The road to reopening, according to a Nobel Prize winner
In this episode of the Freethink Progress Report, we attempt to answer a question on all of our minds: what will it take for routines to return to normal in the wake of COVID-19 lockdowns?
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Catalysts
Business boot camp for low-income entrepreneurs
By developing the skills of entrepreneurs in low-income communities, this nonprofit is empowering people to generate sustainable income and become a force for economic growth in their neighborhoods.
Fighting child exploitation with big data
Last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 18 million reports of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. Now, they’re using a new technology to confront this issue with the force necessary to eradicate it.
Facing the fear of death in virtual reality
With a virtual reality death simulator, this immersive experience helps people address the uncomfortable subject of mortality and face their fear of dying.
The new space race has officially begun
The space race to the moon, a new “zombie” satellite discovery by an amateur astronomer, and more top stories in our weekly Progress Report.
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Dope Science
Are social media giants censoring life saving drug research?
The first casualty of war is truth, and that applies to the war on drugs. Some are fighting back with harm reduction and drug education, yet they’re facing opposition from an unexpected source.
How a bakery is restoring hope in an Appalachian mining town
As the coal industry becomes all but obsolete, unemployment throughout Appalachia continues to climb. But a bakery in Kentucky is doing its part to bring hope back to the community.
The DIY heroes of the pandemic
Volunteers delivering meals to hospital workers, the 100-year-old man fundraising millions, and more inspiring stories in our weekly Progress Report.
Computer scientists build new tool to fight coronavirus
Computer scientists are using AI and text mining to sort through thousands of coronavirus research papers that could help fight the disease.
Why the MLB antibody study matters
10,000 MLB employees, from players to concession stand attendees, are volunteering to help scientists study how COVID-19 has spread throughout the country.
Crime survivors fight against harsh punishments. Here’s why.
A national group called the Alliance for Safety and Justice has set out to rethink America’s criminal justice system, with a focus on healing rather than punishment.
This pen makes hand washing fun for kids
SoaPen makes hand washing much less of a hassle, and it could have an enormous impact in helping prevent future pandemics.
Face masks made from… LEGO?
The popular toy company that’s mass-producing PPE, how to fight the coronavirus from your computer, and more top stories in our weekly Progress Report.
Can a robot really freestyle?
Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have designed the first robot capable of not only playing music, but creating it.
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Catalysts
Staying sober in quarantine
Isolation can be especially difficult for recovering addicts, so this sober active community is hosting virtual fitness classes for free.
Hong Kong protests in Animal Crossing
Hong Kong’s virtual protests, tech giants joining forces to slow the spread of COVID-19, and more top stories in our weekly Progress Report.
Hackers leak thousands of coronavirus research papers
Potentially life-saving medical research is often hidden behind expensive paywalls, limiting access for those in the developing world. So one modern-day Robin Hood illegally downloaded and shared over 5,000 coronavirus research papers on Reddit.
Ventilators, vaccines, and drag queens
We believe the news doesn’t have to be depressing. In fact, it should inspire people to build a better world. Watch the first episode of our new series, Progress Report.
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Catalysts
Learning to code in prison
This progressive organization is on a mission to break the cycle of recidivism, using coding. Incarcerated individuals can now spend their sentences acquiring marketable skills.
The formerly incarcerated fighting for criminal justice reform
These formerly incarcerated individuals are fighting to give people who’ve served their time a second chance by advocating for change in one of the country’s most notorious justice systems.