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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Dispatches
Goodbye, Passwords: Hello Brain-ID
Goodbye, Passwords: Hello Brain-ID
Can mind-readers replace passwords and biometric security?
Dispatches
AI Will Make You Smarter
AI Will Make You Smarter
Artificial intelligence will multiply your own intelligence, in ways that will surprise you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.’”
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dispatches
Will Probiotics Cure Cholera?
Will Probiotics Cure Cholera?
MIT scientists say eating good bacteria can prevent, cure, and diagnose cholera—cheaply.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
This week in ideas: How VR changes our dreams, a stem cell miracle, and the shoes of the future
Virtual reality users experience more lucid dreams, a paralyzed man gets movement back, and self-lacing shoes. These are our favorite stories this week.
This Computer Can Write 2,000 Snarky Articles Per Second
This Computer Can Write 2,000 Snarky Articles Per Second
What does it mean for the future of journalism when a computer can turn mounds of data into a cohesive narrative?
Culture
This Army Sergeant Started a 24-Hour Hotline For Service…
This Army Sergeant Started a 24-Hour Hotline For Service Members with PTSD
First Sgt. Landon Jackson battled with severe PTSD and turned his experience into a 24 hour hotline that gives service members an outlet whenever they need it.
Self-Driving Cars are Finally Here. Sort Of.
Self-Driving Cars are Finally Here. Sort Of.
Uber rolled out self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, but they're not totally autonomous. Yet. Under Pennsylvania law, every car still needs an operator.
Superhuman
Meet the Wounded Veteran Using Bionics to Take Back His…
Meet the Wounded Veteran Using Bionics to Take Back His Independence
Jerral lost his left arm in Iraq. Now he's working with a team from Johns Hopkins to test a prosthetic arm that works by reading signals in his skin.
Culture
This Week in Ideas: Reasons to Feel Good About Humanity
This Week in Ideas: Reasons to Feel Good About Humanity
A paralyzed woman runs a half marathon in an exoskeleton, Sri Lanka defeats malaria, incomes are rising. Here's some good news since most of what we hear is just the bad.
Science
A Regulatory Fight Is Brewing Over Experimental Stem Cell…
A Regulatory Fight Is Brewing Over Experimental Stem Cell Therapies
New proposed regulations from the FDA would effectively shut down private stem cell clinics in the U.S.
Science
The Future of Sports and Human Performance
The Future of Sports and Human Performance
Unpacking the science behind human performance with The Sports Gene author David Epstein
Superhuman
The Experimental Procedure That Can Reverse Blindness
The Experimental Procedure That Can Reverse Blindness
Doctors told Vanna she was permanently blind. But thanks to an experimental procedure, she can see.
Can Tech Giants Get Ahead of A.I.?
Can Tech Giants Get Ahead of A.I.?
Companies gather to discuss impact of A.I. A possible neural lace breakthrough. And unmanned cargo ships. This is the coolest stuff we've read this week.
How Do We Scale Bionic Technology?
How Do We Scale Bionic Technology?
Right now, assistive bionic technology is really cool and really expensive. This is how it will get better and cheaper.
What to Expect at the First Cyborg Olympics
What to Expect at the First Cyborg Olympics
The event will seek to answer one of the most interesting technology questions of the early 21st century: How close are we to integrating humans with machines?
Science
Could Your Brain Regenerate Like Skin?
Could Your Brain Regenerate Like Skin?
Brain regeneration used to be considered a medical fantasy. But research shows that fantasy could eventually become a reality.
Superhuman
Meet the Paralyzed Man Who Can Walk Again
Meet the Paralyzed Man Who Can Walk Again
Robert is paralyzed from the chest down. But now a robotic exoskeleton is giving him what he calls "a second chance at life."
Will Robots Steal Our Jobs?
Will Robots Steal Our Jobs?
Could exoskeletons help us do our jobs? Should we actually be afraid of robots taking our jobs? These are the latest stories from the frontlines of the robotic world.
Assistive Tech Doesn't Have to be High Tech
Assistive Tech Doesn't Have to be High Tech
The story of how 3D printing gave Ryan Hines a chance to regain his independence for $150. And how he's now offering the same chance to others.
Technology
Prosthetics Enter a New Age of Beautiful Form and…
Prosthetics Enter a New Age of Beautiful Form and Incredible Function
For centuries, prosthetics didn't change much at all, but the past 10 years has seen an incredible leap forward in the way they look and work.
Superhuman
Everything You Wanted to Know About the World's Most…
Everything You Wanted to Know About the World's Most Advanced Bionic Arm
A fascinating interview with Michael P. McLoughlin, the chief engineer of research and exploratory development at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.
Superhuman
Meet the Man with the Most Advanced Prosthetic Arm in the…
Meet the Man with the Most Advanced Prosthetic Arm in the World
Johnny Matheny has been working with doctors at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab to test a prosthetic arm that is controlled with your thoughts.
A Lay Person's Guide to Biohacking
A Lay Person's Guide to Biohacking
We're living in a golden age of people exploring high and low tech methods to optimize our bodies.
Technology
How to Send Mail to a Person With No Address
How to Send Mail to a Person With No Address
Millions of people have no address. They can’t get mail, they can't vote, they can’t get aid, and they don’t have rights. One company wants to change that.
Science
How to Rebuild a Broken Brain
How to Rebuild a Broken Brain
The unbelievable story of the day Jordan Riley was declared brain dead and his journey of re-learning how to be human.
Superhuman
The 3D-printed helmet that can read your mind. Could it…
The 3D-printed helmet that can read your mind. Could it change the world?
OpenBCI has developed technology that allows you to control the world outside your body with your brain waves.
Superhuman
Meet the Mom Curing Her Daughter's Incurable Disease
Meet the Mom Curing Her Daughter's Incurable Disease
Karen Aiach isn't a doctor and has never worked in medicine. But when doctors said her daughter wouldn't live past adolescence, she knew she had to get to work.
Science
The Fascinating Story of How AIDS Activism Helped Usher in…
The Fascinating Story of How AIDS Activism Helped Usher in a "Right to Try" Movement
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.
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.
Superhuman
Three Women Who Changed the Way We Think About Medicine
Three Women Who Changed the Way We Think About Medicine
From newborn health to AIDS treatment to DNA research, these brilliant women paved the way for incredible advances in the field of medicine.
