“Treasure map” guides scientists to massive meteorite
A “treasure map” highlighting places where meteorites are most likely to be found has led to the discovery of a 17-pound space rock.
Venus may have currently active volcanoes
Old images from NASA’s Magellan mission may have revealed that Venus, a close analogue to Earth, has volcanic activity.
Latest Videos
Rethinking education: This tech builds stronger teacher-student connections
In partnership with Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
This tool uses research-based questions and prompts to foster strong connections between teachers and students.
Series|Just Might Work
3 ways to clone yourself before you die These tech companies are making digital clones of people to live on in a digital afterlife. Would you do it?
An incubator for world-changing entrepreneurs
In partnership with Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Want to solve the world’s hardest problems? Join GEN, a network supporting the next generation of the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs.
Series|Hard Reset
The farming robots that will feed the world Food waste is a ridiculous problem. Enter the robots.
Series|Operation: Reimagine Surgery
This amazing gel may help in the fight against cancer In partnership with Intuitive
“Instead of thinking about a treatment, we can, really for the first time, think about a cure.”
Series|Challengers
The dawn of battery-powered urban flight Electric engine, nearly silent, and ready for passengers by 2025. But are we ready?
Series|Hard Reset
The bionic 3rd thumb anyone can add to their hand We flew to the UK to learn more about the designer 3D-printing third thumbs.
How to bring the entire world online
In partnership with Cisco
500 billion devices will be online by 2030. Here’s how that connectivity can power a sustainable future.
Series|Operation: Reimagine Surgery
Performing complex surgeries with single-incision robotics In partnership with Intuitive
These surgeons are among the first to adopt the latest approach to robotic surgery. Here’s what they’ve learned.
Series|Hard Reset
Hacking the Anthropocene with survivalist robots 80% of our ocean floors have never been studied. This robot sailboat is unlocking the most treacherous parts.
Series|Just Might Work
Inside Wisk: The flying taxi ending traffic Over 1,300 test flights in, Wisk’s self-flying taxi will transform city commutes by 2028.
Follow us on Instagram for more stories
Just one teacher-student connection can lead to a whole school transformation. * * * * * @along_org @chanzuckerberginitiative #Education #TeachersOfInstagram #TeachersOfIG #Teachers #WellBeing #EdTech #Innovation
Teacher-student connections are a core component of fostering students’ potential — and that’s what a new education tool aims to unlock. “For us building something like Along is really about…
@apple is developing technology to build noninvasive blood glucose monitoring right into its smartwatches, according to a report from @bloomberg — freeing people with diabetes from painful needle pricks to…
This tool helps teachers be the great mentor they set out to be. * * * * * @along_org @chanzuckerberginitiative #Education #TeachersOfInstagram #TeachersOfIG #Teachers #WellBeing #EdTech #Innovation
The deadly consequences of the global surgeon shortage – and how some visionaries are working to solve it.
New to Freethink?
We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most groundbreaking technology shaping our future.
Building a Solarpunk Future
Quantum computer designs heat-radiating window coating
Notre Dame researchers have used quantum computing to design a transparent window coating that reflects heat into the atmosphere.
Molten salt reactors could save nuclear power
Molten salt reactors, a type of nuclear reactor first explored in the 1950s, could be the future of clean energy.
NASA detects 50+ methane “super-emitters” from space
A new instrument aboard the International Space Station has been used to identify more than 50 “super-emitters” of methane.
This amphibious electric tricycle (and camper) costs $14,600
Latvian startup BeTRITON’s amphibious electric tricycle will take you from the road to the water to the campsite.
Feature
New voice cloning AI lets "you" speak multiple languages
And it only needs to hear 4 seconds of your voice to do it.
Advancing the Space Frontier
NASA’s Orion spacecraft sends back first images
NASA has shared the first images from its Orion spacecraft, which is expected to do a lunar flyby on November 21.
A far-out plan to build an asteroid city
University of Rochester researchers think they have a solution to creating an asteroid city: a giant bag.
Twin exoplanets may be the first known “water worlds”
Twin exoplanets 218 light years from Earth may be the first known examples of “water worlds.”
Original Series
Meet the people whose bold ideas might sound crazy… but also Just Might Work.
Freethink Favorites
Stories focused on interesting solutions to big problems.
Prev
Next
Series|Just Might Work
Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin These biohackers plan to give away their instructions for how to make insulin for free.
Farming robot kills 200,000 weeds per hour with lasers
Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder is a smart farming robot that identifies weeds and then kills them using high-power lasers.
Supercentenarians’ DNA reveals clues to human longevity
A human longevity study involving people over the age of 105 has found that genetic variants linked to DNA repair appear to contribute to a longer life.
Series|Just Might Work
How robots could end animal captivity in zoos and marine parks Could robotic dolphins help marine parks become more humane spaces where people can learn about and connect with nature?
Twisty nuclear fusion reactor gets twice as hot as the sun
Physicists optimized a nuclear fusion reactor to overcome a problem that causes heat loss and prevents the device from sustaining fusion.
Series|Coded
Tractor-hacking farmers take on John Deere Tractor hacking is a fast-growing trend in the farming community — but it’s not outsiders breaking in.
Japan breaks world record for fastest internet speed
Engineers in Japan have set a new world record for fastest internet speed — 319 Tb/s — using a specially developed fiber-optic cable.
Sophia the Robot will be mass-produced this year
Hanson Robotics is going to begin mass-producing Sophia the robot in 2021, making the social robot available to help combat the pandemic.
Series|Challengers
This DIY laptop is challenging tech giants like Apple & Microsoft Disposable tech is part of big tech’s business model. This engineer is fighting back by creating a DIY laptop anyone can repair on their own.
Prisoners will get a $2,750 check when they leave prison
A non-profit is experimenting with providing prisoners a $2,750 check when they leave prison. The goal is to reduce recidivism and help people get a fresh start.
Series|Hard Reset
How mirrors could power the planet… and prevent wars If adopted globally, concentrated solar power could make major waves in manufacturing, not to mention prevent wars over oil and mitigate climate change.