Freethink

Videos

Inside the Cajun Navy: How Volunteers Are Training to Rescue Hurricane Victims
Episode 25
Inside the Cajun Navy: How Volunteers Are Training to Rescue Hurricane Victims
Can civilian-led rescue be part of future disaster recovery efforts?
Helping Kids Through Rowing
Episode 24
Helping Kids Through Rowing
Inside the surprising program helping disadvantaged kids in New York thrive.
Meet Civil, The Startup That Wants to Save Journalism with the Blockchain
Sponsored
Episode 23
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?
Coffin-Building Club Helps Seniors Face Death and Enjoy Life
Episode 22
Coffin-Building Club Helps Seniors Face Death and Enjoy Life
These seniors are tackling the stigma around death by decorating their own coffins.
Using Neuroscience to Talk to People in a Vegetative State
Science
Episode 21
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.
Introducing Freethink
Trailer
Episode 20
Introducing Freethink
We’re reimagining media for a generation that’s changing the world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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...
For People in Prison, a Second Chance to Give Back
Sponsored
Episode 15
For People in Prison, a Second Chance to Give Back
68% of people released from prison return within three years. This program is changing that.
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 19
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
Charlie Sykes, a conservative radio host and author of "How the Right Lost Its ...
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 12
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
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 5
The Robot Duck Helping Kids With Cancer
Nation of Artists and Freethink are proud to partner with Aflac, Sproutel and Carol Cone ...
Growing Human Organs in Pigs
On the Fringe
Episode 4
Growing Human Organs in Pigs
Twenty people die every day in the U.S. waiting for an organ transplant. There ...
Can Snot Help Stop the Flu?
On the Fringe
Episode 3
Can Snot Help Stop the Flu?
The flu is a really tough target. The virus evolves far too fast to really ...
A Stranger's Poop Could Save Your Life
On the Fringe
Episode 2
A Stranger's Poop Could Save Your Life
💩 is pretty gross. We do everything we can to avoid it. But thanks to the bur...
Searching for Cures in a Sewer
On the Fringe
Episode 1
Searching for Cures in a Sewer
Yale researcher Ben Chan spends a lot of time doing what most people would avoid ...
Will Robots Take Our Jobs?
Wrong
Episode 5
Will Robots Take Our Jobs?
Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, fear of automation has been on the rise. ...
What Happened to the Beepocalypse?
Wrong
Episode 4
What Happened to the Beepocalypse?
In 2006 bees started disappearing. Beekeepers reported to losing up to 90% of their beehives. And no ...
Is Vitamin C a Total Sham
Wrong
Episode 3
Is Vitamin C a Total Sham
In the heart of cold and flu season, it's natural to reach for the Vitamin ...
Did Rats Start the Drug War?
Wrong
Episode 2
Did Rats Start the Drug War?
Much of our shared understanding about drugs and addiction came from a series of studies ...
Our Cyborg Future is Coming (And That’s Not a Bad Thing)
The Big Idea
Episode 13
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?
To address rising health problems in the 1980s, scientists and policymakers developed the US Food ...
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 3
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?
The Lawyer Who Defends Anonymous
Coded
Episode 1
The Lawyer Who Defends Anonymous
Jay Leiderman isn’t your normal defense attorney. He’s committed his career to defending hack...
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.
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.
The Exotic Zoo Run by Prisoners
Prison Reform
Episode 17
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 8
The Real Mother of Dragons
Meet the scientists using dragon blood to fight superbugs
Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer?
Technology
Episode 14
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.
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.
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.
The Mom Who Will Stop at Nothing to Save Her Daughter's Life
Superhuman
Episode 7
The Mom Who Will Stop at Nothing to Save Her Daughter's Life
Doctors told Karen Aiach her daughter had a rare and fatal disease. So she decided ...
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.
Afghanistan’s First Female Tech CEO
Technology
Episode 16
Afghanistan’s First Female Tech CEO
Despite getting death threats from the Taliban, Roya Mahboob realized her dream of a successful career in tech.
Skatepunks of Myanmar
Pop Revolution
Episode 1
Skatepunks of Myanmar
Is the booming skating scene in Myanmar a sign of a more hopeful future for the once isolated country?
The Hidden Side of "Slum" Life
Rise
Episode 6
The Hidden Side of "Slum" Life
Life in favelas, or slum cities in Brazil, are often portrayed as some of the ...
Teaser of The Hidden Side of “Slum” Life
Episode 18
Teaser of The Hidden Side of “Slum” Life
One of the most significant transformations in humankind is underway but largely going untold.
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
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?
Disrupting Money
Coded
Episode 5
Disrupting Money
Can a bitcoin entrepreneur on house arrest convince the world it’s the currency of the future?
Nico Sell on Recruiting Hackers for Good
Coded
Episode 4
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.
Hacking the Future
Coded
Episode 4
Hacking the Future
How do we make sure the next generation of hackers uses their talents for good?
The People’s NSA
Coded
Episode 3
The People’s NSA
Hackers and journalists team up to expose crime and corruption around the world
The Unhackable Email Service
Coded
Episode 2
The Unhackable Email Service
Edward Snowden’s email service of choice wants to make mass surveillance obsolete.
Coded Trailer
Coded
Trailer
Coded Trailer
Meet the programmers on the frontlines of the war over security and privacy.
How VR Could Change Your Life
Challengers
Episode 5
How VR Could Change Your Life
Virtual reality could alter the human experience forever.
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.
Leslie Dewan on Learning from Failure
Challengers
Episode 10
Leslie Dewan on Learning from Failure
Dr. Leslie Dewan, CEO of nuclear power startup Transatomic, discusses the importance of entrepreneurs' ability ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Could Ugly Produce Change the World?
Change Agents
Episode 11
Could Ugly Produce Change the World?
Meet the startup that wants to sell you ugly fruits and veggies
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. »
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.
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.
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.
Conor Russomanno on Exploring Our Limits
Superhuman
Episode 2
Conor Russomanno on Exploring Our Limits
Could linking our brains to computers allow the mind to control the world outside of our bodies?
Open Sourcing the Brain
Superhuman
Episode 2
Open Sourcing the Brain
Open BCI has developed a 3D-printed headset that allows your brain to interact with computers in amazing ways.
Karen Aiach on Doing the Impossible
Superhuman
Episode 9
Karen Aiach on Doing the Impossible
When Karen Aiach decided to quit her finance job in 2005 in order to find a ...
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.
Superhuman Trailer
Superhuman
Trailer
Superhuman Trailer
Join us as we meet the innovators building our superhuman future.
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