode 3
The Y2K Bug is Going to Bite!
Did we narrowly avoid the apocalypse because of some world-saving last minute de-bugging.
Beware the Frankenbabies!
Wrong
Episode 2
Beware the Frankenbabies!
Frightening predictions almost stopped the invention that has helped millions of families.
We’re All Gonna Starve!
Wrong
Episode 1
We’re All Gonna Starve!
A revolution in food production turned predictions of a population bomb into a worldwide boom.
How an Exiled Cryptographer is Protecting Journalists in His Native Ethiopia
Coded
Episode 7
How an Exiled Cryptographer is Protecting Journalists in His Native Ethiopia
An exiled blogger teaches journalists in his native Ethiopia how to avoid capture
Can This Robot Stop Violence at Traffic Stops?
Criminal Justice
Can This Robot Stop Violence at Traffic Stops?
Can This Robot Stop Violence at Traffic Stops?
A Duke robotics PhD student and his partner think they have a way ease tensions while deep-rooted differences are hashed out.
Meet the Artist and Activist Who Wants You to Erase Your DNA
Coded
Meet the Artist and Activist Who Wants You to Erase Your DNA
Meet the Artist and Activist Who Wants You to Erase Your DNA
Heather Dewey-Hagborg wants to make sure people understand the hidden secrets in the DNA they leave behind everywhere they go.
Erasing Your DNA
Coded
Episode 6
Erasing Your DNA
Is a spray that can mask your DNA the frontier of personal privacy or a tool for criminals?
From Multi-Millionaire Bitcoin Entrepreneur to Inmate and Back Again
Coded
From Multi-Millionaire Bitcoin Entrepreneur to Inmate and…
From Multi-Millionaire Bitcoin Entrepreneur to Inmate and Back Again
The story of how Charlie Shrem built his business as a Bitcoin pioneer, lost it all, and is now clawing his way back.
Disrupting Money
Coded
Episode 5
Disrupting Money
Can a bitcoin entrepreneur on house arrest convince the world it’s the currency of the future?
The App That Sniffs Out Censorship
The App That Sniffs Out Censorship
The App That Sniffs Out Censorship
Created by the Tor Project, the app gives internet users a new way to monitor and report online censorship around the world.
This Week in Ideas: Saying Goodbye to Lab Rats and Replacing Bees with Drones
On The Cusp
This Week in Ideas: Saying Goodbye to Lab Rats and…
This Week in Ideas: Saying Goodbye to Lab Rats and Replacing Bees with Drones
Breakthrough could mean the end of test animals, violent crime nearly cut in half, and drones that pollinate flowers.
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Coded
Episode 20170209
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Nico Sell, founder and chairman of the Wickr Foundation, on teaching kids how to hack and encouraging them to use their new-found talents for good.
Nico Sell Thinks Hackers Can Be a Force for Good
Coded
Nico Sell Thinks Hackers Can Be a Force for Good
Nico Sell Thinks Hackers Can Be a Force for Good
After criminals hijacked the term, Sell is on a mission to change our perception of hackers.
Hacking the Future
Coded
Episode 4
Hacking the Future
How do we make sure the next generation of hackers uses their talents for good?
This Week in Ideas: Building a Cheaper MRI, Reconciling God and AI, and The Next Einstein
On The Cusp
This Week in Ideas: Building a Cheaper MRI, Reconciling God…
This Week in Ideas: Building a Cheaper MRI, Reconciling God and AI, and The Next Einstein
Rethinking the MRI machine, how will Christianity handle advanced tech, and is this 7-year-old the next Einstein?
Meet the Digital Bodyguard for Investigative Journalists
Coded
Meet the Digital Bodyguard for Investigative Journalists
Meet the Digital Bodyguard for Investigative Journalists
Smári McCarthy discusses his job protecting the work of journalists investigating organized crime and corruption
It’s Time for Regular Americans to Think Differently About Cybersecurity
Coded
It’s Time for Regular Americans to Think Differently About C…
It’s Time for Regular Americans to Think Differently About Cybersecurity
If huge companies and government agencies can't manage the cyber threats, how can ordinary Americans?
The Hackers Exposing Government-Wide Crime and Corruption
Coded
The Hackers Exposing Government-Wide Crime and Corruption
The Hackers Exposing Government-Wide Crime and Corruption
Displaying the power of unique technological abilities combined with dogged investigative journalism
The People’s NSA
Coded
Episode 3
The People’s NSA
Hackers and journalists team up to expose crime and corruption around the world
This Week in Ideas: Embryonic People-Pigs, the Glories of the Hubble Telescope, and American Cyber-Security
On The Cusp
This Week in Ideas: Embryonic People-Pigs, the Glories of…
This Week in Ideas: Embryonic People-Pigs, the Glories of the Hubble Telescope, and American Cyber-Security
A step toward human organs in animal embryos, the Hubble Telescope was a game changer, and Americans aren't doing much to protect themselves online.
The Evolution of a Dissident: How Ladar Levison Became Someone Who Said "No" to the FBI
Coded
The Evolution of a Dissident: How Ladar Levison Became…
The Evolution of a Dissident: How Ladar Levison Became Someone Who Said "No" to the FBI
For Ladar Levison, founder of secure email service Lavabit, everything changed when the two FBI agents showed up at his door.
What We Mean When We Talk About Hacking
Coded
What We Mean When We Talk About Hacking
What We Mean When We Talk About Hacking
We've all heard it before: "I was hacked!" But that can mean a lot of things. We take a look at some of the big ones.
Meet the Programmer Who Defied the FBI
Coded
Meet the Programmer Who Defied the FBI
Meet the Programmer Who Defied the FBI
Ladar Levison spent 10 years building his business, then destroyed it all in one night when the FBI came knocking.
The Unhackable Email Service
Coded
Episode 2
The Unhackable Email Service
Edward Snowden’s email service of choice wants to make mass surveillance obsolete.
This Week in Ideas: How to Form Good Habits, the Case Against Empathy, and a Miracle Cure Derailed
On The Cusp
This Week in Ideas: How to Form Good Habits, the Case…
This Week in Ideas: How to Form Good Habits, the Case Against Empathy, and a Miracle Cure Derailed
From how to make good habits (and keep them) to a crisis at the NIH, it's a new edition of our week in ideas.
WATCH: Trailer for Our New Show, Coded
Coded
WATCH: Trailer for Our New Show, Coded
WATCH: Trailer for Our New Show, Coded
Meet the programmers on the frontlines of the war over security and privacy.
Coded Trailer
Coded
Trailer
Coded Trailer
Meet the programmers on the frontlines of the war over security and privacy.
Let's Talk About Failure
Challengers
Let's Talk About Failure
Let's Talk About Failure
Are we fetishizing failure? What are the costs of failing? How do we bounce back after it inevitably happens?
What Can We Learn From an Entrepreneur Whose Business Failed?
Challengers
What Can We Learn From an Entrepreneur Whose Business…
What Can We Learn From an Entrepreneur Whose Business Failed?
Luke Kenworthy put everything he had into making his business work. But it didn't pan out. Now he's sharing what he learned through it all.
Failure is Inevitable, But It Doesn't Have to Ruin Your Life
Challengers
Failure is Inevitable, But It Doesn't Have to Ruin Your Life
Failure is Inevitable, But It Doesn't Have to Ruin Your Life
Why learning to suck at something is the only way to get good at it.
This Week in Ideas: Good Things That Happened in 2016
Culture
This Week in Ideas: Good Things That Happened in 2016
This Week in Ideas: Good Things That Happened in 2016
Despite 2016 being widely panned, there were also truly good things that happened over the past year. Here are some of the big ones.
Four Crazy Uses for Virtual Reality (That Aren't Video Games)
Challengers
Four Crazy Uses for Virtual Reality (That Aren't Video…
Four Crazy Uses for Virtual Reality (That Aren't Video Games)
We’re now starting to scratch the surface of the true potential of virtual reality.
Five Insights: Linc Gasking On What Every Startup Should Be Shooting For
Challengers
Five Insights: Linc Gasking On What Every Startup Should Be…
Five Insights: Linc Gasking On What Every Startup Should Be Shooting For
Linc Gasking, co-founder of VR startup 8i, discusses the day-to-day grind and big picture excitement of being an entrepreneur.
Meet the Startup Creating Incredible Virtual Realities
Challengers
Meet the Startup Creating Incredible Virtual Realities
Meet the Startup Creating Incredible Virtual Realities
8i takes video and converts it into virtual realities that are nearly indistinguishable from real life.
How VR Could Change Your Life
Challengers
Episode 5
How VR Could Change Your Life
Virtual reality could alter the human experience forever.
Five Insights: Ryan Petersen on Tackling Problems That Feel Too Big to Fix
Challengers
Five Insights: Ryan Petersen on Tackling Problems That Feel…
Five Insights: Ryan Petersen on Tackling Problems That Feel Too Big to Fix
Flexport's founder discusses the personal and business side of building an ambitious startup.
This Week in Ideas: Why D.A.R.E. Didn't Work, the Future of Cities, and is Love Actually Actually Good?
On The Cusp
This Week in Ideas: Why D.A.R.E. Didn't Work, the Future of…
This Week in Ideas: Why D.A.R.E. Didn't Work, the Future of Cities, and is Love Actually Actually Good?
Our weekly take on the best stuff from around the web.
Five Insights from AltSchool Founder and CEO, Max Ventilla
Challengers
Five Insights from AltSchool Founder and CEO, Max Ventilla
Five Insights from AltSchool Founder and CEO, Max Ventilla
Max Ventilla on why he thinks its time for a new way to educate kids and how his startup could be a way to do it.
Can This Startup Build the School System of the Future?
Challengers
Can This Startup Build the School System of the Future?
Can This Startup Build the School System of the Future?
AltSchool wants to build a new school system based on a highly personalized education model that any school could join.
Building a Better School System
Challengers
Episode 4
Building a Better School System
A highly-personalized experience could be the foundation for the future of education.
Dr. Leslie Dewan on the Future of Nuclear Energy
Challengers
Dr. Leslie Dewan on the Future of Nuclear Energy
Dr. Leslie Dewan on the Future of Nuclear Energy
We dive into the viability and future of nuclear energy in the U.S. and around the world with Leslie Dewan, CEO of nuclear power startup Transatomic.
Four Crazy Ideas From the Golden Age of Nuclear
Challengers
Four Crazy Ideas From the Golden Age of Nuclear
Four Crazy Ideas From the Golden Age of Nuclear
For a couple decades people thought nuclear power was the answer to pretty much everything. And they came up with some ideas we’ll generously call visionary.
Three Reasons We Don't Have More Nuclear Power in the U.S.
Challengers
Three Reasons We Don't Have More Nuclear Power in the U.S.
Three Reasons We Don't Have More Nuclear Power in the U.S.
Many think of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island when they hear nuclear power. But nuclear's struggle to gain a foothold in the U.S. is more nuanced than isolated safety problems.
Can This Startup Power the World With Nuclear?
Challengers
Can This Startup Power the World With Nuclear?
Can This Startup Power the World With Nuclear?
Leslie Dewan and her team at Transatomic believe they've figured out a safe, scalable, cost-effective way to power the world with nuclear.
Leslie Dewan on Learning from Failure
Challengers
Episode 20161213
Leslie Dewan on Learning from Failure
Powering the World With Nuclear
Challengers
Episode 3
Powering the World With Nuclear
Transatomic believes they've figured out a safe, scalable, cost-effective way to power the world with nuclear.
This Week in Ideas: The End of Checkout Lines, Photoshopping Your Voice, and a New Way to Pay for a Ride
On The Cusp
This Week in Ideas: The End of Checkout Lines,…
This Week in Ideas: The End of Checkout Lines, Photoshopping Your Voice, and a New Way to Pay for a Ride
Amazon's new grocery store, Adobe's new tech can make you say anything, and pay for the bus by watching an ad.
You Should Start Learning About Artificial Intelligence. Here's How.
Challengers
You Should Start Learning About Artificial Intelligence.…
You Should Start Learning About Artificial Intelligence. Here's How.
There are a lot of different levels of artificial intelligence being applied in a lot of different ways. Here's a primer for starting to wrap your head around it all.
Five Insights: Scott Phoenix on Creating AI and Building a Company Around a Crazy Idea
Challengers
Five Insights: Scott Phoenix on Creating AI and Building a…
Five Insights: Scott Phoenix on Creating AI and Building a Company Around a Crazy Idea
Scott Phoenix, founder of Vicarious, shares insights on the development of artificial intelligence and why this is a great time to be alive.
Meet the Startup Developing Human-Level Artificial Intelligence
Challengers
Meet the Startup Developing Human-Level Artificial…
Meet the Startup Developing Human-Level Artificial Intelligence
The story of Vicarious' mission to build the world's first human-level artificial intelligence and use it to help humanity thrive.
Can AI Solve Our Biggest Problems?
Challengers
Episode 2
Can AI Solve Our Biggest Problems?
Vicarious believes smart machines could solve virtually every problem humans can’t.
This Week in Ideas: Fighting Addiction With Implants, Using VR to Educate, Amazon Prime Gets Primer
On The Cusp
This Week in Ideas: Fighting Addiction With Implants, Using…
This Week in Ideas: Fighting Addiction With Implants, Using VR to Educate, Amazon Prime Gets Primer
An arm implant to treat opioid addiction, teaching hair stylists with VR, and a potential Amazon Prime game changer.
An American Entrepreneur on the Importance of Chinese Manufacturing
Challengers
An American Entrepreneur on the Importance of Chinese…
An American Entrepreneur on the Importance of Chinese Manufacturing
Greg Shugar, founder of Tie Bar and Thread Experiment, discusses why his businesses wouldn’t have been possible without Chinese factories.
This Startup Wants to Make Everything You Buy Cheaper
Challengers
This Startup Wants to Make Everything You Buy Cheaper
This Startup Wants to Make Everything You Buy Cheaper
Flexport's app is built to make global trade easier. If they're successful, it could mean everything you buy will cost less.
An App for Global Trade
Challengers
Episode 1
An App for Global Trade
Flexport thinks bringing trade into the 21st century could improve lives around the globe.
This is The New Space Race
The New Space Race
This is The New Space Race
This is The New Space Race
It’s been 44 years since a human stepped on the moon, and a new generation of entrepreneurs is laying the groundwork for us to go back.
Challengers Trailer
Challengers
Trailer
Challengers Trailer
Fast Company presents a Freethink original series about entrepreneurs building companies that could transform entire industries and change the world.
This is Our Superhuman Future
This is Our Superhuman Future
This is Our Superhuman Future
With Thanksgiving winding down, take some time to join us on a journey to the frontier of medical technology.
Meet the Entrepreneurs Disrupting Industries and Changing the World
Challengers
Meet the Entrepreneurs Disrupting Industries and Changing…
Meet the Entrepreneurs Disrupting Industries and Changing the World
Fast Company and Freethink bring you powerful stories of a new generation of entrepreneurs.
This Week in Ideas: Unveiling Google Earth VR, China Goes All in on CRISPR, Cuba's Cancer Vaccine
Culture
This Week in Ideas: Unveiling Google Earth VR, China Goes…
This Week in Ideas: Unveiling Google Earth VR, China Goes All in on CRISPR, Cuba's Cancer Vaccine
Google releases some beautiful VR, human trials of gene-editing technology CRISPR, and importing Cuba's cancer vaccine.
What We Need Right Now Is a Little Bit of Hans Rosling
Culture
What We Need Right Now Is a Little Bit of Hans Rosling
What We Need Right Now Is a Little Bit of Hans Rosling
The Swedish public health researcher says that, contrary to most of what you hear, the world is actually moving in the right direction.
This Week in Ideas: A $1 Microscope, Healing Our Divisions, Planet Earth is Back
Culture
This Week in Ideas: A $1 Microscope, Healing Our Divisions,…
This Week in Ideas: A $1 Microscope, Healing Our Divisions, Planet Earth is Back
Democratizing microscopes, how we heal our political divisions, and BBC's Planet Earth returns. These are our favorite stories of the week.
Why the U.S. Government Treated Satellites and Machine Guns as the Same for 15 Years
The New Space Race
Why the U.S. Government Treated Satellites and Machine Guns…
Why the U.S. Government Treated Satellites and Machine Guns as the Same for 15 Years
Regulations forced companies that planned to sell satellites to other countries to register, in effect, as arms dealers.
How Do We Respond to Crimes in Space?
New Space Race
How Do We Respond to Crimes in Space?
How Do We Respond to Crimes in Space?
As talk of space colonization heats up, is it time to have a serious conversation about conflict resolution in a place where few rules or laws exist?
Preparing the First Space Colonizers for Life Off of Planet Earth
The New Space Race
Preparing the First Space Colonizers for Life Off of Planet…
Preparing the First Space Colonizers for Life Off of Planet Earth
It’s only a matter of time until the average person can explore space. But, will the average person be ready?
Preparing for Outer Space
The New Space Race
Episode 5
Preparing for Outer Space
As the tech side of space travel advances, an annual gathering focuses on life off of planet earth.
The Four Weirdest Things We've Sent to Space
Science
The Four Weirdest Things We've Sent to Space
The Four Weirdest Things We've Sent to Space
We take a look at a few of the not-so-obviously-bizarre things we've launched beyond the earth's atmosphere.
How a Sci-Fi Enthusiast Decided to Memorialize His Best Friend
Culture
How a Sci-Fi Enthusiast Decided to Memorialize His Best…
How a Sci-Fi Enthusiast Decided to Memorialize His Best Friend
The story of how one man gave his space-loving best friend a final resting place in the final frontier.
Who Owns the Moon?
The New Space Race
Who Owns the Moon?
Who Owns the Moon?
Throughout history, different organizations, governments, and even individuals have attempted to establish rules for, and ownership of, outer space.
Can This Startup Give Everyone Access to the Moon?
The New Space Race
Can This Startup Give Everyone Access to the Moon?
Can This Startup Give Everyone Access to the Moon?
With advanced navigational technology, Astrobotic wants to provide a routine, affordable, and accurate delivery service to the moon.
This Week in Ideas: Beer That Delivers Itself, Chatbots From Beyond, and How to Set a Very Strange World Record
Culture
This Week in Ideas: Beer That Delivers Itself, Chatbots…
This Week in Ideas: Beer That Delivers Itself, Chatbots From Beyond, and How to Set a Very Strange World Record
Uber's self-driving beer truck, how a chatbot can help the grieving process, and more of our favorite stories from the week.
Why Don't We Believe Extreme Weather Forecasts?
Science
Why Don't We Believe Extreme Weather Forecasts?
Why Don't We Believe Extreme Weather Forecasts?
Research shows people don't take extreme weather predictions seriously. And don't take the necessary precautions as a result.
The Market for Tiny Satellites Is Going to Be Huge
The New Space Race
The Market for Tiny Satellites Is Going to Be Huge
The Market for Tiny Satellites Is Going to Be Huge
Fleets of small satellites can gather far more accurate and timely data than conventional satellites. And investors are taking notice.
The Startup That May Be On the Cusp of Revolutionizing the Satellite Industry
The New Space Race
The Startup That May Be On the Cusp of Revolutionizing the…
The Startup That May Be On the Cusp of Revolutionizing the Satellite Industry
Spire's satellites fit in the palm of your hand, cost a fraction of their predecessors, and transmit more data than several behemoth satellites combined.
Tiny Satellites With a Huge Impact
The New Space Race
Episode 4
Tiny Satellites With a Huge Impact
Many satellites are nearing the end of their life. This is what could be next.
This Week in Ideas: Using Drones for Medicine, Fighting Zika, Re-Imagining Passwords
This Week in Ideas: Using Drones for Medicine, Fighting…
This Week in Ideas: Using Drones for Medicine, Fighting Zika, Re-Imagining Passwords
Reimagining how we get medicine to people, using genetically modified mosquitoes to fight Zika, and selfies as passwords. These are the stories that got us talking.
Here's What Happens to the Human Body in Outer Space
The New Space Race
Here's What Happens to the Human Body in Outer Space
Here's What Happens to the Human Body in Outer Space
As the idea of colonizing space becomes mainstream, it’s important to keep in mind that traveling in outer space does some crazy stuff to our bodies.
What Happens When Stuff Breaks in Space?
The New Space Race
What Happens When Stuff Breaks in Space?
What Happens When Stuff Breaks in Space?
Despite rigorous prep, astronauts often have to improvise when things go wrong in space. And a lot more duct tape is involved than you may expect.
Why This Startup Believes 3D Printing in Space Will Be a Game Changer
The New Space Race
Why This Startup Believes 3D Printing in Space Will Be a…
Why This Startup Believes 3D Printing in Space Will Be a Game Changer
Sending things into space is really expensive. But what if we didn't have to? What if everything in space was made in space?
Can We Make It In Space?
The New Space Race
Episode 2
Can We Make It In Space?
What if one day, everything in space was made in space? 3D printing may hold the answer.
What a Controversial Asteroid Mission Tells Us About U.S. Space Policy
The New Space Race
What a Controversial Asteroid Mission Tells Us About U.S.…
What a Controversial Asteroid Mission Tells Us About U.S. Space Policy
Billions spent on projects of questionable benefit - like the plan to capture an asteroid - raises the question: Should NASA take a back seat in the 21st century space race?
Where Did the Commercial Space Sector Come From?
The New Space Race
Where Did the Commercial Space Sector Come From?
Where Did the Commercial Space Sector Come From?
Private companies have worked with NASA for decades. Can the next generation of space companies get by without the government as their biggest customer?
Can XCOR Build the World's First Airline for Space?
The New Space Race
Can XCOR Build the World's First Airline for Space?
Can XCOR Build the World's First Airline for Space?
Out of a small hangar in the Mojave Desert, XCOR is developing a rocket ship designed to fly to space four times a day, five days a week.
This Week in Ideas: Rockets in Flight, Poverty in Decline, and Explaining the Unexplainable
Culture
This Week in Ideas: Rockets in Flight, Poverty in Decline,…
This Week in Ideas: Rockets in Flight, Poverty in Decline, and Explaining the Unexplainable
A step forward for space tourism, extreme poverty could be on its way out, and illustrating advanced tech. These are our favorite stories of the week.
The New Space Race is Here
The New Space Race
The New Space Race is Here
The New Space Race is Here
Our new show will introduce you to the people and the technology that could make humans a multi-planetary species in the coming century.
The Fake Disease That Saved Rome's Jews
Culture
The Fake Disease That Saved Rome's Jews
The Fake Disease That Saved Rome's Jews
Dr. Giovanni Borromeo dreamed up a brilliant scheme that saved dozens of Jewish families in Rome from Nazi persecution.
A Delivery Service for the Moon
The New Space Race
Episode 3
A Delivery Service for the Moon
This startup wants to offer the world insanely accurate shipping to the moon.
Four Flights a Day. Five Days a Week.
The New Space Race
Episode 1
Four Flights a Day. Five Days a Week.
At XCOR, the dream of taking regular commercial flights to space is alive and well.
New Space Race Trailer
The New Space Race
Trailer
New Space Race Trailer
Meet the next generation of explorers taking us higher and farther than ever before.
This Week In Ideas: An Artificial Pancreas, Google's New Translation Tech, and a Massive Mars Rocket
This Week In Ideas: An Artificial Pancreas, Google's New…
This Week In Ideas: An Artificial Pancreas, Google's New Translation Tech, and a Massive Mars Rocket
An incredible medical breakthrough, Google ups the ante, and the SpaceX Mars rocket. These are our favorite stories of the week.
What to Expect In a Post-Meat Future
Science
What to Expect In a Post-Meat Future
What to Expect In a Post-Meat Future
From advanced plant-based meat alternatives to real meat grown in a lab, the days of eating meat from once-living animals could be numbered.
Could Ugly Produce Change the World?
Change Agents
Episode 20160928
Could Ugly Produce Change the World?
Meet the startup that wants to sell you ugly fruits and veggies
Elon Musk Explains the Economics of Getting to Mars
Culture
Elon Musk Explains the Economics of Getting to Mars
Elon Musk Explains the Economics of Getting to Mars
The SpaceX founder gave a rousing presentation on his company’s long-term plan for getting to Mars and establishing a civilization there.
This week in ideas: How VR changes our dreams, a stem cell miracle, and the shoes of the future
This week in ideas: How VR changes our dreams, a stem cell…
This week in ideas: How VR changes our dreams, a stem cell miracle, and the shoes of the future
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Can Tech Giants Get Ahead of A.I.?
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How Do We Scale Bionic Technology?
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Will Robots Steal Our Jobs?
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Assistive Tech Doesn't Have to be High Tech
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A Lay Person's Guide to Biohacking
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The Fascinating Story of How AIDS Activism Helped Usher in a "Right to Try" Movement
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Should terminally ill patients be allowed to try experimental procedures? Hear the amazing, true story of the AIDS activists who fought for a "right to try." And won.
Is the Miracle Medicine of the Future About to Become the Totally Real Medicine of the Present?
Superhuman
Is the Miracle Medicine of the Future About to Become the…
Is the Miracle Medicine of the Future About to Become the Totally Real Medicine of the Present?
Gene therapy uses a virus to replace missing or defective genes. It sounds counterintuitive, but it could be the key to curing previously incurable diseases.
Three Women Who Changed the Way We Think About Medicine
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From newborn health to AIDS treatment to DNA research, these brilliant women paved the way for incredible advances in the field of medicine.
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eSight Lets the Legally Blind See
Technology
Episode 20171011
eSight Lets the Legally Blind See
This legally blind man is seeing his wedding for the first time. 15 years after he got married.
This Child Psychiatrist Is Saving Refugees From Trauma
Interview
Episode 20190712
This Child Psychiatrist Is Saving Refugees From Trauma
With the right intervention at the right time, a trauma can be recorded in the memory as non-traumatic and in many cases the devastating effects of PTSD in children refugees can be avoided.
Freethink's 2019 Criminal Justice Week
Criminal Justice Week
Trailer
Freethink's 2019 Criminal Justice Week
Join us as we go inside the criminal justice reform movement for an up close look at the people trying to fix our broken system.
Funding Health Care with Coffee
Episode 20190208
Funding Health Care with Coffee
What if your daily coffee helped save a life?
F*ck a False Arrest: How to Get out of Jail Free in NYC
Fixing Justice
Episode 20190509
F*ck a False Arrest: How to Get out of Jail Free in NYC
Good Call NYC Fights Bad Policing With a Free Lawyer Hotline: 1-833-3-GOODCALL
Grandkids on Demand
Episode 20181121
Grandkids on Demand
A new service provides “grandkids on demand.”
Growing Food with Seawater
Science
Episode 20181113
Growing Food with Seawater
This designer invented a greenhouse that lets you grow food with seawater.
Hacking Surfboard Fins to Fight Climate Change
Innovation
Episode 20190702
Hacking Surfboard Fins to Fight Climate Change
How can a surfboard modification help save the oceans?
24 Years For a Crime He Didn’t Commit
#fixingjustice - Re-entry
Episode 20190418
24 Years For a Crime He Didn’t Commit
When a prisoner serving a life sentence is suddenly found to be innocent, it often makes national news. But what happens after the cameras go away?
Helping Kids Through Rowing
Sponsored
Episode 20180814
Helping Kids Through Rowing
Inside the surprising program helping disadvantaged kids in New York thrive.
Helping Moms in Prison Read to Their Kids
Prison Reform
Episode 20181221
Helping Moms in Prison Read to Their Kids
Meet the people helping incarcerated mothers read to their kids.
Helping People with Disabilities Become Working Artists
Entrepreneurship
Episode 20190104
Helping People with Disabilities Become Working Artists
Only 20% of people with disabilities participate in the workforce; Art Enables helps those with special needs turn art into a career.
Helping Prisoners Overcome Trauma with Dance
Episode 20181128
Helping Prisoners Overcome Trauma with Dance
Women in prison are regaining a sense of freedom — through dance.
These Hero Pups Are Helping Veterans and Prisoners Heal
Inspiring
Episode 20190502
These Hero Pups Are Helping Veterans and Prisoners Heal
Hero Pups is an organization providing support dogs for military veterans and first responders. Now, prison inmates are helping train them - with great results.
How a Smartphone Can Detect a Deadly Disease, without a Lab, for Free
Episode 20190309
How a Smartphone Can Detect a Deadly Disease, without a Lab, for Free
This app tests for anemia, and it's nearly as good as the gold-standard lab test.
How Drones are Changing Disaster Relief
Technology
Episode 20171222
How Drones are Changing Disaster Relief
As Hurricane Florence hits, here's a look at how drones are changing disaster relief.
How San Francisco Residents Saved Local Businesses
Entrepreneurship
Episode 20190403
How San Francisco Residents Saved Local Businesses
An indie book store went from struggling to thriving with a new business model. Is it the future of retail?
How to Hold Police Accountable
#fixingjustice - Policing
Episode 20190415
How to Hold Police Accountable
The Invisible Institute is making Chicago police complaints easily available to the public—and is helping hold police accountable.
How To Teach Kids to Read in as Little as 50 Days
Sponsored
Episode 20190411
How To Teach Kids to Read in as Little as 50 Days
1 in 10 people in the world today are illiterate. This program teaches people to read in as little as 50 days.
How Veterans Help Each Other Heal Through Therapy
Sponsored
Trailer
How Veterans Help Each Other Heal Through Therapy
Headstrong believes that trauma is treatable.
Inside the Cajun Navy: How Volunteers Are Training to Rescue Hurricane Victims
Episode 20180816
Inside the Cajun Navy: How Volunteers Are Training to Rescue Hurricane Victims
Can civilian-led rescue be part of future disaster recovery efforts?
Is This the End of Language Barriers?
Technology
Episode 20180307
Is This the End of Language Barriers?
What if you could travel anywhere in the world and there was no language barrier?
Keeper of the Missing
Digital Detectives
Episode 20190705
Keeper of the Missing
One woman is tracking thousands of missing people. Autism is her superpower.
Giving Homeless People Something Most of Us Take for Granted
Move the World
Episode 20190709
Giving Homeless People Something Most of Us Take for Granted
This one small thing can mean the difference between a spot in a shelter or sleeping on the streets, a job or no job, a place to eat or going without food.
Making Tumors Glow to Improve Cancer Surgery
Science
Episode 20181214
Making Tumors Glow to Improve Cancer Surgery
This surgeon is improving surgery by lighting up cancer cells.
Meet the Amateur Astronomer Who Found a Lost NASA Satellite
Science
Episode 20181022
Meet the Amateur Astronomer Who Found a Lost NASA Satellite
A $130 million satellite vanished. Over a decade later, a blogger/astronomer found it.
Stopping Gang Violence with Love
Catalysts
Episode 20190710
Stopping Gang Violence with Love
This nonprofit is doing the impossible - finding the 10% of gang members responsible for 90% of the crime, and leading them to successful, positive lives.
Online Hackers Hunt Down Missing People
Digital Detectives
Episode 20190613
Online Hackers Hunt Down Missing People
This search and rescue expert discovered that many missing people had nobody looking for them. Then he had an idea: what if hackers made a game out of finding missing people through the internet?
Fighting Superbugs with Viruses
Science
Episode 20181127
Fighting Superbugs with Viruses
This Yale scientist's experimental treatment is a Texas woman's last resort.
Could This Be the Future of Foster Care?
Catalysts
Episode 20190501
Could This Be the Future of Foster Care?
Take a look inside a town built for foster families
Preparing for Outbreak: Fighting the World's Deadliest Diseases
Disease X
Episode 20190629
Preparing for Outbreak: Fighting the World's Deadliest Diseases
The World Health Organization has compiled a list of the most dangerous diseases that could strike next year.
Giving Animals New Legs
Innovation
Episode 20190503
Giving Animals New Legs
Derrick Campana is a prosthetics engineer helping animals walk again with artificial limbs.
Rebuilding Coal Country
Sponsored
Episode 20180820
Rebuilding Coal Country
Meet the nonprofit bringing jobs back to coal country.
Angels of Debt
Thinking Differently
Episode 20190628
Angels of Debt
These ex-bill collectors got John Oliver's attention and started a movement. They're buying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of strangers' medical debt and erasing it.
The Edible Six Pack Ring That's Saving Marine Animals
Innovation
Episode 20190612
The Edible Six Pack Ring That's Saving Marine Animals
18 billion pounds of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year. This microbrewery created biodegradable six pack rings to help stem the tide.
Saving Lives with AI
Sponsored
Episode 20181107
Saving Lives with AI
Artificial intelligence can find hidden patterns in patient’s vital signs - and stop emergencies before they happen.
The "Search Angel" Volunteers Reunite Birth Families
Technology
Episode 20190115
The "Search Angel" Volunteers Reunite Birth Families
For some, not knowing their biological family can feel like a part of them is missing. The Search Squad is helping them for free.
How to Change the World
Thinking Differently
Episode 20190528
How to Change the World
Olivia Leland, founder and CEO of Co-Impact, on how we should approach solving the world’s most complex problems.
Steven Pinker Makes the Case for Optimism
Episode 20181030
Steven Pinker Makes the Case for Optimism
Are things really worse than ever, or are we missing the bigger picture?
Teaching Engineering with Dirt Bikes
Episode 20181031
Teaching Engineering with Dirt Bikes
This teacher is using dirt bikes to help Baltimore's kids learn STEM.
Veterans to the Rescue
Inspiring
Episode 20190424
Veterans to the Rescue
On the worst day of their lives, these veterans came to help.
Teaser of The Hidden Side of “Slum” Life
Episode 20170412
Teaser of The Hidden Side of “Slum” Life
One of the most significant transformations in humankind is underway but largely going untold.
The Badass Army Fighting Revenge Porn
Episode 20190215
The Badass Army Fighting Revenge Porn
They’re tracking down people who post revenge porn - and getting justice.
The Business Fair for Children
Entrepreneurship
Episode 20170814
The Business Fair for Children
At this business fair, kids are the entrepreneurs...
The Dad Changing How We Investigate Police Shootings
Trailer
The Dad Changing How We Investigate Police Shootings
After his son was killed by police, Michael Bell fought for over a decade to change how we investigate police shootings.
The Future of Cancer Research
Sponsored
Episode 20180917
The Future of Cancer Research
Intel's Bryce Olson used genomic sequencing to help fight his cancer. Now he’s helping researchers use artificial intelligence to discover entirely new cancer treatments.
The Joy of Being Wrong
Thinking Differently
Episode 20190506
The Joy of Being Wrong
Can practicing intellectual humility make us smarter and happier? Science says yes.
The Mom Who Will Stop at Nothing to Save Her Daughter's Life
Superhuman
Episode 20170512
The Mom Who Will Stop at Nothing to Save Her Daughter's Life
The Paralyzed Racer Going Faster than Ever
Technology
Episode 20190125
The Paralyzed Racer Going Faster than Ever
This daredevil wouldn't let anything slow him down—not even a devastating bike accident.
How The Phoenix Is Fighting Addiction with Fitness
Sponsored
Episode 20180917
How The Phoenix Is Fighting Addiction with Fitness
Meet the group that is helping thousands of people transform their lives and unlock their potential.
The Shipping Containers Used for Conversations
Technology
Episode 20170711
The Shipping Containers Used for Conversations
Would you talk to a stranger on the other side of the world?
The Snake Milk King
What It Takes
Episode 20190620
The Snake Milk King
Enter the Kentucky Reptile Zoo—one of the largest collections of venomous reptiles in the world—and meet Jim Harrison, the man that spent his 42-year career milking King Cobras for anti-venom and saving lives across the globe. What drives a man like this to risk his life each and every day?
Meet Civil, The Startup That Wants to Save Journalism with the Blockchain
Sponsored
Episode 20180731
Meet Civil, The Startup That Wants to Save Journalism with the Blockchain
Can the blockchain fight fake news, restore trust in the media, and save a dying a industry?
The Student Laboratory Reinventing Food To Stop Waste
Episode 20181207
The Student Laboratory Reinventing Food To Stop Waste
Inside the food laboratory inventing new foods to prevent waste.
This Fearless Principal Used UFC & Skateboards to Save a Failing School
Education
Episode 20190325
This Fearless Principal Used UFC & Skateboards to Save a Failing School
How one relentless, unconventional principal rallied an underdog school.
This Former Wall Street Felon is Helping Ex-Cons Find Jobs
#fixingjustice - Re-entry
Episode 20190418
This Former Wall Street Felon is Helping Ex-Cons Find Jobs
Doing prison time changed this Wall Street trader’s life. Now he’s helping others get jobs after prison - and stay out for good.
This Restaurant Gives At-Risk Youth a Second Chance
Sponsored
Episode 20181105
This Restaurant Gives At-Risk Youth a Second Chance
Cafe Momentum offers an alternative to the revolving doors at Texas jails.
3 Ways To Think About the Future
Episode 20181120
3 Ways To Think About the Future
Why don’t we have a moon base? A cartoonist and a scientist explain.
How NASA’s Space Food Lab Will Feed the Farthest Journey in History
What It Takes
Episode 20190626
How NASA’s Space Food Lab Will Feed the Farthest Journey in History
These food scientists are making it possible for us to explore space in ways we haven’t yet as a species.
Who Will Save Your Parent’s Life Story?
Innovation
Episode 20190426
Who Will Save Your Parent’s Life Story?
When her dad had Alzheimer’s, this journalist wrote his life story to help his caregivers understand him. Now, she’d doing the same for hundreds more.
What We Get Wrong About Love
Episode 20190213
What We Get Wrong About Love
Why are we so bad at love?
Why Cancer Patients Should Get Genetic Sequencing
Sponsored
Episode 20181221
Why Cancer Patients Should Get Genetic Sequencing
Genomic sequencing saved his live. Now he wants everyone to have access.
Why Prisons are Showing Nature Videos to Inmates
Innovation
Trailer
Why Prisons are Showing Nature Videos to Inmates
Watching nature videos in the unlikeliest of places
Why Researchers Built a Robot Snake
Technology
Episode 20180116
Why Researchers Built a Robot Snake
Believe it or not, there's a good reason this robot snake exists
Why the 6th Most Dangerous City is Turning to Community Policing
#fixingjustice - Policing
Episode 20190415
Why the 6th Most Dangerous City is Turning to Community Policing
Police departments around the country are increasingly looking at community policing programs as a tool to help reestablish trust in the communities they serve.
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A brief weekly digest of inspiring stories, emerging technologies, and amazing innovators who are advancing the frontiers of our rapidly changing world.

Explore Playlists

Our Cyborg Future

Play All
The Real Bionic Man
Superhuman
Episode 3
The Real Bionic Man
After losing part of his arm to cancer, Johnny now has one of the world's most advanced prosthetics.
The World’s First Bionic Drummer
Superhuman
Episode 1
The World’s First Bionic Drummer
Jason Barnes lost his arm in a horrible accident. Then he became the fastest drummer in the world...
A Life Changed by Robotic Legs
Superhuman
Episode 4
A Life Changed by Robotic Legs
Robert is paralyzed. But thanks to a robotic exoskeleton, he can walk again.
3-D Printing Prosthetics for Kids
Superhuman
Episode 1
3-D Printing Prosthetics for Kids
The incredible movement of shared designs and tech that’s making prosthetics better and cheaper for everyone.
Gaining Independence with the World's Most Advanced Prosthetic Arm
Superhuman
Episode 6
Gaining Independence with the World's Most Advanced Prosthetic Arm
Jerral was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq and left paralyzed. Now he's partnering with researchers to regain his independence. »
Our Cyborg Future is Coming (And That’s Not a Bad Thing)
The Big Idea
Episode 20171113
Our Cyborg Future is Coming (And That’s Not a Bad Thing)
Hollywood loves to sensationalize merging the body with advanced tech. But will it really be so bad?

No Way!

Play All
Brain Implant Gives Quadriplegic Movement
Superhuman
Episode 2
Brain Implant Gives Quadriplegic Movement
A brain implant connected to electrodes could offer hope to those who have lost function in their limbs.
Stem Cells Give Paralyzed Man Movement
Superhuman
Episode 3
Stem Cells Give Paralyzed Man Movement
Could an injection of embryonic stem cells into the spinal cord reverse paralysis?
Growing Human Organs in Pigs
On the Fringe
Episode 4
Growing Human Organs in Pigs
A Stranger's Poop Could Save Your Life
On the Fringe
Episode 2
A Stranger's Poop Could Save Your Life
Reversing Blindness
Superhuman
Episode 5
Reversing Blindness
Vanna was legally blind. Now she can see. Hear her inspiring story and meet the amazing doctors who gave her back her sight.
Erasing Your DNA
Coded
Episode 6
Erasing Your DNA
Is a spray that can mask your DNA the frontier of personal privacy or a tool for criminals?

Superhuman Parents

Play All
The Promise of Gene Therapy
Superhuman
Episode 1
The Promise of Gene Therapy
When Karen was told her daughter had an incurable disease, she started a gene therapy company to find a cure.
Father Creates Bionic Organ for Son
Superhuman
Episode 5
Father Creates Bionic Organ for Son
A father’s quest to help his son with diabetes could change the lives of millions of people who suffer from the disease.
Father Makes 3D Heart for Daughter
Superhuman
Episode 4
Father Makes 3D Heart for Daughter
When a father’s daughter was diagnosed with a heart disease, he set out to design an innovative 3D model of a heart that doctors could explore in virtual reality to save her life and thousands more.
Building a Better School System
Challengers
Episode 4
Building a Better School System
A highly-personalized experience could be the foundation for the future of education.
Treating Diabetes with a DIY Pancreas
DIY Science
Episode 4
Treating Diabetes with a DIY Pancreas
A group of coders created an open source, DIY pancreas to help people with diabetes manage their condition.
3-D Printing Prosthetics for Kids
Superhuman
Episode 1
3-D Printing Prosthetics for Kids
The incredible movement of shared designs and tech that’s making prosthetics better and cheaper for everyone.

Hack the Future

Play All
The Unhackable Email Service
Coded
Episode 2
The Unhackable Email Service
Edward Snowden’s email service of choice wants to make mass surveillance obsolete.
Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer?
Technology
Episode 20170710
Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer?
A self-professed data nerd, Thomas Hargrove believes everything around us is following a mathematical formula...including murder.
Disrupting Money
Coded
Episode 5
Disrupting Money
Can a bitcoin entrepreneur on house arrest convince the world it’s the currency of the future?
The Lawyer Who Defends Anonymous
Coded
Episode 1
The Lawyer Who Defends Anonymous
How AI Could Revolutionize Coffee
Coded
Episode 5
How AI Could Revolutionize Coffee
Could the blockchain be used to make fair trade goods live up to their promise?
This Research Team Wants to Hack Your Car
Coded
Episode 4
This Research Team Wants to Hack Your Car
What happens when an SUV going 75 miles-per-hour down a highway is hacked from a remote computer?
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Coded
Episode 20170209
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Nico Sell, founder and chairman of the Wickr Foundation, on teaching kids how to hack and encouraging them to use their new-found talents for good.

Escape the Filter Bubble

Play All
How to Negotiate the Nonnegotiable
Crossing the Divide
Episode 5
How to Negotiate the Nonnegotiable
Insights on working through conflict with Harvard's top negotiation expert.
LGBT Rights: The Power of a Single Conversation
Crossing the Divide
Episode 3
LGBT Rights: The Power of a Single Conversation
Why a gay rights activist started a movement to talk to thousands who voted against gay marriage.
Having Your Views Challenged is a Good Thing
Crossing the Divide
Episode 7
Having Your Views Challenged is a Good Thing
When we encounter ideas we don’t like, we often shut them down. Professor John Inazu explains why that’s a bad thing and what we can do to fix it.
The Conservative Radio Host Urging People to Break Out of Their Bubbles
Crossing the Divide
Episode 8
The Conservative Radio Host Urging People to Break Out of Their Bubbles
Making America Dinner Again
Crossing the Divide
Episode 6
Making America Dinner Again
What happens when you put people of all political persuasions together over dinner?
Crossing the Divide Trailer
Crossing the Divide
Trailer
Crossing the Divide Trailer
77% of people think the country is more divided than it’s ever been. We set out to meet the people trying to change that.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs

Play All
Can AI Solve Our Biggest Problems?
Challengers
Episode 2
Can AI Solve Our Biggest Problems?
Vicarious believes smart machines could solve virtually every problem humans can’t.
Leslie Dewan on Learning from Failure
Challengers
Episode 20161213
Leslie Dewan on Learning from Failure
An App for Global Trade
Challengers
Episode 1
An App for Global Trade
Flexport thinks bringing trade into the 21st century could improve lives around the globe.
Karen Aiach on Doing the Impossible
Superhuman
Episode 20160820
Karen Aiach on Doing the Impossible
Can We Make It In Space?
The New Space Race
Episode 2
Can We Make It In Space?
What if one day, everything in space was made in space? 3D printing may hold the answer.
Could Ugly Produce Change the World?
Change Agents
Episode 20160928
Could Ugly Produce Change the World?
Meet the startup that wants to sell you ugly fruits and veggies
Tiny Satellites With a Huge Impact
The New Space Race
Episode 4
Tiny Satellites With a Huge Impact
Many satellites are nearing the end of their life. This is what could be next.
Four Flights a Day. Five Days a Week.
The New Space Race
Episode 1
Four Flights a Day. Five Days a Week.
At XCOR, the dream of taking regular commercial flights to space is alive and well.
Powering the World With Nuclear
Challengers
Episode 3
Powering the World With Nuclear
Transatomic believes they've figured out a safe, scalable, cost-effective way to power the world with nuclear.